[electofry]

I have been getting some very good ideas for time saving tips when it comes to service work since I've been hanging out here.

As an example, sealed- system work:

I picked up the idea here of using stubby gauges instead of pulling out the whole manifold.

What a time saver.
To some it might seem like a trivial gain but it was well worth the investment of putting together a few sets of gage heads and brass adapters to come up with a tool that SAVES .time and a few more dollars to my bottom line. Thanks to all the guys here a+ hvacr talk for all the handy tips and useful friendly information I have received.

 

[jnsrose]

I keep mine in my bag. Use them when needed.

 

[baub]

Yellow Jacket 19110 and a gauge- good to go!

 

[electofry]

das da ticket.

I got two sets of stubbies now. Now I don't have to drag my bullet proof, heavier than Hades Brute II cum Ak 900 out til the job gets serious.

 

[slctech]

Yep, I use a little plastic plug on mine to prevent crap from entering the stub fittings when in my tool bag. But as you learned, a real time saver and very minimal loss of refrigerant as compared to most guys throwing their gauges with 6ft hoses on to every system.
Huge time saver in refrigeration work when your getting SH readings straight from an evap coils. And also very handy on large semi-hermetics when checking oil differentials and other quick checks like pressure drops across suction filters, etc.
Like stated, gauges do not come out until I know I need to do some actual work on the system.

Wont be long until this catches on in the industry and you will see YJ, Digicool, FP, and others with small digital precise gauges with a single temp clamp. So a guy can do some quick SH, SC, readings and at the same time not worry about calibrating a analog gauge or if it is reading precisely. That is the only downfall using these is lack of precision and making sure you are zeroed out. Doesn't take more than a few PSI's off and a crappy t-couple to have some off the wall user erronious SH or SC readings.

 

[electofry]

Yep, I use a little plastic plug on mine to prevent crap from entering the stub fittings when in my tool bag. .

~SNORT~----I just lost a mouth full of brew when I read that!

I spend a lot on 1/4 brass flare plugs to seal the threads!

Got an overseas connection that sends them to me for under .02 a piece. Got a hundred on order.


Tried to buy them on line and some guys were selling them for $6.75 a piece..plus shipping.\

Go figure

 

[Mr. NO]

~SNORT~----I just lost a mouth full of brew when I read that!

I spend a lot on 1/4 brass flare plugs to seal the threads!

Got an overseas connection that sends them to me for under .02 a piece. Got a hundred on order.


Tried to buy them on line and some guys were selling them for $6.75 a piece..plus shipping.\

Go figure

@electofry I'll buy some from you if you're willing to sell me some.

 

[klee7013]

@electofry I'll buy some from you if you're willing to sell me some.

x2 i could use 10 orso.

 

[Servicerunner]

I carry a low side stubby, but don't find much use for it. It doesn't fit in a lot of places, and having it in my bag is just asking for it to be crushed or broken.

As far as the critical charge thing goes, if you dump the liquid in your high side hose back into the suction line so that you only have vapor left in your hoses (assuming you have a ball valve or low loss fitting on your high side hose), there's only an extremely small amount of gas left in the hoses...it won't affect system operation (at least not my my experience).

 

[2141]

Anyone have a picture of their setup?

 

[aikenite]

Ive been using the stubby gauges for a couple years now.I like them for quick checks on roof top units and I also like them for ice machines. Any thing that helps save time saves money too.

 

[electofry]

@electofry I'll buy some from you if you're willing to sell me some.

UUhhh....I will if somebody can tell it won't break the rules. heck, if its ok i'll send them gratis.

- - - Updated - - -

x2 i could use 10 orso.

UUhhh....I will if somebody can tell it won't break the rules. heck, if its ok i'll send them gratis.

 

[electofry]

Yep, I use a little plastic plug on mine to prevent crap from entering the stub fittings when in my tool bag. But as you learned, a real time saver and very minimal loss of refrigerant as compared to most guys throwing their gauges with 6ft hoses on to every system.
Huge time saver in refrigeration work when your getting SH readings straight from an evap coils. And also very handy on large semi-hermetics when checking oil differentials and other quick checks like pressure drops across suction filters, etc.
Like stated, gauges do not come out until I know I need to do some actual work on the system.

Wont be long until this catches on in the industry and you will see YJ, Digicool, FP, and others with small digital precise gauges with a single temp clamp. So a guy can do some quick SH, SC, readings and at the same time not worry about calibrating a analog gauge or if it is reading precisely. That is the only downfall using these is lack of precision and making sure you are zeroed out. Doesn't take more than a few PSI's off and a crappy t-couple to have some off the wall user erronious SH or SC readings.

try a brass flare plug to keep out the BS like I do.

My two cents: I use a category one accurate gauge. just keep your your temp tester calibrated f you want accurate SC and SH.

Personally I would only use the stubbies for getting "on the fly" SC and SH.

I would trust the final setting of SH and SC to one ofe my testo or DCs or my SMAN manifolds.

But that is just me.

 

[electofry]

THE brass flare plugs are in.

 

[Mr. NO]

THE brass flare plugs are in.

Great!!! I will try pm you.

 

[MechAcc]

Cooper MFM 300 uses transducers that connect to gauge port even less refrigerant wasted than stubby gauges.

 

[grasshopper]

@electofry I'll buy some from you if you're willing to sell me some.

We could do a bulk purchase...

 

[electofry]

Great!!! I will try pm you.

I got fifty. Used half to plug my hoses and test gear.

I have no PM.

 

[Mr. NO]

I got fifty. Used half to plug my hoses and test gear.

I have no PM.

Ok. Email me @ < Sorry, email addresses are not allowed in post. Please put it in your profile, thank you. >
Thanks.

 

[slctech]

Here is a pic of one of my quick check gauges. It sees a lot more use than my gauges ever do. The red plastic cap is from mini-split line-set flare fittings. Also if you did a lot of Lennox or ADP coil work in the past the liquid line fitting of the coil had a 1/4" flare fitting that you would remove before installing your TXV or orifice housing, I saved hundreds of those over the years in a jar, they were great as plugs for my vacuum hoses, recovery hoses, etc...I remove the schraeder and put a dab of JB Weld in the hole and that it that.