Chinese digital manifold gauge

[crabjoe]

What do you guys this about this manifold gauge? It looks to be a Chinese knock off of a Testo. FYI, this is me, who is not in the HVAC business... And the price seems to good to pass up...

http://www.crimpingtools.com/produc...manifolds-refrigeration-pressure-vacuum-gauge

Here's a pic of the specs I was emailed...

 

[brewchief]

I think that as long as you consider them just like any other cheap tool from china you will be OK, they will work fine right up to the point that they don't, this could be from day one when you open the box or it could be several years down the road. When they do fail I wouldn't have high hopes for quick and easy warranty or even non-warranty service if you can get them fixed at all.

I'm pretty sure that my analog manifold sets will still be in service after those fail, my r-22,12,134a set is 19 years old(older then the youngest tech we have) and my 410a set is 15 years old now, both have had several sets of replacement gauge heads and countless sets of hose gaskets but still work like new otherwise.

A couple years ago one of the name brand companys brought out a digital manifold that had nearly 100% failure rate, these might be better but I know I'm not going to spend the cash to find out.

I'ts nice that they do subcooling and superheat for you but I can do that off the regular gauges at a glance with a decent digital thermometer, if I ran across a refrigerant not on my gauges scales I can look up a PT chart on my phone in seconds.

 

[dreasoner]

I would concur with brewchief. I have a 4 port manifold set with a good set of high vacuum hoses for similar money as the electronic setup. I wonder how an evacuation would be affected by this setup. I have two sets of gauges. A set for POE oil based refrigerants and another for AB and mineral oil based refrigerants. Last concern would be how well the electronics would handle diverse weather changes for durability.

 

[crabjoe]

I've got analog gauges that I've had for years... But I'd like a set of digital gaues and this setup seems like it has all the features I need as a homeowner.. I already have everything as separate items .. temp probs, micron gauge, etc ... but I'd like a set of digital gauges that calculates the SH/SC and what not. Yes I know doing the calculations on paper isn't a big deal, since I only do it once in a blue moon, but I'm lazy like that... and I always seem to forget to grab the pencil and pad. lol

So would you guys say it's a decent setup for a homeowner? Looking at the unit, I can't tell if it's a Testo, that they're selling as a private label or if it's just a knock-off.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It's only good if you can read Chinese...



Tommy

 

[crabjoe]

It's only good if you can read Chinese...



Tommy

Google translator does magical things..

這是唯一的好，如果你能讀中國...


I think I'm going to gift one to myself, once I get my well water situation taken care of...

 

[bonneyman]

Shoot, that's alot of money for an Asian electronic *******.
When TIF came out with their digital gauge set some years ago, I looked at it. Way too expensive, way to fragile for roof work, totally unnecessary.

Look, I've been using analog gauges for 30 years. Never had a problem. You drop and bust a gauge - $30 gets you a replacement at any shop in town. And figuring Superheat and subcooling becomes second-nature after yo do it awhile.
Plus, in most instances it's superfluous to be able to read 1/10th of a PSI or degree. Especially for the DIYer. You just don't need that kind of precision.

Scour Craigslist and ebay - I'm always seeing nice old S+USA-made manifold sets for reasonable. Clean 'em up, replace the o-rings, and you're set

 

[crabjoe]

Shoot, that's alot of money for an Asian electronic *******.
When TIF came out with their digital gauge set some years ago, I looked at it. Way too expensive, way to fragile for roof work, totally unnecessary.

Look, I've been using analog gauges for 30 years. Never had a problem. You drop and bust a gauge - $30 gets you a replacement at any shop in town. And figuring Superheat and subcooling becomes second-nature after yo do it awhile.
Plus, in most instances it's superfluous to be able to read 1/10th of a PSI or degree. Especially for the DIYer. You just don't need that kind of precision.

Scour Craigslist and ebay - I'm always seeing nice old S+USA-made manifold sets for reasonable. Clean 'em up, replace the o-rings, and you're set

10, 15 years ago, when I helped an old neighbor do weekend side jobs here and there, I'd watch him do calculations like it was nothing... He'd explain what he was doing and I never paid much attention since I was basically there for labor. I remember him taking temps and what not then adjusting pressures like it was nothing... When ever I had a problem, I'd ask him what I might need to look for and he was always right. He was like you, and he did this for a living.

Me... I'm just a DIYer because I like to make sure things are done right and it allows me to save a few bucks. Now getting back to doing it right is why I want digital gauges. I don't want to take a chance on messing something up since I don't do this on a regular bases... These digital gauges basically tell you what you need to do... You pick the refrigerant, hook up the probes and bam! They tell you... Hard to mess up, unless the gauge is bad..... Plus, I like tools..

BTW, what I'd really like is the SMAN460, but them boogers are way to expensive ... not as bad as the iManifold, but still priced up there...

 

[bonneyman]

10, 15 years ago, when I helped an old neighbor do weekend side jobs here and there, I'd watch him do calculations like it was nothing... He'd explain what he was doing and I never paid much attention since I was basically there for labor. I remember him taking temps and what not then adjusting pressures like it was nothing... When ever I had a problem, I'd ask him what I might need to look for and he was always right. He was like you, and he did this for a living.

Me... I'm just a DIYer because I like to make sure things are done right and it allows me to save a few bucks. Now getting back to doing it right is why I want digital gauges. I don't want to take a chance on messing something up since I don't do this on a regular bases... These digital gauges basically tell you what you need to do... You pick the refrigerant, hook up the probes and bam! They tell you... Hard to mess up, unless the gauge is bad..... Plus, I like tools..

BTW, what I'd really like is the SMAN460, but them boogers are way to expensive ... not as bad as the iManifold, but still priced up there...

10-4 If you buy it at least give us a review, as I for one would like to know how that brand works out.