Using Testing Tools to Troubleshoot Tenant Temperature Torture
While one of our contractor customers was at the counter in our Sacramento branch picking up an order, he brought up another issue he was trying to solve.
This specific issue had to deal with comfort and the questionable functionality of a Honeywell zone valve. The tenant was uncomfortable and complained to the property manager that the zone they were occupying never seemed to heat up (reach set point). Our contractor customer checked the valve for 24v power and witnessed minimal stroke but could not do much else with the tools he had on hand. All he knew at this point was that the actuator was receiving power and moving.
To help narrow down the possibilities we provided him with a quote and specifications for 3 different Analog Signal Generators….Dwyer ASG, Dwyer CSG and Johnson Controls M9000-200. The customer selected a simple handheld model from Dwyer (not needing all the functionality of the more robust models).
With this handheld tool from Dwyer the Field Tech will be able dial up a 0-10v or 4-20mA signal to provide a control signal appropriate to the actuator he wants to test. By knowing for certain which signal the actuator is receiving, the Field Tech can easily determine if the actuator is behaving appropriately to that input signal…and from that, he can determine if it’s the actuator or the original control signal being sent that is the primary issue. He is also going to use the device to set up outside air damper/mix air damper arrangement on roof-top units to ensure the dampers are in a proper relation to one another and allow the correct amount of outdoor air for ventilation.
One simple tool in this Field Tech’s toolbox will now alleviate any guesswork as to where the problem originates in this and similar cases…not to mention the time and money saved as opposed to buying the “wrong” part to fix the problem when you’re operating from an “educated guess.”
Applications where an Analog Signal Generating device can be of use: troubleshooting transmitters, transducers, motors, and actuators”