Appendix A
Quick Guides for Using the DG-700 with Energy Conservatory Test Devices
Appendix A Quick Guides for Using the DG-700 with Energy
Conservatory Test Devices
A.1 One-Point 50 Pascal Building Depressurization Test using the Model 3 Minneapolis Blower
Door™ and DG-700 Digital Gauge
1.
Install the Blower Door system.
a)
Install the aluminum frame and nylon panel in an exterior doorway of a large open room.
b)
Attach the gauge mounting board and fan speed controller to a door, or to the aluminum frame gauge hanger bar,
using the C-clamp on the back of the
mounting board.
c)
Secure the DG-700 gauge onto the
mounting board (using the Velcro strips) and
connect tubing to the DG-700 as shown in the
illustration to the right.
d)
Run approximately 3 - 5 feet of the
remaining end of the
Green
tubing outside
through one of the patches in the bottom
corners of the nylon panel. Be sure the
outside end of the tubing is well away from
the exhaust flow of the Blower Door fan and
is protected from the wind.
e)
Install the Blower Door fan, with the
Flow Rings and No-Flow Plate attached, into
the large hole in the nylon panel. The exhaust
side of the fan should be outside, and the inlet side of the fan (the side with the Flow Rings) should be inside the
building.
f)
Insert the female plug from the fan speed controller into the receptacle located on the fan electrical box. The
remaining cord (power cord) should be plugged into a power outlet that is compatible with the voltage/frequency of
the fan motor and speed controller.
g)
If your fan has a direction switch, be sure it is set to blow air out of the building.
h)
The remaining end of the
Red
tubing should now be connected to the pressure tap on the Blower Door fan
electrical box.
i)
If your DG-700 gauge and fan speed control are compatible for Cruise Control, install the fan control cable into
the 3.5 mm communication jacks located on the top of the DG-700 and on the side of the speed controller (otherwise
skip this step).
2.
Prepare the building for the Test.
a)
Close all exterior doors and windows, and open all interior doors. Because few house basements can be
completely sealed from the house and usually some conditioning of the basement is desirable, they are typically
included as conditioned space.
b)
Adjust all combustion appliances so that they do not turn on during the test.
c)
Be sure all fires are out in fireplaces and woodstoves. Close all fireplace and wood stove doors to prevent
scattering of ashes.
d)
Turn off any exhaust fans, vented dryers, and room air conditioners.
3.
Conducting the Test.
a)
Turn on the DG-700 by pressing the
ON/OFF
button.
b)
Press the
MODE
button twice to put the gauge into the
PR/ FL @50
Mode. In this Mode,
Channel A
is used to
measure building pressure while
Channel B
is used to display the estimated building leakage at a test pressure of 50
Pascals. (The leakage estimate shown on
Channel B
is determined by mathematically adjusting the actual air flow
from the Blower Door fan using the
Channel A
building pressure reading and a Can’t Reach Pressure factor.)
Connect the Green tubing to
the Channel A Reference tap.
The other end of the tubing
should be run to the outside.
Connect the Red
tubing to the
Channel B Input
tap. The other
end of the tubing
should be
connected to the
Blower Door fan.
Leave tap open.
Leave tap open.
26
Operating Instructions
for the DG700
