Bluetooth Technology, Battery Strength Earn ManTooth the Gold
Wireless connectivity becoming commonplace for electronic tools
“This is a great looking product, and you can see the time and research put into it,” said one of the 2015 Dealer Design Awards Electronic Tools category contractor judges while reviewing the ManTooth™ Wireless Digital Pressure/Temperature Gauge from Yellow Jacket Products Division, Ritchie Engineering Co.
According to company reps, the ManTooth is a precise instrument designed, engineered, and manufactured in the U.S. to accurately measure and report critical information needed to service refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The ManTooth utilizes wireless Bluetooth technology with a smart device, such as a smartphone or tablet.
Since conceptual design, the ManTooth has been in development for several years. It’s gone through several iterations during the development process, implementing design ideas from focus groups and the beta testing process.
The creation of the ManTooth was due to us [Yellow Jacket] being proactive and seeing the future of the industry as things moved in a digital and wireless direction,” said Mike Lanners, vice president, domestic sales and marketing, Yellow Jacket Products Division, Ritchie Engineering Co. Inc. “Much of the feedback at that time, and over the past two years, came from customers wondering if the technology was viable and would be in demand.”
“[The ManTooth] launched late last year and there were two to four competitors that launched around the same time,” said Lanners. “The Bluetooth technology connects in a similar fashion, but it’s the little things that set us apart. The rechargeable lithium battery is extremely important and so is the actual hardware.”
When fully charged, the battery provides about 10 hours of battery life.
With a range up to 400 feet (unobstructed and based on smartphone or tablet Bluetooth radio strength), the ManTooth is capable of accurately reading pressures up to 700 psia (48.3 bar) and, therefore, can reliably be used on either the high or low side.
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“The ManTooth is new in the product cycle and has only been in the market for six months, but we’ve gotten quite a bit of feedback, and it has been received very positively,” said Lanners. “We are continually getting new comments that help us develop future upgrades to the app and products.”
SILVER
Taking home the silver award in this category, the t550 digital manifold from Testo Inc. measures high- and low-side pressures and temperatures. According to the company, it simultaneously displays superheat/sub-cooling in real time, has 60 refrigerant profiles onboard, features a two-way valve block with three connections, and is large in size. The unit also includes a two-line readout display and includes a free app via Bluetooth for remote monitoring, data logging/plotting, and report generation and correspondence via email.
The standard application of the product is for commissioning, maintenance, and troubleshooting of residential and commercial systems.
The product’s accompanying app grants remote monitoring to allow for multitasking. A data review option saves time for troubleshooting. Custom reports with a service company’s information and logo can be created and sent right from the job site.
According to company reps, the product was released in April 2015, after 10 years of development.
One of the contractor judges for the 2015 Dealer Design Awards had this to say about the digital manifold: “I like the fact that it comes with the clamp probes and hard case.”
BRONZE
The SMART Service Tool Kit from the Sporlan Division of Parker Hannifin Corp. earned the 2015 Electronic Tools bronze award. The kit features two wireless temperature clamps, a wireless low-pressure sensor, a wireless high-pressure sensor, two fitting adapters, and batteries that are secured in an impact-resistant case.
According to the company, The SMART service tools can be used on a/c or refrigeration systems. The lightweight sensors conveniently sync with the app on a mobile device, enabling users to read a system’s real-time pressures and temperatures. The app automatically calculates superheat and subcooling. It also has the ability to record all of the data, load the data into a .csv file, and send the file providing proof of work via email.
The company said new tools will continue to be added to the SMART service tool lineup for the a/c and refrigeration markets.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE WINNERS
GOLD WINNER
Yellow Jacket Products Division, Ritchie Engineering Co.
ManTooth™ Wireless Digital Pressure/Temperature Gauge
www.yellowjacket.com
SILVER WINNER
Testo Inc.
t550 digital manifold
www.testo.com
BRONZE WINNER
Parker Hannifin Corp. — Sporlan Division
SMART Service Tool Kit
www.sporlanonline.com
Publication date: 7/20/2015
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