HVAC 360 - Episode 033 - LG Commercial AC

On HVAC 360 this week I talk to Kevin McNamara VP of LG Commercial Air Conditioning from the floor of the AHR Expo in Chicago 2012.  Mr. McNamara talks about the new Multi V III LG Multi V III(see photo right) that is on the market as well as other aspects of the company here in the US. I have to add here that the audio was slightly affected because of Mr. McNamara's height, I'm guessing 6'-6".  Also I have to add a photo of my favorite LG product the Art Cool Picture.  Yes, the picture hanging on the wall in the photo below is the evaporator section of a split system.  For full disclosure, I have never specified the Art Cool but I love the concept! If you If you have any comments about the episode please drop Art Cool Pictureme a line at matt@buildingx.co or if you enjoyed the show please spread the word an share it.  For those of you who need a few links with their content you can reach LG Commercial HVAC Division at the following Link:

LG Commercial Air Conditioning Home Page

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HVAC 360 - Episode 032 - FieldAware Software

HVAC 360 this week talks to Karl Schneider of FieldAware Software from the floor of the AHR Expo 2012 in Chicago.  FieldAware is a new software service that improves efficiency and effectiveness of field personnel.  With an asset management component being released in February 2012, they are off to a good start offering native mobile applications that can help HVAC companies increase their profitability.  For more information, a demo of their product, or a free trial, check out their website:

 www.fieldaware.com

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HVAC 360 - Episode 031 - ASHRAE Chicago 2012

In this episode of HVAC 360 I talk about the recent ASHRAE Winter Meeting I attended in Chicago. Specifically I cover the ASHRAE rebranding, their new website, and touch on a couple of the technical sessions that I sat in on. 

A couple of the links that I talk about are:

ASHRAE.org

ReTuning.org

There is just a whole host of material and presentations at the Re-tuning website so take some time to look around.

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HVAC 360 - Episode 007 - Greffen Systems

In this episode, I interview Jon Palsgaard with Greffen Systems on the AHR Expo floor. If you want more information about Greffen Systems you can find it at www.greffensys.com .

The main application for this system is hot water boilers and the savings that it achieves centers around reducing the cycling of boilers.

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Until next time know what you build, and share what you know.





HVAC 360 - Episode 006 - SMARDT Chillers

In this episode, I interview Jeremy Ouellette from SMARDT Chillers on the AHR Expo floor. If you haven't checked out the Turbocor compressor that this chiller is built around, do it now at www.smardt.com .

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Until next time know what you build, and share what you know.





HVAC 360 - Episode 005 - Clearwater Dolphin Systems

This episode has now been posted and you can download it below. As before, it is also available on iTunes if you are so inclined.

In this episode, I interview Dan Daniel of Clearwater Dolphin Systems on the AHR Expo floor.

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Until next time know what you build, and share what you know.





HVAC 360 - Episode 004 - Arcom Specifications

This episode has now been posted and you can download it below. As before, it is also available on iTunes if you are so inclined.

In this episode, I interview Mike King of ARCOM Masterspec on the AHR Expo floor.  It covers some of the what ARCOM is, why you should care, a some great features that can be real time savers.

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Until next time know what you build, and share what you know.



HVAC 360 - Episode 003 - Daikin VRF Systems

This episode has now been posted and you can download it below. As before, it is also available on iTunes if you are so inclined.

In this episode, I interview Brian Jilek of Daikin AC on the floor of the AHR Expo floor.  It covers some of the history of variable refrigerant flow technology and some design considerations when engineering a system.

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For more information about their products visit DaikinAC.com

Until next time know what you build, and share what you know.



AHR Expo 2010 Recap

I stayed to the end of the show this year just so that I wouldn't feel that I had missed some aspect of the expo.  The result, nothing new.  If you have ever been to any trade shows or participated in them, then you know the feeling of wanting to get out of there and back to your families. With the expo ending at 4pm, by 3pm exhibitors were starting to pack up and the traffic was very light.  Overall it was still a good day to ask questions as there was less competition for exhibitors.  Most of them also used the time to talk and network with each other.  So hear are my lessons learned from the expo:

Big Surprises

1. No Carrier, Trane, York, Titus, Price, Cook, Greenheck at the show.  One thought was that the investment to "show big" at the expo was not worth the outlay of cash.  Can't say that I blame them and in the end, it wasn't a detractor.

2. A lot of OEM's, by that I mean that a good portion of the exhibitors sold pieces parts for larger HVAC equipment.

3. Quit a bit of exhibitors were the target of contractors.  Showcasing tools, plasma cutters, spiral duct machines, and estimating software just to name a few things.

Must do's if you attend the conference

1. Comfortable shoes! Need I say more?

2. Pick up an AHR Expo Book listing all the exhibitors and includes a map.

3. Get there for Day One and the opening of the show, I liken it to the running of the bulls, with hoards of people flooding down the isles.

4. Get your questions answered.  Here's your chance to meet with the people who know the most about a product all in one place.  In fact, the expo gives you a unique opportunity to ask 3 different exhibitors with the same products and get a consensus answer, just like a second and third opinions.

5. Go through the AHR Expo to get your rooms not only will you get a discounted expo rate but you will also get free transportation to and from the event saving cash on parking.

6. Most importantly have fun, ask questions, start conversations with vendors like, "What makes your product the best?" or "Explain what that is and why would I use it?" or even "How much of you own booth candy have you eaten?".

Special thanks to Tim Ward and his team for helping, and hosting me, at my first AHR Expo.

AHR Expo 2010 - Day 2

The Begining of the AHR Expo day (courtesey oscareinzig.com / AHRExpo)

Day two is now done and over with and I had a chance to talk to a lot more of the exhibitors. I ended up covering the rest of the floor today and here are a few interested tid bits that I learned.

Talking with Dow Chemicals, I found out that they offer a free annual glycol test for your systems that will tell them percent glycol in the system, type of glycol, ph of the solution, and more.  I also learned the a refractometer, which is used to determine the freezing point of a fluid, is only accurate if you know what type of glycol that you are using.

Over at Trerice, I had a conversation about gauges and thermometers.  Now from my experience engineers have a bad habit of not paying attention to the types of gauges that are used (or maybe it is the contractor that is to blame, doesn't matter).  I can't remember a time when I say a liquid-filled gauge on a pump, but applications with vibrations that is the proper choice.  On thermometers, I was reminded that if you are going to use a thermometer outside make sure that it is either hermetically sealed, wash down rated, or for outdoor use.  Another type of thermometer they had on display was a light-powered digital thermometer.  Turns out that display will turn off after around 15 minutes without light but will power back-up after only 2-3 seconds of light (this of course will vary by manufacturer.  Last in our conversation was the discussion of thermal wells, it was recommended that one buy their thermal wells from the same place they buy their thermometers to ensure proper fit and make sure you use the thermal paste supplied with the thermometer to aid in thermal transfer and hinder corrosion.

Off to the last day of the AHRExpo, I wonder what I will learn today.