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HVAC Forums => Tools & Equipment => Topic started by: Northernfitter on March 01, 2008, 11:16:04 PM

Title: digital gauges-worth the cost?
Post by: Northernfitter on March 01, 2008, 11:16:04 PM
A/C season is coming and when I took a severance I had to give back most of my a/c tools supplied by Direct Energy.  I am wondering if the digital gauges are worth the pricetag just in convenience.  When you look at the cost of digital humidity gauge and a regular set of gauges plus temperature probes and such your still spending $300 more for the digital gauges but at the same time it seems to be a quicker setup and simple to use.  Wondering if anyone on here has some and how they like them.
Title: Re: digital gauges-worth the cost?
Post by: ProTemp on March 04, 2008, 10:55:50 AM
D'ont waste your money on digital refrigerant gages. I tried several different kinds and all were found useless. Problem with digital gages beside being expensive is that they have to be reset to zero (14.7 psia) every time you use them. This causes to loose your charge in your manifold and hoses. Plus if you only use one pair of gages your going to run a high risk in cross contamination (mixing different oils and freon) when using them. Another reason there not reliable is if non-condensables are present in the system digital gages have a slow reaction time to the pressure changes not like a spring gages(analog). In my opinion a good set of regular spring gages is the best way but this is a bias opinion of course...lol. Hope this was helpful?
Title: Re: digital gauges-worth the cost?
Post by: Admin on March 05, 2008, 01:50:32 AM
I use the Yellow Jacket Brute II manifold, but I replaced the guages with liquid filled ones, they sell them seperately.

Here's the product website, http://www.yellowjacket.com/HVACRProducts.asp?l=5&t=HVACR&c=34 (http://www.yellowjacket.com/HVACRProducts.asp?l=5&t=HVACR&c=34)

Title: Re: digital gauges-worth the cost?
Post by: Northernfitter on March 05, 2008, 06:24:20 AM
ah well, truth be told I just like to buy expensive toys,  will stick with the analog and spend that money on other toys.
Title: Re: digital gauges-worth the cost?
Post by: heanssgen on March 12, 2008, 05:51:59 PM
i use the digital refrigeration system analyzer gauges from yellow jacket and they seem to be trouble free there a little costly up front but i love them but its all what you like and are comfortable usuing.