Fluke 62 Max Application Note Twenty Ways The MAX+ Infrared Thermometer Can Save You Energy And Time

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Application Note

From the Fluke Digital Library @ www.fluke.com/library

You might find it indispensable

Are you looking for a diagnostic tool that can save you money out of

the box? A tool that can help you troubleshoot malfunctioning HVAC

mechanical systems? One that is literally a “‘point and shoot” device?

The Fluke 62 MAX+ Infrared (IR) Thermometer is just that tool! In

fact, once you begin to use it you might find it indispensable. It has

become the first tool out of my tool bag (I’m a senior HVAC technician

and troubleshooter). In just a few weeks of using my Fluke 62 MAX+

IR Thermometer I found a large number of ways it could help me.

Here are some of the ways.

1. Check discharge air

temperature

You can check the discharge air

temperature of an HVAC unit

with a ceiling discharge while

standing on the ground. Not only

is this safer than using a ladder;

the values can be used to adjust

the control system and reduce

energy waste. Many air handling

units produce a 55 °F (12.7 °C)

discharge temperature.

2. Check thermostat

accuracy

Occupants often complain about

being too hot or cold. You can

check the accuracy of the room

thermostat very quickly with the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermometer.

Then you can make adjustments

to the thermostat or replace the

thermostat if necessary.

3. Check inlet and outlet

water temperatures

Water coils in HVAC systems

typically use hot or chilled water.

You can quickly check the water

temperatures at the inlet and

the outlet of the coil with the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermometer.

This will indicate proper water

temperatures, heat transfer, and

valve operation. A check can also

indicate if there are any water

balance problems.

4. Check air handler coil

temperatures

HVAC air handling units are

designed with specific coil tem-

peratures. You can use the Fluke

62 MAX+ IR Thermometer to

quickly check the coil tempera-

tures. This will reduce energy

waste and increase comfort.

Twenty ways the Fluke

62 MAX+ Infrared

Thermometer can save

you energy and time

“Many possible high-impact uses of the Fluke

62 MAX+ IR Thermometer exist, in addition to

the examples given here. Usually when I get to

the job site, I just start pointing and using the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermometer right away!”

5. Check boiler hot water

temperatures

Many buildings use a hot water

heating system. You can check

the hot water boiler temperatures

easily, quickly, and safely with

the Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Ther-

mometer. You can then adjust

the water temperature controls

to save energy and money.

A system that is even a few

degrees off over the course of

a heating season can result in

expensive energy expenditures.

6. Check steam traps

Steam trap failure can waste

energy and cause improper HVAC

system operation, resulting in a

system freeze-up. With the Fluke

62 MAX+ IR Thermometer you

can quickly identify a steam trap

that has failed either open or

closed.

2 Fluke Corporation Twenty ways the Fluke 62 MAX+ Infrared Thermometer can save you energy and time

7. Check air distribution

A room or space may have sev-

eral air distribution ducts. One

or more of them may be shut

off. With the Fluke 62 MAX+

IR Thermometer you can iden-

tify those discharge ducts that

are shut off, by checking the

discharge temperatures of the

different ducts and noting those

that do not show the correct

discharge temperature.

properly. This increases safety

because you do not need to touch

the humidifier.

11. Check chiller set

points

Many commercial buildings use

chilled water to cool the build-

ing. The chillers usually provide

water at 42 to 44 °F (5.5 to

6.6 °C). Energy will be wasted if

the chilled water temperature set

point is incorrect. You can use the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermometer to

make sure the chilled water tem-

perature provided to the building

matches the set point.

12. Check low

temperature limits

Almost all commercial air

handling units provide a low tem-

perature limit switch. To prevent

the freeze-up of a water coil, the

low temperature limit will stop

the supply fan. In some cases the

low temperature limit may be

adjusted incorrectly. You can use

the Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermom-

eter to check the calibration of the

low temperature limit and adjust

as needed.

Viewing the temperature of the condensate

line from a steam trap, to make sure it is

functioning properly.

Testing the steam trap to see whether the

trap has failed open and is wasting steam.

Measuring the steam temperature at the

inlet to the humidifier valve.

Looking at the water temperature at the inlet

to an air handling unit coil.

Checking the discharge temperature at air

distribution ducts.

8. Check for hot and cold

spots

A large room or area may have

hot or cold spots due to system

design or installation. With the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermom-

eter you can easily identify

these sources of discomfort and

complaints.

9. Check power supplies

in a panel

Many HVAC control panels have

multiple power supplies. You

can use the Fluke 62 MAX+ IR

Thermometer to quickly identify

the power supply that has failed

and is causing improper system

operation.

10. Check humidifier

operation

Many HVAC systems have a

humidifier installed. With the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermometer

you can quickly determine if

water or steam is present at the

humidifier and if it is operating

Fluke Corporation

PO Box 9090, Everett, WA 98206 U.S.A.

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PO Box 1186, 5602 BD

Eindhoven, The Netherlands

For more information call:

In the U.S.A. (800) 443-5853 or

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Fax (905) 890-6866

From other countries +1 (425) 446-5500 or

Fax +1 (425) 446-5116

Web access: http://www.fluke.com

©2014 Fluke Corporation.

Specifications subject to change without notice.

Printed in U.S.A. 10/2014 6003588a_en

Modification of this document is not permitted

without written permission from Fluke Corporation.

Fluke. Keeping your world

up and running.

®

3 Fluke Corporation Twenty ways the Fluke 62 MAX+ Infrared Thermometer can save you energy and time

13. Safe checking of

ceiling-mount equipment

A large amount of HVAC equip-

ment is mounted above the floor

in hard to reach areas, which

can cause a safety hazard. You

can use the Fluke 62 MAX+ IR

Thermometer to easily check the

temperature without exposing

yourself to any safety issues.

14. Check operation of

VAV box hot water reheat

Variable air volume (VAV)

systems are the most common

type of HVAC system installed

today. The VAV terminal boxes

control airflow and temperature

in the building spaces. Many

VAV terminal boxes are located

at the perimeter of the building

and include hot water reheat

coils. These reheat coils have

automatic valves. You can use the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermometer

to check the discharge air tem-

perature of the VAV box as well

as the reheat coil inlet and outlet

water temperatures. These tem-

peratures will indicate whether

the hot water valve is opening

and closing properly.

15. Check return air

temperatures

In addition to checking the

supply air temperatures of a

terminal or air handling unit,

it is often necessary to check

the temperature of the return

air from the room. The Fluke

62 MAX+ IR Thermometer is an

ideal instrument to use to check

the return air temperature.

16. Check electric

heating coil operation

Many buildings use air handling

or terminal units with electric

heating elements. These include

heat pumps, VAV terminal boxes,

and air handling units. If the

controls are not functioning

properly, a large energy waste

can occur which can lead to very

high energy bills. You can use

the Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Ther-

mometer to check the correct

temperature set points of the

electric heating coils.

17. Check compressor

temperature

Air conditioning and refrigera-

tion compressor failures are a

source of very high repair bills.

They also cause product loss and

system downtime. This can be

very expensive. You can use the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR Thermometer

to check the compressor tem-

peratures and detect problems

before they lead to expensive

failures.

18. Check cooler and

freezer temperatures

It is absolutely critical that

products in coolers and freezers

are maintained at the correct

temperature. The Fluke 62 MAX+

IR Thermometer can quickly

show that the products in a

cooler or freezer are stored under

the proper conditions. Since you

can point the Fluke 62 MAX+

IR Thermometer at any products

in the refrigerated space, it is

superior to simple fixed loca-

tion thermometers. And at the

same time you check the product

temperatures, you can check the

evaporator coil and discharge air

temperatures as well.

19. Check for defrost

temperatures

Ice build-up on low tempera-

ture coils will reduce equipment

efficiency. Defrost systems are

provided to melt the ice when

needed. If the defrost system

operates improperly, the refriger-

ation system may ice up and fail,

which will cause product loss.

You can easily check the defrost

system operation with the Fluke

62 MAX+ IR Thermometer.

20. Check refrigerant coil

surface temperatures and

condenser temperatures

Taking the temperature of condensate as it

goes into the drain.

Identifying the temperature of ceiling-mount

equipment. Another use of the Fluke 62

MAX+ IR Thermometer is to check

the actual coil temperatures of

refrigeration system evaporators

and condensers. These tem-

peratures indicate proper system

operation and efficiency. Improper

coil temperatures can help

identify problems while they are

small and easily correctable.

Many possible high-impact

uses of the Fluke 62 MAX+ IR

Thermometer exist, in addition to

the examples given here. Usu-

ally when I get to the job site, I

just start pointing and using the

Fluke 62 MAX+ IR thermometer

right away!