Yellow Jacket 49968 Charging Manifold,,Red/Blue

This is my 3rd set of Titan gauges with shut off. 1st set was stolen. 2nd set is 4 years old, only needed to replace the gasket in the hoses a few times however the charging hose brass threads are worn out from screwing it onto steel refrigerant bottles. Because of their age I figured I would relegate them to back up and get a new set. At this time I consider them to be the best gauges on the market even over all the digital gauges available (assuming you have a meter with clamp for superheat and subcool and a micrometer) and here is why (I've been through a few, Testo, Field Piece OS, Yellow Jacket).They are inexpensive for a 4 port manifold with hoses w/ shut offs.No batteries to replace, leak, etc.MUCH more durable (w/ gauge head boots yellow jack P# 49190). Better weather proof when working in the rain, snow or direct sunlight (LCD screens don't like the heat of direct sun).Lifetime warranty on manifold (12.50 fee to ship/repair).Lightweight/compact. Do you need to carry your micrometer around for every call? Why would you want to carry that additional weight/expense into every call and gunk up your micrometer built into digital gauges when you aren't even pulling a vacuum? And if you are looking at digital gauges that can't measure a vacuum I recommend passing on them anyway.Be very weary about combining your tools into one. Having a set of digital gauges that tell you superheat and subcooling plus measure vacuum is great until they break (and they eventually will) and then you are SOL until they are fixed. Even using back up gauges you won't be able to accurately get your subcooling/superheat or measure a vacuum unless you have a separate temp clamp and micrometer. And if you do then why buy them again in digital gauges in the first place?There is a definitely a place for digital gauges but most people I see using them don't need them, they are just a waste a money for them. For example are you adjusting an indoor TXV inside using bluetooth to monitor superheat on your phone? OR are you sitting in your van looking at your pressures because its "cool"? The latter is a waste of time and money that will certainly get old (because its useless) and you'll stop doing it after about a week when the "coolness" wears off.Do you really need temp conversions of 50+ types of refrigerants? Hell, even if you needed more then R22/R410a temps on rare occasions you can just look up the pressure conversion online in 10 seconds.Don't fall for the marketing hype of these manufacturers and the youtube reviews of people that are given high end digital gauges for FREE for review (or sponsored). Don't buy tools with functions you don't actually need, you are literally wasting money. But even more important don't buy CHEAP digital gauges because you will get exactly that, CHEAP digital gauges.Trust me, if you don't absolutely NEED what 1000+ dollar gauges offer but want something nicer than your run of the mill 3 port gauges the Yellow Jack 49968 are exactly what you are looking for. The features they offer (4 port manifold with shut offs) can be utilized on residential, commercial and light industrial (r22/r410a) systems.I will add though, if you just WANT digital gauges and you have the money....go for it. I'm a tool guy and love having the best/overkill tools. That is why I bought all the sets of digital gauges I have. However now they are all broken in one way or another from NORMAL use and I essentially have 2 grand worth of paper weights that aren't even half the age of my original still perfectly function Titan gauges.I hope this helps someone. And I'm not trying to knock digital gauges just make people aware of the problems you can literally spend more money to have.

This is my 3rd set of Yellow Jacket gauges. Love having the shut offs on the hoses. And the 60 inch hoses are great also. I don't think they are too expensive for a 4 port manifold gauge set that comes with the 4 hoses. after all, you get what you pay for. I recommend purchasing the protective rubber gauge boots, as I did, to protect the crystals from getting cracked, when you accidently bump them. Also helps to keep the rain off the gauge. Would be nice if they came with the set. If you replace the hose seals regularly, they will last a very long time. I have some that are over 10 years old. the charging hose brass threads tend to get worn from screwing it onto steel refrigerant bottles, but that was expected.

So far good quality and performance, works great.

I like YELLOW JACKET tools because they get the job done. They’re reasonably priced and they have great warranty.

So far these seem well made, I wish the price was lower but I did not want to buy one of the unknown brands that are for sale. I hope they last.

The vacuum readout is not sensitive enough for leak checking. I had to buy a micron vacuum gauge. My a/c unit doesn't have a high pressure test port. I put the high pressure input to good use by using it Foe the micron gauge. I used the valve to disconnect it from the system when I added refrigerant, protecting it from a high positive presssure.

Get a 3 port Tradepro gauge for diagnostics and tune ups. Whip this bad boy out for evacuations and chargings. I'm satisfied with the speed of evacuating 5 ton residential units with a 7 CFM vacuum pump that I can attach both thick hose and regular hose to, even without removing the schrader cores. If I were to ever work on a commercial unit, then I'd consider removing schrader cores.

I like it in beginning but starting leaking it hard to find casket, didn't come with extra casket