How much do you know about synchronous and V-belt drives? Or, how much do you want to know about them? The thought may not have crossed your mind too often but belt drives have always played an important role in HVAC equipment operation. Understanding their nuances may better serve technicians and customers.
CityCenter, an $8.5 billion resort development on the Las Vegas Strip, may be billed as the largest and most elaborate commercial construction project in U.S. history, but the mechanical systems that manage the indoor environment were chosen based on consistency and simplicity.
Is online buying becoming just as important as one phone call and a pickup at the parts counter? Maybe the HVAC trade isn’t ready to concede that online buying will surpass local purchases or put a big hit on traditional relationships. Yet, online sellers are making themselves hard to ignore and are working to make the buying experience quick and convenient.
One of the most common HVAC technologies - common to people inside the trade - is variable speed. Although most HVAC people know its definition and how it affects equipment performance, chances are that most customers have limited or no understanding of how it affects the equipment in their basement or attic.
Bob and Btu Buddy were on a service call yesterday where the compressor motor was running overloaded due to internal load; the bearings were dragging or worn. Btu Buddy told Bob, “Motor overload protection and circuit protection are subjects that need to be discussed later.” They’ve gotten together today for that discussion.
Historically, the two predominant motor types have been permanent split capacitor (PSC) single-speed motors and 2.3 electronically commutated motors (ECMs) with variable-speed capability. This article looks at and compares the benefits of constant torque motor technology.
Current starting relays are used on single-phase, fractional horsepower motors requiring low starting torque. Their main function is to assist in starting the motor. Start and run capacitors can be used in conjunction with current relays to boost both starting and running torque.
Compressor overheating is one of the industry's most serious field problems today. One of the most elusive causes of compressor motor overheating and failure is voltage unbalance. This article addresses voltage unbalance in three-phase compressor motors.
A simple ohmmeter is all that is needed to troubleshoot a potential relay. After taking all of the connecting wires off of the potential relay, measure the resistance across the 1 and 2 terminals.