Evaporator temperatures below 32° are common and acceptable in refrigeration; that's why there is a defrost sequence. In a heat pump running in heat mode, it's the same; freezing is a part of the process, and defrost is necessary. In comfort cooling, we can't allow the evaporator to get below 32°, or it will freeze. […]

We've been getting many questions on micron gauges that are ”going haywire” or reading in the micron range, even at atmospheric pressure. First, micron gauges measure absolute pressure, so you can’t ”zero” them out. They use tiny, very sensitive sensors that are calibrated to air, not refrigerant, so anytime refrigerant gets into the gauge, it's […]

Fundamentally, three-phase, alternating current motors are about as simple as a motor gets. The power company produces three phases by spinning magnets. Then, on the other end, we produce electromagnets that spin the motor according to the same 60 cycles per second frequency (60hz). All three phases are 120 degrees out of phase from one […]