Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_March_2020 - 36

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Mastercool

Commander2000
Fully Automatic
R-134a RRR Machine
This machine impressed the reviewer
with its ease of use, direct oil
injection, and strong vacuum pump.

The Mastercool Commander2000 Fully Automatic
R-134a RRR Machine comes standard with an 8" color
touchscreen command center and a graphic interface for
ease-of-use navigation. It incorporates a Windows-based
tablet, making database and software upgrades
easy. Wi-Fi capability allows for real-time, interactive communication. The machine features an
onboard conversion calculator, self-diagnostic
check, automatic and manual procedures,
refrigerant database, auto filter and full tank
alarm, multi-colored LED status bar, automatic and manual air purge, auto oil discharge,
and more. It has a working temperature
range of 50 to 120 degrees F, a 30 lb refillable recovery cylinder, a 6 cfm vacuum pump,
a 96" hose, automatic oil injection, includes
two fresh oil bottles, and uses 110V.
Circle 90 on card, or enter at "e-inquiry"
on VehicleServicePros.com

by David Brierley, Managing Editor

THE REVIEW:

ccording to the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), R-134a has
been the most common refrigerant
used in light duty vehicles since 1994.
That means the vast majority of vehicles
on the road today still use this refrigerant type, and many of those vehicles
will require HVAC service at some point
during their life cycle. Recovery/recycle/
recharge (RRR) machines play a major
role in HVAC service, so having an efficient RRR machine that services R-134a
vehicles is a necessity for most shops.
Joey Gravel, head master technician at Duncan's Hokie Honda in
Christiansburg, Virginia, says the
Mastercool Commander2000 Fully
Automatic R134a RRR Machine is not
only efficient, it's also intuitive and easy
to use.
"If you've ever dealt with HVAC,
[the Mastercool] machine is very easy
to work," Gravel says. "It can't get
much easier."
Though he didn't really need it, Gravel
says the Commander2000 came with a
user manual that is better than those he's
seen with competitors' products.
After 12 years working at Duncan's

PTEN

MARCH 2020

Hokie Honda, Gravel has used
his fair share of RRR machines, so he
knows what features he likes and what
features he doesn't.
"I love the fact that it's got two separate systems for oil injection," he says.
"You [don't have] to unhook the line to
add oil, you can measure it out. It's an
all-around time saver."
Gravel also notes that the Mastercool
machine seems to vacuum more quickly than others he has used and that he
appreciates the wireless connectivity.
"The update capability is pretty cool,"
he explains. "We've only had to do it
once or twice, maybe, but you can connect it to Wi-Fi."
Anot her feature of t he
Commander2000 Gravel likes is
the onboard database, which allows
him to find what refrigerant should
be used on the vehicle he's servicing. This is especially important
when the vehicle's labels are missing
or illegible.
"The database is great; I've used it sev-

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eral times," he says. "Some of these body
shop cars have come in and they won't
have the [refrigerant] labels because they
didn't put the labels on it, or you can't
read them."
Since Duncan's Hokie Honda includes
a used car department, Gravel says the
Commander2000 has been used on all
different vehicle makes and models.
He notes that while it can be used
in automatic mode, he prefers to run
it in manual so that he can watch the
gauges and make sure there's not a bad
vacuum leak.
"I'm old school," Gravel says.
Gravel likes the Commander2000 so
much he's trying to convince his shop to
purchase a Mastercool R-1234yf RRR
machine as well. He says he'd like to see
how it performs compared to the one
they have now, which Gravel describes
as "a nightmare."
Gravel's impression of the Mastercool
Commander2000 is positive, particularly
when it comes to the oil injection, strong
vacuum, and wireless update capabilities.
It allows his shop to do more work in a
shorter amount of time and makes the
RRR process simple.
"I love it," he says.

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Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_March_2020

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