by High Performance HVAC | Thermostats |

HVAC Products Containing Mercury and Proper Disposal - Mercury is extremely harmful to the environment and causes severe health problems in humans and animals. For many years HVAC and HVAC Controls manufacturers have used mercury in switches.
Mercury is a liquid metal and provides a good source used in many switches because of its fluidity and conductivity. From thermostats to boiler controls the liquid metal provides a reliable and efficient switching mechanism to start and stop certain sequences in HVAC applications. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Thermostats |
Thermostat Wire - Thermostat wire comes in a bundle with the outer jacket being either brown or white. The bundle can have anywhere from 2 conductors inside the bundle or outer jacket and all the way up 8 or 10 conductors inside the outer brown or white jacket. The bundle for typical wire is 18 gauge solid copper conductors and each has its own outer jacket that is a different color than any of the other conductors in the bundle. These multi-color wires are colored differently for identification from one end of the bundle to the other end of the bundle. It can be purchased in a bundle as follows:
This article refers to conventional thermostat wire which is different than the wire you would have if you have a communicating thermostat.
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by High Performance HVAC | Direct Digital Controls |
What you will learn from this
Building Automation Systems article:
- The efficiency and conveniences Building Automation Systems add to the building control systems and HVAC systems
- How Building Automation enhances building energy savings and troubleshooting problems
- How allowing controllers to communicate with each other enhances HVAC and electrical systems
- Many of the benefits of Building Automation Systems for Building Automation and Building Control Systems
- Communication Protocols and Integration of HVAC Systems, Lighting, and other Building Control Systems
- Building Control System User Interface for Remote Monitoring and Control
- Monitoring Energy Consumption and Energy Efficiency
- Lastly, resource and Related Links to help you learn more
Many people wonder what Building Automation Systems (BAS) can do. The primary use of BAS is commercial HVAC control systems and energy management system applications. Building Automation itself is an energy management system that saves management companies and building owners by efficiently controlling air conditioning and heating comfort and process systems.
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by High Performance HVAC | Air Handlers |

The air handler coils should be checked for dirt and debris which may have been sucked into the air handler inadvertently. Some air handlers have filters inside them before the coils. It is a good time to change the filters when making this check.
Any dirt or debris on the coil(s) should be removed immediately as these things will impede airflow through the air handler and throughout the entire system as a whole. Dirty evaporator coils can cause AC problems. Some air handler coils are installed in the air handler cabinet while other coils are installed in the ductwork. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Commercial HVAC |

Air Source Chillers provide cool water for a hydronic piping system
How Hydronics Works | HVAC Technical for Consumers - Hydronics refers to using water and chilled water, steam boilers and hot water boilers, and other methods of transferring heat using water.
A boiler or chiller is used to heat or cool the water and then the water is transferred through the hydronic piping loops to heat exchangers such as coils or baseboards where heat is transferred from the water to the air for heating and from the air to the water for cooling to provide comfort for people or a process.
Hydronics is very popular in commercial and industrial HVAC applications for heating and cooling occupants in large buildings and providing heating and cooling for equipment and machines including computers and servers. Basically in a nutshell Hydronics uses water to move heat from one place to another.
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by High Performance HVAC | Commercial HVAC |
Plate Heat Exchanger and Free Cooling - This plate heat exchanger is used in a data center for a chilled water system and is a chilled water economizer. Heat exchangers are used in marine applications, industrial processes including chemical processing systems, food processing, and many HVAC applications including chilled water applications, hot water applications, and economizer applications. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Direct Digital Controls |
Duct Temperature Sensor - The duct static temperature sensor measures air temperature in the ductwork. The solid-state temperature sensing devices are commonly used in HVAC applications that are controlled by direct digital control or a modern building automation system. At the base of the box is a probe that sticks into the air stream of the ductwork. As the air passes over it, the probe changes resistance. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
What you will learn from
Run Start Capacitors | Electrical Basics :
- Common uses for motor capacitors heating and air systems
- Capacitor Types for HVAC Motor Applications. The two different types of capacitors used for HVAC - Motor Run Capacitor and the Start Capacitor
- How capacitors are made
- Rules for replacing a motor capacitor
- Motor capacitor safety measures
- Lots of valuable related links to give you a closer look so you will learn more about HVAC
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by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
Variable Speed GE ECM Motors - When you look at buying a new HVAC system it will surely arise when the HVAC salesman or HVAC contractor who comes to give you an estimate will show an HVAC system that has a variable speed motor or the GE ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor) installed in it. These are systems that have a higher efficiency rating than the HVAC equipment that has the typical electric blower or condenser fan motor. (more…)