Best Digital HVAC Gauges
Are Digital HVAC Gauges Worth It?
Are you finally looking to make the leap into a set of wireless digital refrigeration manifold gauges for HVAC and Refrigeration work? If not, you really should be.
While these tools are not essential to perform quality work in the HVAC trade, they do provide many benefits. I’ve listed the best Digital HVAC gauges below with the pros and cons of each to help you decide which set is right for you.
Testo Smart Probes Digital Gauges
I’ve been using the Testo Smart probes since they first came out. They have since come out with the 2nd generation probes, and the wireless Bluetooth capabilities have improved greatly. The pressure probes (549i) Temperature clamps (115i) and the humidity - capacitive / NTC probes (605i) all boast an advertised range of 350 feet. All other optional devices (Hotwire anemometer, vane anemometer, manometer, infrared, and K-type thermometer all have a wireless range of 60 feet.
The Testo wireless digital gauges can be used with the native Testo Smart Probe app and are also compatible with the Measure Quick app. I have found both apps to work great, but the measure quick app has many more features. These tools allow you to quickly calculate several system parameters such as superheat, sub-cooling, volume flow, etc. with up to 6 probes connected at a time. Monitor and create trend logs via the app which can be sent as an excel file (.csv) or PDF.
Pros:
Value- very affordable, Expand ability, 8 different types of probes for a wide range of uses, refined 2nd generation reliability, intuitive native app as well as compatibility with Measure quick., Large Temp range -58 to 302 F, Testo name and support. Teflon gasket in pressure probes seems to be very durable, could be problematic to find replacement vs a normal 1/4’ hose gasket. This set of digital HVAC gauges are well tested and have proven themselves a top performer.
Cons:
Requires 3 AAA batteries with similar life of other probes that use only 2. No temperature compensation for pressure probes, Gen I units suffer from short Bluetooth range and connectivity issues. No listed IP resistance rating
iManifold iConnect Probes
The iConnect probes are the most expensive set of digital HVAC gauges on this list by far. Are the iConnect probes worth it? At $1600 and a bulkier setup, they were not worth it for me. iConnect probes can operate on their native iManifold app as well as measure quick. Both iManifold and measure quick apps were designed by Jim Bergman, who has publicly stated that measure quick is more accurate in the diagnosis features built into the app.
The Iconnect 900-c base station will allow up to 12 wireless gauge connections, and up to 52 measurements at one time. The digital temperature gauges are not wireless on their own and require that they plug into the wireless pressure gauge to transmit data through that devices built in radio. This was designed to cut down on production costs.
One Stand out feature is the ability to purchase custom refrigeration multi compressor circuit modules. This is the only set of digital HVAC gauges on this list that can fully monitor multiple refrigeration circuits at once. Although, it is rumored that the feature may be in development for use with other probes on the MQ app.
Pros:
High quality components, Cooper-Atkins thermistors, extreme long range, multiple refrigeration circuits
Cons:
Extremely Expensive, Bulky compared to many other digital gauges listed here. Also they are Expensive,
UEI Hub Smart Refrigerant Diagnostic Kit
Uei is a little late with their smart probes, and they probably should have worked out the bugs before releasing them. Most users that I have spoken with have not had great experiences with the UEI Smart HUB2, HUB4, or HUB6 kits. The app does not appear to be user friendly, only provides very basic calculations and data, as well as a limited 44 refrigerant library. The HUB kits are now also compatible with measure quick app.
Many reviews complain of the digital gauge probes leaking after only a few uses, and others stating the probes stop working all together within a few months. One odd feature of this kit is that the temperature clamp probes are not wireless on their own, they connect to the pressure gauges via a wire and transmit through the wireless portion of the pressure gauge, which was most likely designed to save money, just as the iconnect probes were.
This could be an ok option for someone on a very limited budget, but you are probably better off saving up just a bit more for one of the other digital gauge kits.
Pros:
Affordable, integration with measure quick, UEI is looking to expand and Improve, the HUB8 with outdoor air sensor and micron gauge should be released soon.
Cons:
Quality control issues, not completely wireless like others, bulky, limited temperature range 32-176 dgrees F.
Field Piece JL3KH6 Job Link Charge and Air Kit
Field Piece tools are consistently ranked at or near the top when it comes to HVAC tools, and their refrigeration charge and air digital HVAC gauges are no exception. Long-range Bluetooth that is strong enough to transmit through most walk-in coolers and freezers, and extreme temperature and pressure accuracy make these probes a great choice.
The JL3H6 kit is compatible with the measure quick app as well as the native field piece app. Most users find the native app to be very poor and elect to use MQ instead.
The probes are compact, store nicely in a soft case, and are designed for harsh use with IP55 water resistance rating.
Pros:
High accuracy - rated to +/- 1 Degree F and +/- 1 PSIG, battery life on 2-AAA batteries, Gauge Probes auto calibrate for accuracy at any elevation, 45 degree offset pressure fittings, psychrometers feature flexible narrow probes and integrated magnet. Field Piece name and customer support.
Cons:
Pressure gauge probe caps are a little short which can cause difficulty connecting to some service valves, native app is not user friendly or intuitive, eco system is not as large as the Testo options.
Parker Sporlan SMART Service Tool Kit
The Sporlan SMART Service gauges do not seem to be as well known as the others on this list. This kit has a very small footprint compared to everything else, but also only includes 4 probes. This kit will include 2 temperature clamps and 2 wireless digital pressure gauges. Sporlan does not appear to have any other optional probes at this time.
The Sporlan probes are also compatible with measure quick as well as their native app.
I have seen claims that these are made in the USA but have not been able to find any literature from the manufacture confirming this.
Pros:
Sporlan product, small size, includes hard pelican case, good temp range -40 to 250 F
Cons:
Poor Wireless Range of 60ft, uncommon battery size CR2450, more expensive with less features than competing options.
Yellow Jacket 67002 ManTooth Dual digital Pressure Gauge Set
Yellow Jacket has long been an innovator and manufacture of quality HVAC and refrigeration Tools. The 67002 digital wireless gauge set features 2 pressure probes as well as 2 temperature probe clamps.
A unique feature of the Yellow Jacket smart gauges are the built in refrigerant charging ports. This is a very nice addition that no other brand has implemented until now. This feature eliminates the need to carry an additional fitting to charge the system. Simply connect up to the system as normal, and use the second port to hook up a bottle of refrigerant for charging. I believe that all digital HVAC gauges should have this feature.
The Yellow Jacket ManTooth probes are compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Android devices via the free Mantooth app. These digital HVAC gauges are the newest set of wireless probes to the market, so I have not had a chance to test these myself, but there are already a handful of reports questioning the durability and build quality. The negative reviews mention leaking fittings, usb charging ports coming apart, and poor Bluetooth signal.
Pros:
Charing port built in to the tool, no need to carry additional fittings
Price
Track and store service history via the App.
Cons:
Rechargeable battery with 10 hour battery life. I prefer to be able to quickly swap a fresh set of batteries when needed
Bluetooth range and connectivity is poor compared to others on the list
Not compatible with measure quick
Size - The probe bodies are larger and can limit the ability to fit into some gauge port areas.
Benefits of Using Digital gauges for HVAC Work
When the Digital HVAC gauges first came out, I thought that they were a complete waste of money. I was of the mindset that, I didn’t need a digital readout, or some fancy gauges calculating super-heat / sub-cooling for me. I knew how to use a thermocouple and how to read a pressure-temperature chart myself. I never did end up purchasing a digital manifold gauge set, but I have since purchased 2 sets of wireless digital gauges, and I am sure glad that I did.
The accuracy of digital gauges far surpasses analog gauges of the past. You most definitely can get the job done with analog gauges, but why limit yourself with old technology?
Digital gauges also allow for real-time data from one location. Having superheat / subcooling data updating in real-time on your smartphone or tablet is much more efficient than comparing your analog gauge to your P/T chart and then comparing it to your line temp to make the calculation. Troubleshooting a TXV that is hunting, or a faulty head pressure control intermittently failing using digital readout on a gauge really simplifies the task.
The small footprint and lack of hoses help you to get the most accurate readings. How many pieces of equipment have service ports in a terrible location? Often times, using hoses and manifold gauge set allows air to bypass the coil altering the data. Maybe you will instead opt to use stubby analog gauges to prevent the airflow problems, but you are then left with not being able to see your gauges. Digital Smart gauges solve this problem.
Other benefits include data logging, report generating, and safety. As electrical safety requirements become more and more stringent across the country, wireless tools reducing exposure to live high voltage components should be a priority for everyone.
I hope that this will help you to purchase a set of wireless digital HVAC gauges that will work best for you. Let me know which ones you are using or which ones you are thinking about getting in the comments below!
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