ecworks
12-05-2009, 03:03 AM
Starting on August 1, 2009, California's new Title-24 energy requires that the refrigerant charge be verified by an independent, third party HERS rater using one of (3) methods, the "intrusive approach" requires the HERS rater to attach gauges to the HVAC and verify the proper amount of refrigerant. The "non-intrusive" approach requires the HERS rater to take a number of temperature measurements to calculate the correct refrigerant charge. The "non-intrusive" approach however requires that HVAC installer to provide temperature measurement access holes and saturation temperature measurement sensors. This allows the HERS rater to verify the system performance and refrigerant charge without attaching gauges to the system. The temperature measurement access holes are 5/16″ holes that the contractor drills, one in the supply plenum and one in the return plenum. Exact locations are specified in the standards. HVAC installers can attend training seminars sponsored by the state to become familiar with the details of this process. I attended one recently and became fairly proficient with the process in about 2 hours of hands on training.
The Saturation temperature measurement sensors are Type K thermocouplesthat are permanently attached to the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. The plug on the end of the thermocouple is plugged into a handheld digital thermometer to read the temperature which is then converted into pressure. The Type K thermocouple must be precisely attached to the indoor coil and the outdoor unit. Sens-A-Coil is one solution for this requirement.
The most common question we get from HVAC contractors is where exactly should you install the temperature sensors on the evap and condenser coil?
Do HVAC manufacturers provide a diagram to show you?
thanks in advance for your help,
The Saturation temperature measurement sensors are Type K thermocouplesthat are permanently attached to the evaporator coil and the condenser coil. The plug on the end of the thermocouple is plugged into a handheld digital thermometer to read the temperature which is then converted into pressure. The Type K thermocouple must be precisely attached to the indoor coil and the outdoor unit. Sens-A-Coil is one solution for this requirement.
The most common question we get from HVAC contractors is where exactly should you install the temperature sensors on the evap and condenser coil?
Do HVAC manufacturers provide a diagram to show you?
thanks in advance for your help,