Using equipment intended to save energy is a losing battle if that equipment isn't working properly. A new diagnostic system developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory can help ensure economizer devices purchased for rooftop air-conditioning units are working at peak performance.
PNNL's diagnostician allows building managers to remotely monitor conditions like temperature and thermostat control commands. Rather than a technician climbing onto the roof, opening the air-conditioning unit and taking measurements by hand, the rooftop diagnostician records all that information and posts it on a web page, enabling technicians to monitor the system from a desk. The constant collection of data also provides a more comprehensive view of the system's performance.