An important rating on motors is the AMBIENT  temperature rating that the motor can operate at. 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 higher […]

I have spent most of my career being afraid of hard start kits; I heard too many horror stories of start caps exploding and sales technicians telling every customer they need one. It dawned on me recently that it may be time for me to take a more mature look at start capacitors, potential relays, […]

This article is not a full lesson on making a flare, but it will give you some best practices to make a flare that doesn't leak. First off, we need to clarify that very few unitary manufacturers use flares anymore. You will most often find flares on ductless and VRF/VRV systems and in refrigeration. A […]