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Testing | Monitoring | Tools

Monitoring Earns Contractor Applause

By Angela D. Harris
July 9, 2012
Contractors don’t have the time to sit around and babysit equipment, and owners don’t have the money to pay them to do it. The NEWS’ ninth annual Dealer Design Awards’ Testing & Monitoring Products category winners help solve this problem with system monitoring. In the gold position, General Tools & Instruments took measuring slow-moving air to the limits with its Data Logging Hot Wire Anemometer. GeoSystems® GeoSource Control Board made monitoring a geothermal heat pump simple for contractors, earning it a silver award. The Ruskin Inspector took home the bronze for its ability to continuously communicate with damper interfaces to provide intelligent monitoring of all fire, smoke, and combination fire/smoke dampers.

Gold Winner

General Tools & Instruments’ Data Logging Hot Wire Anemometer/IR Thermometer (CIH20DL) measures speed, volume, and temperature of slow-moving air. It can perform minimally invasive duct flow testing and energy audits, convert air speed readings to airflow volume measurements in units of cfm or cmm, and determine air and surface temperatures — including identifying overheated system components. It has a data logging capacity of up to 20,000 data points, and the ability to transfer data to a computer via a USB port. The product measures airflow volumes of up to 2.5 million cfm (72,000 cmm). Its hot wire sensor handles even the slightest (2 ft/min) air movement with ±3 percent accuracy. It also has five available air speed units: ft/min, m/sec, mph, km/hr, knots. The Hot Wire Anemometer/IR Thermometer comes in a custom molded plastic case with a USB cable, an ac adapter, a cable to enable long-term data logging, a 9-V alkaline battery, a CD with Windows-compatible software and drivers, a certificate of traceable calibration, and a user’s manual.

General’s Hot Wire Anemometer/IR Thermometer can also be used to test a variety of equipment, systems, and components in HVACR; to check heating, a/c, and refrigeration system components; to take the temperature of forced hot air supply and return vents; and to test chillers, steam traps, and heat exchangers.

Silver Winner

The new GeoSystems® GeoSource Control Board is designed to provide the technician with extensive diagnostics capabilities and One Touch Commissioning™ in addition to control over the numerous operating functions of a geothermal heat pump. The controller ties to an easy-to-read illuminated display panel showing the status for power, heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. The panel also features five indicator icons to help troubleshoot lockouts and error conditions. Service indicators include high discharge gas temperature, high pressure, low pressure, freeze, and overflow (drain pan filled with water).

One Touch Commissioning is designed to perform an extensive system run test. The feature automatically runs through a 60-minute series of tests to ensure the system functions properly in all modes. It is initiated by pressing two control buttons that are hidden behind the surface of the panel to avoid accidental activation by the homeowner.

The GeoSystems control panel is designed to verify proper installation and operation as well as assist in diagnosing any problems with the consumer’s geothermal heat pump. It provides an efficient method for contractors and homeowners to troubleshoot issues with their heat pump and monitor operation.

Bronze Winner

The Ruskin Inspector™ consists of a touchscreen panel PC (FSDPC) and pre-loaded software. The system continuously communicates with damper interfaces (FSDI) to provide intelligent monitoring of all fire, smoke, and combination fire/smoke dampers. The FSDPC is supplied with Ruskin Inspector software and operates on a user-friendly embedded platform. The server architecture delivers new benefits such as reduced commissioning time, ease of configuration, simplified operation, and automatic damper testing. The entire network of life safety dampers can be seen and controlled through the FSDPC touchscreen monitor.

Each damper is shipped with an Inspector Ready single point power connection utilizing Molex connectors. The damper interface (FSDI) is shipped in an electrical enclosure that is secured to the duct or adjacent wall near the damper. The FSDI is factory supplied with power and signal wires that have mating Molex connectors for plug-and-play installation. The line voltage and network cable is brought to each FSDI and terminates at screw terminals. The Inspector requires little maintenance or service and eliminates the need for manual testing of all life safety dampers within the system. The system can also monitor noncritical components of the HVAC system, such as air measurement stations.

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →

Sidebar: 2012 Honorees — Testing + Monitoring Products

Gold Winner

Manufacturer: General Tools & Instruments
Product: Data Logging Hot Wire Anemometer/IR Thermometer
www.generaltools.com

Silver Winner

Manufacturer: GeoSystems®
Product: GeoSource Control Board
www.gogogeo.com

Bronze Winner

Manufacturer: Ruskin
Product: Ruskin Inspector™
www.ruskin.com

Publication date: 7/9/2012

KEYWORDS: Dealer Design Awards Monitoring in HVACR

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Angela Harris is the Technology Editor. She can be contacted at 248-786-1254 or angelaharris@achrnews.com. Angela is responsible for What’s New and Technology articles for The NEWS. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in English from Oakland University and has nine years of professional journalism experience.   

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