← Gordon 11 steps

Gordon Field Guide

A portable test rig that holds pressure, pulls vacuum, logs the charge, and prints a verified install certificate.

Gordon ships as the case only. Bring your own:

  • vacuum pump
  • nitrogen tank and two-stage regulator
  • refrigerant and a charging scale
  • hoses
  • core-removal tools (CRTs)
  • a phone or tablet to access the Gordon web app
  1. Gordon's blue case open on a table: orange power cord plugged into the top-left socket, rocker switch at top right, and the two capped front ports at the bottom of the panel

    Set Gordon on a flat, dry surface near the outdoor unit. Plug into 120V and flip the rocker switch (there is no battery), then wait for cell signal (the dial turns blue).

    Learn the two front ports: left is 1/4" source, the hose you rotate (nitrogen, then vacuum). Right is 3/8" system, which stays connected the whole job.

  2. Close-up of the QR sticker on Gordon's metal front panel, labeled GD0100001

    Scan the QR sticker on Gordon's front face to open the job on your phone.

  3. Three app screens: the Gordon sign-in dialog with Google, Microsoft, and email options; the scan-equipment-nameplate camera screen; and the equipment page showing model, refrigerant, and test targets

    Sign in with Google, Microsoft, or your work email.

    Tap Begin installation, then scan the outdoor unit's nameplate so Gordon pulls the model and test spec.

    Check the model, refrigerant, and test targets.

  4. Brass core removal tool with its valve lever, attached upright to Gordon's left source port with a black hose running up from it

    Attach the source CRT and 3/8" tubing to the left source port.

    Use 3/8", not a 1/4" charging hose. At deep vacuum the hose chokes flow, not the pump. A 1/4" line passes about a third of what 3/8" does and can make 500 microns unreachable. The wider line also gets you to test pressure faster on the nitrogen side.

  5. Gordon seen from above with both hoses connected, labeled: source hose to N2 regulator on the left port, system port to equipment on the right

    Run the source hose from your nitrogen regulator to the source CRT on Gordon's left source port.

    Run the system hose from Gordon's right system port to the equipment. (Put a second CRT, the service-line CRT, on the equipment's service port. It holds the vacuum while you swap to refrigerant.)

    The system hose stays put all job. Only the source hose moves between phases.

    Open the source CRT to begin the nitrogen test, and keep the regulator under Gordon's 700 PSI max.

  6. Three app screens: pressure hold setup with the live pressure reading, the 28:28 countdown holding at 599.5 PSI, and the green Pressure hold pass screen

    Open the regulator slowly until the live-pressure card turns green. Close the source CRT valve, then close the regulator. Tap Begin Pressure Test and leave the regulator alone.

    Gordon holds for the set time and calls pass or fail on temperature-corrected pressure.

    A pass shows a green confirmation screen. If it fails, restart the test.

  7. Vacuum pump on the table beside Gordon, connected by the black source hose to the left port; labels read source hose to vacuum pump and system port to equipment

    Move the source hose to your vacuum pump. Clear trapped air in the source CRT by turning its valve on and off three times.

  8. Three app screens: the vacuum pull-down checklist with the live micron reading, the 18:19 decay test countdown, and the green Vacuum decay pass screen

    Pump down to the target vacuum in microns until the reading stabilizes. Close the source CRT, stop the pump, and tap Begin decay test.

    A pass shows a green confirmation screen. If it fails, restart the test.

    Close the service-line CRT and disconnect Gordon. The closed service-line CRT holds the system under vacuum. Tap Proceed to refrigerant charge.

  9. Technician holding a charging-scale remote next to a refrigerant cylinder standing on a scale in front of the outdoor unit, with gauges and hoses behind

    Add the refrigerant your normal way. It does not run through Gordon.

    Stand the cylinder on a tared scale and connect your charging hose to the service port. Get the target from the manufacturer's manual, meter it in by weight while watching the scale, and close the cylinder valve at the target. Note the weight you added.

  10. The two brass service valves on the side of the outdoor unit: the small liquid line above and the larger insulated suction line below

    Close the service-line CRT and disconnect your charging hose. Back-seat both outdoor service valves, suction first, then liquid. The factory charge flows into the line set and the system goes live.

    The app does not ask for this. Do it before you generate the certificate.

  11. Two app screens: the charge entry form with the actual weight added and the Weighed in on a scale option selected, and the green Installation certified screen

    In the app, enter the line-set length and the actual weight you added, then pick "Weighed in on a scale."

    Continue to the certificate and download the PDF. The QR code resolves to the full sensor trace.

    Power Gordon off.