Ensuring Thermal Control with Manifold Gauges
Providing thermal control and great indoor air quality is the reason for the HVAC technology invention. Since HVAC is an important part of both residential and commercial buildings, a HVAC/R technician must have the needed equipment for controlling and improving the indoors air quality, humidity, and temperature. Manifold gauges, in fact, are the most important type of HVAC equipment as they can read the pressure of many different cooling system’s gases and liquids. When it comes to making the right choice, there are lots of HVAC manifold gauges available on the market that differ mainly by the number of ports, as well as according to the amount of pressure the manifold gauge set can withstand. Manifold gauges are the most basic refrigeration system tool which is used as service and diagnose tool. These gauge sets are usually used for removing contaminated and unknown blend refrigerants from air cooling systems in order to reduce any possible chance for cross-contaminating the service machine.
Manifold Gauge Body and Hand Valves
Generally speaking, all types of gauges manifolds have the same basic parts, however, there are some variations between manufacturers, which is why you need to understand your needs and find the one that suits you the most. The basic part of the manifold gauge which is the body, can be made from aluminium or brass. It has passages that act as the connection part between many other manifold parts. The internal passages of the body are arranged in a specific manner so the gauge can read the refrigeration system pressure when the valves are closed. When it comes to hand valves, for example, the ones used in R-12 and R-13 gauges manifolds are arranged in the same way, on a slant, or in front of the manifold. The valve wheels for low and high side differ by colour, wherein the low side hand wheel is made of blue plastic or has a blue decal in the centre, while the high side hand wheel is made of red plastic, or it has a red decal in the centre.
Analogue vs Digital Gauges
Digital gauges manifolds can provide a numerical reading that indicates the system vacuum or pressure. The thing that made these digital gauges so popular in HVAC is their ability to offer promptly and reliable readings. But just like with anything else, the opinions here are also divided, meaning that one believe that digital gauges are the evolution of HVAC, while others consider them the latest tool and nothing more. The main con of digital gauges is that they are fairly new to HVAC technicians, and they will need more time to figure out how to properly use them.
Analogue gauges, on the other hand, indicate the pressure or vacuum in the refrigeration system. Analogue gauges are the oldest version and have been used for generations by both cooling ad heating professionals. Their main downside is that not all technicians know how to read the results which can lead to many errors.
