An important rating on motors is the AMBIENT  temperature rating at which the motor can operate. This rating refers to the temperature of the air around the motor, not the temperature of the motor itself or even the temperature of the outdoor air, since the motor is often in a condenser air stream that is at […]

I didn't install this unit. First off, attic installations are among my least favorite applications from the standpoints of serviceability, system longevity, and a laundry list of other items. Here in Florida, it's just a bad idea due to the high humidity and temperature in a vented attic and the condensation issues that can and […]

The thermal balance point is the point at which a heat pump can move heat into the home at the same rate the home loses its heat. Above this point, the heat pump will not need any additional help to heat the home. But below it, the heat pump will need auxiliary heat with it […]

In this podcast, Jeremy Smith joins us to discuss demand cooling in low-temperature applications that use R-22 refrigerant. R-22 is NOT an ideal low-temperature refrigerant because it leads to high compression ratios. The discharge gas also gets really hot and can burn up the oil in the system. (The head of the compressor is even […]

Today, Jeremy Smith joins us to discuss low-ambient conditions and controls, condenser flooding, and headmaster valves. He has also given us a companion article on those subjects, which you can read below. Download the podcast directly HERE. As always, if you have an iPhone, subscribe HERE, and if you have an Android phone, subscribe HERE. […]

Jeremy Smith goes over floating suction and floating head refrigeration strategies. He also talks a bit more about low-ambient equipment operation. Floating suction controls developed when we started using low-pressure controls on rack refrigeration. As the electronics advanced, we developed controls that could control temperature, which impacts pressure as well. Nowadays, controls can cross data […]