Hydronic products shine at AHR, Part 2

New York - The AHR Expo held here at the Jacobs Javits Convention Center in late January had a plethora of hydronic and radiant heating boiler, pumps, PEX tubing, tools, solar collectors and accessories, so much so that we've had to split our coverage of AHR products into two parts, starting in March and in this issue.

RIDGID displayed its new RP 330 pressing tool in cord- or battery-operated models. The tool has a 270° jaw rotation and flattened top for better use in confined areas. An indicator and troubleshooting lights provide information about the tool's performance. The new model requires routine service at longer intervals than previous versions, increasing from 20,000 cycles to 30,000 cycles. The tool presses ½-in. to 4-in. joints and is compatible with all standard RIDGID pressing jaws.

Uponor showed off its new ProPEX Auto Rotation Adapter that relieves installers from having to rotate the expander tool or the tubing itself by hand when making connections on plumbing and heating PEX tubing. The adapter automatically turns the expander head on each expansion of the tubing. The adapter is especially effective in tight spaces where manually turning the tubing or the tool is difficult. Rotating the tubing or the tool during the tube-expansion process is necessary to ensure there are no vertical grooves that can result in potential leak paths.

Uponor also introduced its new Climate Control-Multifunction, a hydronic controller for radiant heating and cooling systems. Instead of creating specific individual controls for domestic hot water, mixing, snowmelt, boiler staging and zone pumping, all of these can be handled by a single programmable control. Designed to replace the Uponor pro Series line of temperature controls, the new controller features plug-and-play Cat5 wiring for sensors and connection boxes, rather than multi-strand thermostat wire. Measuring 13-in. × 9½-in. × 1½-in., the device includes eight generic input and eight generic output connection points. When setting up a particular control, the installer keystrokes the needed functionality into the five-button, four-line, 16-character display on the front of the controller.

Zurn showed off its injection mixing system meant to simplify the installation of a manifold requiring a supply water temperature that is lower than a boiler's set point. The pump system has a remote capillary to monitor the supply water temperature to the manifold. It also allows the injection of boiler supply water from the primary loop, minimizing supply piping size to the manifold. An optional by-pass kit maintains set flow rates when zoning with actuators and eliminates head pressures on the pumps.

Webstone showcased its Isolator valve line designed for residential or commercial use with water or oil. Each valve has a chrome-plated brass ball with reinforced Teflon and a vinyl coated stamped steel handle. The solid brass flange, when seated with a rubber gasket, eliminates electrolysis incurred when connecting an iron flange to copper tubing.

Conbraco's Apollo unit has begun shipments of its new 77C “Contractor” Series 2½-in. full-port ball valve. The larger valve is available with either NPT or sweat end connections.

Also new is the 77D Series full-port valve, designed for fast mounting of actuators. The valve, which meets the federal MSS SP-110 Standard, offers pressure ratings up to 600 PSIG CWP and 150 PSIG for saturated steam with EPDM O-rings.

Apollo's new 4SG Series backflow preventer has a maximum working pressure of 175 PSI and an operating temperature range of 33°F to 140°F. The double-check valves and detector assemblies, sized from 2½- to 8-in., feature grooved end connections that reduce weight and length.

Dormont displayed its new water and gas connection kits for tankless water heaters. The kits include a service valve set and two 24-in. stainless steel, braided water connectors. The gas connection kit includes the ULTRAflow gas connector that provides 255,900 Btuh or 290,900 Btuh.

Roth introduced the HelioStar 252 solar flat panel for its solar thermal system. The panel has an unbreakable and corrosion resistant polycarbonate case and a high performance absorber.

Fluke showed additions to its line of infrared thermal imaging products, including its TI40, -45, and -50FT models with large high-resolution LCD displays that read temperatures from -4°F to more than 2,000°F. The company highlighted the ability of the IR imagers to read and diagnose conditions in radiantly heated floors.