Quick and easy HVACR inspections: choosing the right measurement instruments
For HVACR engineers, operational difficulties and measurement uncertainty can erode profitability. The ability to work quickly and reliably is therefore crucial. There are a number of best practices engineers can follow to gather the right data and be certain of their accuracy – provided they use appropriate tools. This comprehensive guide is intended to help you make the right choices:
Update: new instruments!
In 2022, two new leak detectors were added to the HVAC-R measuring range: the Si-RD3 for refrigerant gases and the Si-CD3 for fuel gases.
In addition, the brand-new Si-VH3 hotwire thermo-anemometer has been available since the beginning of 2023 in the same range. It allows air flow measurements with very high sensitivity and accuracy.
Air parameters measurement
Instrument | Heating | Ventilation | Climatisation | Refrigeration | |
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New Si-VH3Hotwire thermo-anemometer |
Air-conditioning circuit | ||||
- Measure air flow in ducts | |||||
Tip: Input the duct cross-section in the app to calculate average air flow rate in addition to air velocity. Use Hotwire instead of a vane for low speed air flows, or laminar air flows. |
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Si-RM3 Manifold |
Heat pumps | Air-conditioning units | Refrigerators, freezers | ||
- Measure superheat and sub-cooling of the refrigerant gas circuit - Measure high side and low side pressure - Calculate condensation and evaporation temperatures for 126 different gases |
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Tip: Essential when repairing a refrigerant gas leak (checking for draining and clogging, and re-commissioning). | |||||
Si-PM3 Digital differential pressure manometer |
Gas-fired boilers | Ventilation circuit | |||
- Measure pressure at the gas inlet valve - Measure pressure drop (draft) at the flue |
- Check filter clogging - Measure extractor fan pressure and air flow rate |
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Tip: Use the smartphone app to automatically calculate air flow and air velocity in a duct. Connect the manometer at the pressure element and enter the coefficient. You can also connect a Pitot tube and enter the coefficient and duct dimensions. | |||||
Si-TT3 Dual input thermocouple thermometer |
Water heaters | Multifunction | Refrigerators, freezers | ||
- Compare the water temperature in the boiler outlet and return pipes. |
- Ambient air temperature - Air temperature in the ducts - Temperature in domestic hot water systems |
- Measure superheat and sub-cooling of the refrigerant gas circuit. | |||
Tip: The smartphone app records the temperatures, and delta temperatures, over time to see that installation is working correctly. Can be viewed as a table or a graph. | |||||
Si-TI3 Infrared thermometer |
Radiators | ||||
- Measure radiator hot and cold spots to determine if venting is required. | |||||
Tip: Vastly improves speed and convenience (measurements delivered remotely in real time). Can measure ambient temperature (via app). Quickly see if you have overheating sources, for example on an electric installation. Affix a black strip on non-black surfaces. Adjust the emissivity of the surface (as per the manual) from 0.10 to 1.00 for accurate measurement. |
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Si-HH3 Thermo-hygrometer |
Ventilation | ||||
- Measure ambient air temperature and relative humidity. | |||||
Tip: Extreme relative humidity values (too high or too low) can pose hazards (allergies, germs, dust, mould, etc.). The app shows psychrometric parameters, such as dew point and wet temperature. | |||||
Si-VV3 Vane thermo-anemometer |
Air-conditioning circuit | ||||
Measure air flow through system inlet and outlet air vents. | |||||
Tip: Input the duct cross-section in the app to calculate average air flow rate in addition to air velocity. |
Leak detection (not compatible with the Si-HVACR application)
Heating | Ventilation | Climatisation | Refrigeration | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Si-CD3 Gas leak detector |
Gas-fired boilers | |||
Detects leaks of combustible gases upstream of the boiler, at the inlet and inside the unit. | ||||
Tip: A flexible probe keeps the device’s sensor in contact with gas pipes in even the hardest-to-reach places. Pay special attention to joints in the circuit. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for replacing the sensor. |
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Si-RD3 Refrigerant leak detector |
Heat pumps | Air-conditioning units | Refrigerators, freezers | |
Detects refrigerant leaks in every part of the cooling circuit. | ||||
Tip: A flexible probe keeps the device’s sensor in contact with gas pipes in even the hardest-to-reach places. Pay special attention to joints in the circuit. |
Greater efficiency
HVACR measurement instruments are often unwieldy and difficult to handle. That’s why Sauermann has introduced a new range of devices, designed specifically to make installation and maintenance tasks easier for HVAC engineers.
Our R&D team started with a simple premise: to overcome the reliability issues that beset entry-level instruments, and to outperform mid-range devices on ease of use and features, including an integrated backlit screen in addition to wireless pairing with Android and iOS tablets and smartphones. And most of all, they drew on Sauermann’s 40 years of experience in metrology to develop measurement instruments that meet the exacting reliability requirements of HVACR professionals.
A new standard for ease of use
Our new HVACR range also delivers efficiency gains for engineers thanks to its ultra-practical and user-friendly design. These small, lightweight, highly portable instruments come with their own carry bag, while the housing is impact-resistant and includes a magnet for affixing the device to a metal wall during measurement. The wireless connected smartphone app allows you to see live measurements, calculated values such as air flow, air velocity, psychrometric parameters. It also allows you to record data and see it as a table or a graph. You can create reports to prove your work to a client and even include pictures.
What’s more, our experts have condensed the controls down to just two buttons, setting a new standard for ease of use. And last but not least they all have great battery life: the Si-TT3 can operate for up to 400 hours!
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