Sam's blog

With the weather beginning to change, the “Combustion Season” is again upon us. It’s time to analyze your old equipment and see what needs to be replaced. A new CD100A Combustible Gas Detector by UEi would be a great addition or replacement to your existing equipment. This detector is lightweight and can be used with one hand. There is an option for a headphone jack as well which can help if you are in a congested area or working in a noisy environment.

The UEi C155 Combustion Analyzer is a no nonsense analyzer that gets the job done. This analyzer can measure temperature (20-2400 F), CO2 (0-20%), CO (0-2,000ppm). The C155 uses a CO2 sensor and the CO measurements to calculate the O2 present which increases the shelf life of the sensors.

Today I will be going over the TSI 9515 VelociCalc Air Velocity Meter. This meter is an excellent entry level air velocity meter for the professional HVAC technician. The TSI 9515 separates itself from the plethora of air velocity meters in this price range by having a range of 0 to 4,000 ft/min (0 to 20 m/s) and an accuracy of 5%.

Last week I wrote about the TSI HM675 Hydronic Manometer . Today I will be discussing its older brother the TSI HM685 Hydronic Manometer.  The HM685 manometer is an upgrade over the HM675 and has the same features but with a few upgrades. First the HM685 can calculate flow, heat flow, impeller diameter and brake power.

It appears that logic and common sense has prevailed. In an announcement that seemed all too obvious, TSI Alnor has released a few new accessories for their TSI Alnor EBT731 Balometer. This includes a wheeled stand that can extend up to 15ft in the air and LogDat Mobile software that can be used via Bluetooth to operate the Balometer and see data, take pictures, record voice annotations and generate reports.

Finding a quality hydronic manometer can be a tough task. However, the TSI HM675 Hydronic Manometer is great choice. The HM675 can simultaneously measure and display low side, high side, and differential pressure. This unit also has a nice splash-proof case and inputs for two temperature probes. The HM675 reads pressure in H2O, ft H2O, psi, in. Hg, m H2O, kPa, mm Hg, bar and has a range of 0 to 300 psi.

The General Tools model DCS050 has been discontinued.

Klein Tools may be a new name in Test and Measurement, but they are legendary in quality and performance. They have entered the Test and Measurement with quite a splash and are continuing that trend with the Klein Tools VDV501-815 TDR Ranger Kit. This multi-function tester is a powerhouse that can handle TDR, Cable Length Measurement, Fault Finding and Cable Management.

Today we are entering the exciting world of video borescopes! Ok, it might not be the most exciting world to be in, but I will try my best to imagine. When I first received this assignment to preview the Klein Tools ET500 I was not exactly thrilled. I was expecting more of the same that you usually get in the price point this instrument falls in. Normally you would get a borescope that is awkward to use with flimsy probes that don’t hold form very well.

      One of the many things I hear about Combustion Analyzers is they are too expensive. While I may disagree, I do understand that for many people spending $1200 or more on a premium combustion analyzer is not within their budget constraints. Being able to squeeze as many features into their purchase without breaking the bank is a tough balance. Everyone wants the full color display with the touch screen and Bluetooth but sometimes, it’s just not in the cards.