Best HVAC Manifold for Apprentices

Which manifold should I buy? Digital or Analog? Traditional or Smart Probes?

[@jayvibez8822]

I'm a student wrapping up the domestic portion of AC/Refrigeration and I really want the NAVAC NRM2B0201 but I'm concerned that it isn't rated for enough refrigerants. I start Commercial refrigeration in weeks followed by commercial air. Not sure which one I want a career in yet, which NAVAC do you think s best for me? Or should I go full digital with the Testo 570?

[@NeDesitHVAC]

I love the NAVAC manifolds. And I believe it is important to begin with an analog set. I must be honest with you here though I do mostly residential with some commercial and light industrial work so I will give my opinion but I would also defer to some of the guys who do more commercial and refrigeration work... In my experience so far that seems like a good choice r22, 134a, and 410a is what I have come into contact with most. There was a guy who commented a while ago (wasn’t the nicest but had a good point I had not considered) he only really uses analog gauges in his work. He was concerned with the lag between the digital display and changes in pressure that are easier to see in analog gauges.. You can’t go wrong with the Testos! But it’s a hefty investment in one piece of kit when just getting started. So many other tools you will need also.. if you decide on digitals check trutechtools they have a used and clearance section where you can great deals and the discount codes still Work on top of that! Hope this helps. If you hVe more questions email me [e-mail]

[@jayvibez8822]

@@NeDesitHVAC thanks for the detailed and true hearted reply!! That navac specifically covers those 3! The one I have funded by my school is rated for 410a, 404 and and R-22. But this dilemma came up for me because we were doing the steps from recovery all the way to charge on a R 134a domestic refrigerstor and we had to use ours which weren’t rated and just look at the pressure, so it wasn’t optimal. Ambient Temperatures were all we had to rely on for that instance. Also, I can see why that point would make sense about analogs, due to the consistent changing nature of air and pressure inside and out! Those digitals are bad ass though, and I can see how they make everything easier but that’s probably detrimental to an apprentice like myself understanding of what’s going on in the system.

[@NeDesitHVAC]

@@jayvibez8822 exactly! Need to SEE the pressure temperature relationship and do the math for Subcool And superheat. Learn what normal Looks like. If you already have hoses just buy the manifold it’s like $68 right now without hoses. But I think your school did that on purpose to make you use the pressure readings and a PT chart. With the new refrigerants coming online soon we will all be using charts or buying new gear to keep up. It’s a good skill to have. And you can use your chart to predict what your temps or pressures should be also. Great podcast from HVAC school with Jim Bergman from a few years ago that goes deep into the math and design of how a system works

[@jayvibez8822]

@@NeDesitHVAC this has been very insightful, thank you! I definitely have a set of hoses and a spare, a good PT chart with most refrigerants and have gone through many of the motions, so I will upgrade for sure to a much nicer analog than what I have (which is always good for a spare) glad to know I’m being familiarized with things I’ll for sure need to do. But videos like yours and good podcasts like the one you mentioned (which I will look Into) and another one that I like HVAC Know it All have been KEY to having myself do rather well in school. Can’t wait to hit the field in the coming months!

[@NeDesitHVAC]

Thanks brother! That means a lot. My mission is to help guys get into the trade and make better decisions than I did when I started out

[@edwardgryszkiewicz4541]

Just getting started in the field, I'm working on my equipment now, your video was very helpful. Thanks

[@newphone4474]

Awesome vid appreciate you started getting back to Hvac after a long hiatus very helpful

[@resurgensix]

Great job giving us newbies quality low price choices. Also lowering the weight of our packs helps alot.

[@Anthony-nr1nd]

That is actually very true a master HVAC technician told me years ago to learn from compact gauges before upgrading so I did I got the Titian 4 valve set at first but after years of use and about 2 rebuilds I figure by now I deserve a nice set so I opted for the testo 557s model with hoses and it is definitely is a way better set up then the fieldpiece even tho they are legends in the ac/refrigeration world testo mastered the layout of the display in my opinion.

[@miguelrodriguez-qu7hr]

Very grateful for the advice, to get an analog manifold

[@NeDesitHVAC]

In my opinion it’s the best choice to get started. Which do you have or looking at?

[@orlandogarcia-ruiz5534]

This has been very helpful god bless.hope you do more informative videos

[@robertwalker7979]

Thank you for this video. I am still new to the field and I just have a basic pair of Yellow Jackets but at my new job I am seeing my coworkers busting out these fancy Testo electric manifolds which work with practically every refrigerant except for a few drop ins we have tried out for R 22. Now I am trying to determine if it's worth it to bust out a few hundred dollars on something nice myself...

[@yaghoob2000]

Great video, well presented. l liked it a lot. Thanks

[@Samlol23_drrich]

I’m not in the HVAC business, but I do run my own company. When I first started, my accountant said to me “it’s not what you produce, it’s what you take home”. He was right. If you do 100k worth of business and your overhead is 99k cause you always buy the most expensive stuff, you’ll be working for nothing. There is always another tool or item to buy. Smart businesspeople know what you need, you buy. What you don’t need, you wait a week or two and see what you think. Thanks for the video.

[@Aaron-cd7rx]

Great video buddy, and useful points for sure. I've personally always used analog gauges and I think always will. That's all one need if you truly understand the correlation between pressure and temperature. I see way too many techs around that use fancy $800 gauges and still under or over charge systems :) And by the way I have the NAVAC manifold and yes the quarter turn valves and overall build quality is superior to many others.

[@NeDesitHVAC]

You cannot beat the 1/4 turn knobs! I buy my stuff on clearance or used now... learned that lesson only once. It all ads up quite quickly if you let it

[@THETIMINATORTHETOOLMAN]

Thanks for the video I just got the testo gen 2 probes I still have a basic yellow jacket manifold but I really like the analog manifold you were showing. I need to do a video review on the testos on my channel after I’ve used them for a bit

[@NeDesitHVAC]

Please do! I want to see the new ones in action I wonder if they have made them low loss now or not?

[@THETIMINATORTHETOOLMAN]

I will get the video up soon. I haven’t had a chance to use them yet. They do not appear to be low loss fittings. I was thinking of getting those short hoses with the valves and low loss fittings

[@THETIMINATORTHETOOLMAN]

The specs say that they are low loss fittings but I guess I will find out soon

[@Samlol23_drrich]

Very good content. Thank you.

[@alexanderboyd2280]

Bless you sir! I’ve been having a hard time making decisions

[@NeDesitHVAC]

Hey brother I hope it helped! Just got the fieldpiece probes to do a comparison and review soon

[@SilverBackELTorro]

My gauges are out of whack so I'm looking to buy a new set. Was thinking on getting the digital Testo set but going to stick with those analog 3 port one you showed.

[@jairohernandez7456]

Awesome appreciate it

[@craigmarshall40]

Thank you great info

[@takeiteasymac3206]

Thanks for the knowledge

[@kingdomrecordingstudio9436]

NAVAC is a great tool I like to use all the time in my opinion.

[@NeDesitHVAC]

I love the NAVAC manifold. The fact that it comes in such a nice case for the price is amazing.

[@kaylamarie8309]

Almost 1,500 views an not one person has commented. Hmm. Well, great video Sir and I appreciate you taking the time to put it out there! :-)

[@NeDesitHVAC]

Thanks Kayla! I have had to take a bit of time off from video making recently but have a few in the pipeline to upload soon.

[@kaylamarie8309]

@@NeDesitHVAC You are quite welcome Sir. Well I will be looking forward to watching them when they post :-)

[@MrGabriel1973]

Nice advice but I’ll prefer my Fieldpiece it’s complete and very trusty

[@craigmarshall40]

I just purchased a set of the testo smart probs only used them one time and as you said you get a pretty good amount of loss when removing them can I ad a low loss fitting to them or will that cause any problems?

[@rendel2358]

What about the Yellow Jacket Manifold gauges vs navac?

[@keldon_champion]

This is just preferance but I prefer a analog manifold with removable gauges because i can reseal them and if needed replace just the gauge I started off with a low pressure (each tic mark is 1 psi) yellow jacket and a high pressure (each tic is 5 psi) JB set however if you are only doing AC you probably don't need a low pressure set thats mostly for refrigeration. Those 2 served me well for years and continue to do so, I now have the testo 550i and the field piece SM480V, I find the fieldpiece to be much than the testo and I personally would not have bought the testo if I could have a do over, I find testo's guages are good enough for AC and light refrigeration but they are not accurate enough to dial in a rack when you are trying to run 3-5F of super heat. If you are starting out in the industry I can't recommend starting with a good set of analog guages enough they will serve you well and even after you eventually get something fancy you will still use them, I still use mine all the time for systems that I am concerned are dirty or if I have to move oil around to prevent shitting up my field piece with wet POE or acid.

[@robertgephardtjr95]

Thank you

[@TodoFrigorista]

El mejor instrumento es la mano del hombre. Saludos

[@transambeing]

What was the name of your analog gauge set I cannot find them on true tech they don't seem to offer analog gauges anymore thank you

[@jameswolff2120]

Are hilmor tools good?

[@TomGuo1039]

is vacuum gauge is necessary？

[@SoutheastHVAC]

I’ve only been doing it for 3 years. Been in supermarkets 2 of those years. Use analogs everyday. I have a yellow jacket set but only use them messing with super particular stuff such as pressure transducers. Even adjusting superheat 95% of the time I’m analog. I guess I’m just tired of batteries dying lmao

[@NeDesitHVAC]

Bro the batteries are killing me! Every tool uses 3 AAA.

[@scrambler350]

That's why I don't use bluetooth gauges every day - my phone would be dead by mid-day on some jobs - or I'd have to carry the companies iPad out of the van and leave it out on the jobsite....which also worries me in certain situations.

[@robertgephardtjr95]

I wanted to see that high dollar one lol

[@b-2466]

I'm just starting out (in school) wish I had watched this before I got my 380v sman

[@BartSimpson-nr1dy]

You’ll never regret owning that SMAN. Don’t sell it. Keep it and appreciate a wise purchase. I would high recommend you stay away from testo. Many problems with testo. I own the SMAN, Imperial analogs and the Imperial iManifold and absolutely love them. Best of luck to you

[@NeDesitHVAC]

Brandon those are great tools! Just don’t let the computer make you lazy

[@BR_ENTERTAINMENT]

What do you think PM digital manifold gauge

[@NeDesitHVAC]

Not sure what you asking about

[@liljfk9314]

Been in the AC part of the trade for 2 years. Tip, don't buy Testo equipment. The Testo manifolds are awesome but the small things like wireless temp clamps are way off. Like temp should be 40f but it's 30f if you have them test it against a normal wired clamps

[@hvaciqguy2655]

Lol, maybe you've got testo confused w/something else. Testo is well known for being among the most accurate instruments in the world. I own the 550, 550s, 557, 557s, I own two full probe kits... lol, I own a-LOT of testo equipment, and I'm sorry, but what youre saying is so untrue... Idk where you live, but I wish you wer eclose. I'd show you something with Testo that you won't EVER see with Fieldpiece. I own just as much Fieldpiece as Testo. Hell, we'll start out by just doing an ACTUAL comparison between Testo and Fieldpiece. But not like all these "tech's" do, by comparing half the Testo kit to a full Fieldpiece kit. the first thing you'll notice is how much more Testo will do than Fieldpiece. Did you know that the Testo probe kit coes with 11 probes? and Testo only does one manometer, unlike Fieldpiece which has two. I've literally spent my entire adult life in the HVACR industry. I am now a business owning mechanical contractor, TIP, don't listen to this guy. Go buy you some testo probes. It'll be the best purchase you ever made... If you know how to use them...

[@liljfk9314]

@@hvaciqguy2655 test it 😂

[@machaf]

@@hvaciqguy2655 He said 2 year experience...Gotta trust him bruh, he knows what he talking about.

[@jman0870]

I only use analogs. One day I might spend some moldy money and buy some smart probes but nothing beats the reliability of a good set of analogs!

[@shrek22]

Except the accuracy of digital

[@jman0870]

@@shrek22 look out, the resi guy who's van is always 50 yards or less away and can't read an analog clock is here.

[@NeDesitHVAC]

I don’t know what are saying.. hoping it’s a little friendly kidding

[@jman0870]

@@NeDesitHVAC anyone who refuses to admit that analog gauges are our bread and butter has never worked more than a 30 second walk from his battery bin on his truck. AKA your average residential "supertech" who thinks all residential split systems are critically charged. That's what I'm saying. Dude probably can't even read a PT chart or define glide without google. Analogs are an invaluable tool that can never be replaced by electronics. Just like EVERY tech should carry an analog volt meter because no electronics read anything in real time. I just had to explain to a service tech a few months ago that the reason his RTU was locking out on undervoltage was because his control voltage was dipping under 24v. His fluke volt meter never displayed less than 24v. Guess what. It was locking out before the meter could react. Know what the problem was? A shorted hot gas bypass solenoid coil. If he owned an analog volt meter he could have fixed it on the first try before he replaced a $500 (our cost) board that didn't fix the issue. Sorry, not sorry.

[@realSamAndrew]

@@jman0870 I hope you see this after all this time ;) but can you explain the part about all residential split systems critically charged?

[@jorgearturohacesdelagarza9486]

What is the brand of your analog manifold?

[@raulpinedagonzalez9433]

NAVAC

[@NeDesitHVAC]

What Rail said lol

[@stevensrspcplusmc]

You can get a 3 port testos for a little over 300,great manifold.. I think digitalis would be better, I see too many 410 units over charged by amateurs using compound gauges..

[@hvaciqguy2655]

In that case digi's wont help. People do that because they don't know how to read gauges. sending that person up a grade (so to speak) is not the answer.

[@realSamAndrew]

I'm with havaclQguy on this. It's not the compound gauges that's making those jokers overcharge.

[@yuhyuh6775]

Go with digital first. As an apprentice I started out with digital. Never used analog but know how to calculate super heat and subcool on them. Not rocket science. Digital is much more accurate IMO and will save you time when diagnosing and charging new systems. If you can afford it go digital

[@NeDesitHVAC]

It is not difficult but in my opinion it makes you dependent on the machine to tell you that machine is ok. Much more to it than 10° Subcool and move on. Not saying you but a lot of new guys have no clue outside is Subcool good. Also you will ALWAYS need a backup or a manifold for contaminated systems. Just my two cents

[@ginavenegas491]

I think you said truetech 10 times

[@BenandAshli]

The digital gauges save so much time in every single way. Just get the measure quick app and your basically a pro. Or just get a hammer and bang on the system really hard then sell a new one to the customer lol jk.

[@scrambler350]

To me....it saves a helluva lot more time to hook up my SMAN or bluetooth probes and have ALL the info on ONE screen instantly. Using an analog meter with a separate thermocouple on a meter or a separate dual temp thermometer with beads or clamps is just more to carry around. They work well as long as you make sure you're zero'd and your temp clamps are calibrated and accurate. However, there are still times I like or NEED to have analog gauges because I want to see the needles moving or they're just all I need to make a quick check or top a known leaker off for the weekend till we can get the coil or system changed-out. I recommend having all the tools in your arsenal and using them all when they are the best tool for the job: digital manifold, analog manifold, bluetooth gauges, and analog stub gauges for quick checks.