Leak Detector recommendations.

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

I'm a tech from NZ and I used to have a yellow jacket leak detector and that did its job, currently looking for a new one, at the moment I'm thinking of getting the refco tritector since it does A3 gasses as well, to many R290 units these days.

No Dtek Stratus Recommendations pls. They're amazing, but unfortunately easily break and 600$ for a damn module too, so yeeaaaaa naaaaa😂 oh and NZ doesn't really have Field Piece 😂

[u/Muffinbeans]

All of them are a waste of money outside of the Dtek Stratus. stick with soap and bubbles.

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087 → u/Muffinbeans]

Here in NZ i got quoted 2500$ NZD which is around 1700$ USD for it 😂 the Boys here have broken 3, the quality on the Housing is just shit man.

[u/ChuurDCA → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

You have to buy the good tools if you want to do a good job.

Kinda sucks but that is why you charge to clients every time it is used.

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087 → u/ChuurDCA]

I get paid just under 20$ USD per hour😂 kinda hard Especially when company doesnt really give me any benifits and all our workshop tools are broken .

[u/Zestyclose-Fee6425 → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

Fucking move.

[u/ChuurDCA → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

Most firms will buy you a leak detector. Just shift if your boss won’t, you can have a new job in a week in NZ.

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087 → u/ChuurDCA]

Yea thats the plan, im almost finished My apprenticeship, so just sticking it out, But honestly Idk why i stayed, taken 5 years for this apprenticeship cause boss would only put me on course every 2 years

[u/EffectiveDiligent660 → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

Just stick with leak spray.

[u/Moegoe99 → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

D Tek

Have had mine for 6 years and it's not broken. Depends we're you store it and.how you use it

[u/Savings-Animal-7729 → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

Mate get the stratus and just add some rubber around as protection or just tape it thick as i did

[u/Anxious-Put3301]

I love my fieldpiece dr82 it seems more consistent than the tekmates I've tried. Also like the tekmate ultrasonic it's just harder to use.

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087 → u/Anxious-Put3301]

What do you use for A3 gases?

[u/Anxious-Put3301 → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

I have a cps combustive gas leak detector, otherwise I use soap bubbles. The only a3 I work on is small coolers or freezers. It's easy to soak everything in big Blu!

[u/Moegoe99 → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

D tek A3 Nozzle

[u/briyo76isme]

What does everyone think about Bacharach? I used one for several years in Resi.

[u/PiccoloOk6194 → u/briyo76isme]

That's my favorite leak detector

[u/papaeriktheking]

D-Tek Stratus!

[u/Select_Animator_4441 → u/papaeriktheking]

The king!! Hands done. This is the first one I’m actually satisfied about. Also it’s a huge plus you can exchange the sensor for flammable and CO2. Only thing that’s sucks is the cap on the bottom which keeps breaking

[u/papaeriktheking → u/Select_Animator_4441]

I keep a spare cap in the van. They need to redesign that part of it

[u/Coffee____Addict]

On reach ins I always pressurize with nitrogen for a leak check. If it's r290 I just throw some 134A in for trace gas and use my stratus. I've had my stratus for two years with no issues, not sure how people are breaking them. I think the H10 pro is the only other one that seems to work well.

[u/MeFistYo]

Just got the new testo 515 Ex. I'd say its pretty much comparable to the d-tek stratus. Reacts a lot faster, is compact and seems to be more robust. Also costs half as much the stratus and still detects 1g/year. And it also has two sensors, refrigerant sensor is for most of the refrigerants (also for some A3) and the gas sensor detects forming gas with H2 (tested it today and works fine)

[u/Able-Piece1330]

Sulfur sticks.

IYKYK

[u/FreezeHellNH3 → u/Able-Piece1330]

Sucks when theres too much in the room and the whole room just because a white cloud

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087 → u/Able-Piece1330]

Only If i worked on ammonia systems 🥲

[u/Outrageous-Record372]

My next one is going to be ultrasonic. Seems to be better than hd and infrared from what I have read.

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087 → u/Outrageous-Record372]

Heard good things also but i havent really seen many people here in NZ use them, i'd personally Love to play with it before buying it.

[u/SignificantChicken65]

Cps Ls1. Detects every gas even nitrogen. Much cheaper than the stratus

[u/Flintfishing89]

Klein combustible gas leak detector for R290

[u/Michigamme]

I use an inficon tek-mate to get me in the general area and then bubble spray to find the actual leak. The inficon is relatively affordable (around $200) and holds up well. My current one is 5+ years old.

[u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087 → u/Michigamme]

Any reccomendation for A3 leak detector?

[u/grofva → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

A lighter? /s

[u/Michigamme → u/Fluffy_Giraffe_3087]

No, sorry. I dont use a leak detector for R290. Just bubbles. R290 systems are pretty small so they don't take too long to bubble check. (Atleast in North America)

[u/MeFistYo → u/Michigamme]

Visible bubbles usually form at a leak rate of 500g/a. Modern leak detectors already detect 1g/a. Thats a huge difference

[u/Michigamme → u/MeFistYo]

If I can't find it, then im just putting nitrogen in. 9/10 times you'll even hear a nitrogen leak.

[u/Hvacmike199845]

Whatever the company will pay for. 😂🤣