[anthonyac1]

I have been debating on getting a set of smart probes for 1-2 years. Which ones do you all prefer or use? I was never really a testo fan. I almost dropped a lot of money on the imanifold when Jim was there. After I was not sure what direction imanifold was heading. I backed out.
The field piece probes set jl3kh6 looks nice but everyone has mixed reviews. Not sure if I want them. Looking to hear your opinions and preferences.

 

[Metalman0880]

I have the sporlan smart service tool set. They work good for me. They are pretty robust also. You can actually feel the weight of them in your hand. The only thing I don’t like is they take the large style watch batteries. But battery life dose tend to be pretty good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jim bergmann]

I have been debating on getting a set of smart probes for 1-2 years. Which ones do you all prefer or use? I was never really a testo fan. I almost dropped a lot of money on the imanifold when Jim was there. After I was not sure what direction imanifold was heading. I backed out.
The field piece probes set jl3kh6 looks nice but everyone has mixed reviews. Not sure if I want them. Looking to hear your opinions and preferences.

Anthony,

We are now making all of the smart probe sets do what the iManifold did and more in MeasureQuick. It works with both Testo and Fieldpiece. Fieldpiece has the best wireless range by far, Testo has a more attractive price point. They are both really good as far as the quality of the measurements. The cool thing with MQ is you can use the best elements of both at the same time.

Jim

 

[Blake79]

I have the fieldpiece set and love them. Only issue I had was one of the pressure probes sucked batteries dead in a hurry. Notified fieldpiece and they had a replacement at my door with rma for broken probe Included. No down time which is huge as I use these daily. Range with fieldpiece app can be shotty, and connecting issues, but when used with Measure Quick no issues at all with range or connecting. I highly recommend them.

 

[Lahrs]

Second vote for the MQ app.

I have the Testos which have been ok, except for the app being slow to reconnect to the probes if go out of range (which is limited with the Testos). I went with the Testos due to the variety of probe types available.

Due to issues mates had with their Testo gauges, I was hesitant about the probes. But for the price they have been good to me.

Now that the MQ app connects directly with probes, rather than via Testos app, I expect it to be a much better experience.

Jim, thanks for the app! I envision it being the 'MS Office' of the HVAC trade.

 

[mgenius33]

Well, if you can handle carrying a case of batteries around with you, then the iConnect is a nice kit.

The Testo's are too far behind on the connectivity scale for me. I got rid of them for half the price of what I bought them for. Accuracy was not a problem though.

My choice now is the Fieldpiece probes. The connection is really good for most residential applications, and you can have a thorough report through Measurequick if needed. I like the option of using the quick and easy FP app though.

I would suggest the FP probes. I've had them for a few months now and they're still on the original batteries. I would have gone through a few sets of batteries with the iConnect. Though, the range of the iConnect is unmatched by any other brand. I know some will say it only takes a couple minutes to replace a probe battery, but I found myself messing with the iConnect probes more than I was using them. With the FP's it is plug and play.

I have not tried the new version of the iManifold/iConnect app yet, I just don't have time to learn it at this point.

 

[2sac]

I haven't heard anything bad about the Sporlans and I've sold quite a few of them

 

[CDHCR]

I have the testo probe set, its works great but like has been mentioned the range is pretty limited, I just started playing around with the MQ app. I decided to go with the testo 557 manifold and im sorry but to me its the best, dont bash lol THe MQ app seems to be well integrated with testo products and works great for me.
Side note, I have 4 testo temp clamps, 2 with the 557 and 2 with the probe set and love the ability to see evap split and condenser split all wirelessly at the same time

 

[shellkamp]

I have a question - can the measure-quick app handle multiple sensors reading the same type of reading?

As in: a probe taking a suction line temp at the Evaporator and also another probe at the compressor?

I could see this being useful setting up Evaporator superheat while making sure compressor superheat doesn't fall out of line.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

 

[2sac]

I have a question - can the measure-quick app handle multiple sensors reading the same type of reading?

As in: a probe taking a suction line temp at the Evaporator and also another probe at the compressor?

I could see this being useful setting up Evaporator superheat while making sure compressor superheat doesn't fall out of line.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

The Sporlan can. You would need to download the Sporlan Pro app as opposed to the regular app and purchase additional transducers

 

[CDHCR]

I have a question - can the measure-quick app handle multiple sensors reading the same type of reading?

As in: a probe taking a suction line temp at the Evaporator and also another probe at the compressor?

I could see this being useful setting up Evaporator superheat while making sure compressor superheat doesn't fall out of line.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

I have not tried that with the MQ app, i'm still getting used to it, I have the two apps from testo and with both open its easy to have both up either on my phone or I split the screen on my Ipad and see 4 temps and if the evap has ports I could see 4 pressures, pretty cool but really only used when diagnosing a problem, not every job needs all that set up.

 

[jim bergmann]

I have a question - can the measure-quick app handle multiple sensors reading the same type of reading?

As in: a probe taking a suction line temp at the Evaporator and also another probe at the compressor?

I could see this being useful setting up Evaporator superheat while making sure compressor superheat doesn't fall out of line.

Sent from my Moto Z (2) using Tapatalk

It does not at this second, but it will soon. We just redesigned the toolbox and the mapping to handle mapping multiple probes and averaging and individual probes to specific functions. My guess would be in the next few months or less. We are wrapping up heat pumps in the heating mode now.

 

[Brian8383]

FP all the way. I've also owned the Testos and used coworkers Sporlan(not bad but no MQ app).

And FP customer service is second to no one. At least in the HVAC world.

 

[Achso017]

Fieldpiece. I’ve had the wireless kit for over a year now and it works great. I use the MQ app with them. Great range and the 45 degree bend on the pressure probes makes it easier to connect to most service ports. Works great for nitrogen leak testing too since it reads tenths of a psi.

 

[CDHCR]

It does not at this second, but it will soon. We just redesigned the toolbox and the mapping to handle mapping multiple probes and averaging and individual probes to specific functions. My guess would be in the next few months or less. We are wrapping up heat pumps in the heating mode now.

Hi Jim!
The multiple sensor use update would be fantastic! What I do is fairly straightforward but still requires flipping back and froth between apps and some basic math.
In reading what I just wrote is actually just nuts, how lazy are we all to get with all the apps and such, I do know it speeds things up. most of the young techs have no idea what to do with a simple 3 hose manifold with {gasp} analog gauges.

Now i'm starting to sound like my dad lol

I will say that I have my set of Zepplin gauges that I still use quite often, retired a set of Robin Air's,,,, I bought those back before most techs on this site were born lolol (1985 )

Thank you Jim for making our job's much easier and more accurate with the app! it's a time saver :cheers:

 

[mgenius33]

In reading what I just wrote is actually just nuts, how lazy are we all to get with all the apps and such, I do know it speeds things up. most of the young techs have no idea what to do with a simple 3 hose manifold with {gasp} analog gauges.

Fact is the newer digital technology is not only more accurate, but you're able to gather more information for a better analysis of the system. Old school methods are still able to "fix" stuff, but when it comes to making the equipment operate at peak performance, it was very time consuming with older analog equipment. So, very few technicians would spend the time to do so. Not because they're lazy, but because it would cost the company money, and it's time vs reward. The new technology reduces time and increases reward, plain and simple.

 

[raptyr]

I have found the testo probes quite handy when doing quick checks, but all my work is on chillers so they are usually only a few feet away from my Ipad, but longer more detailed testing i use Pico TC-08 x 2 , that gives me 16 channels of temps but i use an old 'dedicated' laptop that i can leave them plugged into, also a Pico ADC-24 for pressures, amps and does the sub-cooling/superheat/saturations for me too , they all plug into the laptop and automatically connect into the Picolog software so i can see either the data or in graphical format for trending, i could also add my ultra-sonic flowmeter in too for flow readings but it all gets to be a bit tooooo much data sometimes. Battery life seems ok on the Testo's as i had them on a site recently for 2 x 8 hour days , changed all batteries in the beginning and after two days they were down to are 80% on the indicators in the Testo software.

 

[anthonyac1]

Thanks for all of the replies/input. Around Christmas I pulled the string on the field piece probes set with 2 air probes. They should be arriving soon from Trutechtools. I will play with them at home. Once I get the hang of them I’m sure it will be easier.

 

[nytech28]

happy new year to all the techs,I recently got the testo 510i monometer that reads gas pressure,air velocity & cfm. They sell separate static pressure probes that only measures static pressure & probes called pitot tube ,that measures velocity pressure ,cfm,fpm & static pressure @ he same time.The testo app figures all out for you. I would like to know if any one used the pitot tube to read static pressure on duct or cfm accurately. any information would be appropriated.If i dont have to buy the static probes & only buy the pitot tube to serve both purposes would be great,thanks

 

[nytech28]

sorry ,I accidentally posted on the wrong post.i ment for new thread