Specifications

2008 Residential Appendices RA3-12
Appendix RA3 – Residential Field Verification and Diagnostic Test Protocols
1. Fill an insulated cup (foam) with crushed ice. The ice shall completely fill the cup. Add water to fill the
cup.
2. Insert two sensors into the center of the ice bath and attach them to the digital thermometer.
3. Let the temperatures stabilize. The temperatures shall be 32°F (plus or minus 1°F). If the temperature
is off by more than 1°F make corrections according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Any sensors that
are off by more than 2°F shall be replaced.
4. Switch the sensors and ensure that the temperatures read on both channels are still within plus or
minus 1°F of 32°F.
5. Affix sticker with calibration check date onto sensor.
6. Repeat the process for all sensors.
RA3.2.2.4.2 Refrigeran
t Gauge Field Check Procedure
Refrigerant gauges shall be checked monthly to ensure that the gauges are reading the correct pressures and
corresponding temperatures. The following procedure shall be used to check gauge calibration:
1. Place a refrigerant cylinder in a stable environment and let it sit for 4 hours minimum to stabilize to the
ambient conditions.
2. Attach a calibrated sensor to the refrigerant cylinder using tape so that there is good contact between
the cylinder and the sensor.
3. Insulate over the sensor connection to the cylinder.
4. Zero the low side and high side refrigerant gauges with all ports open to atmospheric pressure (no
hoses attached).
5. Re-install the hose, attach the high side gauge to the refrigerant cylinder, and open the valves to
measure the pressure in the refrigerant cylinder.
6. Read the temperature of the sensor on the refrigerant cylinder.
7. Using a pressure/temperature chart for the refrigerant, look up the pressure that corresponds to the
temperature measured.
8. If gauge does not read the correct pressure corresponding to the temperature, the gauge is out of
calibration and needs to be replaced or returned to the manufacturer for calibration.
9. Close the valve to the refrigerant cylinder, and bleed off a small amount of refrigerant to lower the high
side pressure to give a corresponding temperature to between 45°F and 55°F.
10. Open the valves between the high side gauge and low side gauge.
11. If the two gauges corresponding refrigerant temperatures do not read within 1°F of each other, the low
side gauge is out of calibration and needs to be replaced or returned to the manufacturer for calibration
12. Affix sticker with calibration check date onto refrigerant gauge.
RA3.2.2.5 Charge Measurement
The followi
ng procedure shall be used to obtain measurements necessary to adjust required refrigerant charge
as described in the following sections:
1. If the condenser air entering temperature is less than 65ºF, establish a return air dry bulb temperature
sufficiently high that the return air dry bulb temperature will be not less than 70ºF prior to the
measurements at the end of the 15-minute period in step 2.
2. Connect the refrigerant gauges to the service ports, taking normal precautions to not introduce air into
the system.