Touch and Feel.

[ksmejko]

Hello all.

I am quite new to Refrigeration and I have been reading this forum alot, and I find it very helpful.

I see that the majority of people here use Superheat & Subcooling to troubleshoot but I also read that a few people use Touch and Feel.

I have been putting the SH & SC method into practice, but I would also like to know how to work by touch and feel (and any other way there is). I realise that the majority of this method comes through experience but if there is any general rules then they would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

[Brian_UK]

Unfortunately the touch and feel method can't really be taught.

It is something that is not too scientific and can only be developed yourself because your feel is different to someone else's 'feel'.

It can give indications only but does need facts to back it up.

[US Iceman]

I agree with Brian. However, touch is only useful for general analysis of the system when you are trying to find problem issues or contributing factors.

Commissioning should be done by instruments, not by feel.

Touch is subjective to the person and their experience.

[Dilip sahasrabu]

Is Observing the back pressure only or standing pressure at a given ambient, current taken by system more reliable?

[nike123]

Is Observing the back pressure only or standing pressure at a given ambient, current taken by system more reliable?

Your question is not clear. Please explain more!

[coolbone69]

I agree iceman,get a themometer!

[taz24]

Hello all.

I am quite new to Refrigeration and I have been reading this forum alot, and I find it very helpful.

I see that the majority of people here use Superheat & Subcooling to troubleshoot but I also read that a few people use Touch and Feel.

I have been putting the SH & SC method into practice, but I would also like to know how to work by touch and feel (and any other way there is). I realise that the majority of this method comes through experience but if there is any general rules then they would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

You can't beat a bit of touchy feelie

When you use your hands you can only confirm if it is

Hot or Cold.

Hot or Cold is relative to you.
So Compressor discharge would be very hot (melty skin hot somtimes).
Liquid lines might be slightly warm to touch.
Wet skin will stick to the evap
and the suction will feel cold.
All rough and it would vary considrably if it was a fridge or a frezzer.

But experience will show you if it is condensing correctly,
if the liquid line is hot to touch then that could indicate problems.
If the suction is warm to touch it could indicate problems.
If the discharge is cool to touch it could indicate problems.

All genral and all dependant on application and temp range.

Cheers taz.

[FreezerGeezer]

What they said. With experience, you will find that you can tell a surprising amount by touch, but only if the systems you are working on are similar.

[paul_h]

You don't start with touchy feely. Take proper measurements so you can give hard info to someone if you're stuck, or to keep records.
When you've come across heaps of perfectly working systems, or systems that were broke and you then fixed, then you know what a perfectly working system should 'feel' like, so you can tell by touch if somethings wrong.
So it's only useful after working on a lot of systems.
eg, a warm suction on domestics is normal, a very cold one on commercial freezers is normal, a scroll or rotary discharge should be hotter than a recip discharge is.

[koel goeroe]

"Measuring is knowing" !!!
What all our refrigeration colleagues already said, with "touch and feel" an experienced person will detect if something is not right. But be assured, this will only the fact when it is really going wrong!!

[icecube51]

"Measuring is knowing" !!!
with "touch and feel" an experienced person will detect if something is not right.

it just helps him to get quicker the right tools, and get to the point faster. and touch and feel can be self teach ed.
each time you are working whit scale's and temperature instrument, try if possible to touch wat is measured, in time you learn the difference.
test yourself if you think or guess a temperature and check whit your thermometer as well.


Ice

[chillin out]

"Measuring is knowing" !!!
What all our refrigeration colleagues already said, with "touch and feel" an experienced person will detect if something is not right. But be assured, this will only the fact when it is really going wrong!!

This is the only time we ever see a fridge though....lol
But, yes you are right. 99% of the time you can get away without measurements, it's only when you get a fridge that only alarms every so often or only just doesn't get to temp the you need to use a thermometer.

You don't start with touchy feely. Take proper measurements so you can give hard info to someone if you're stuck, or to keep records.

Of course you do!!! you don't really go to last base first?...lol
Keep records..lol
Ask for help....never.....rotflmao

Chillin

[PaulZ]

Hi ksmejko
Being able to detect if something is wrong by using your senses does come with experience. Don't only use "touch and feel" use "sight and hearing".
Sight, look for traces of oil, rubbing pipework, bubbles in sight glass, etc.
Hearing, unusual noises from compressors, valves, discoloured paint on compressor heads, etc.
Put all this together with what you read with your instruments to find the problem.
Paul

[paul_h]

Of course you do!!! you don't really go to last base first?...lol
Keep records..lol
Ask for help....never.....rotflmao

Chillin

I know you're joking but I meant using touch and feel when you're first starting out in the industry like the OP. I didn't mean when an experienced person just arrived on site.

[chillin out]

Yea I was only kidding, I was also thinking outside of refrigeration as well more along a 1st date with a female scenario...lol

Chillin

[US Iceman]

...as well more along a 1st date with a female.

Sorry chillin... You have the wrong website!

[ksmejko]

Thankyou for all your replies, much appreciated.

[casstrig]

Touch and feel can only be rough indicators I prefer an infrared thermometer.There are other methods that are useful such as sound by using a screwdriver and putting your ear to it you can hear bearing noise or valves working it allows you to isolate from background noise in noisy plant-rooms.

[Gary]

Never check superheat with your tongue.