HVAC engineers won’t get very far these days without a digital manifold to help install and maintain a refrigeration unit. Unlike the analog manifolds of yore, today’s manifolds can instantly calculate both superheat and subhead cooling temperatures and pump runtime — making them vital for troubleshooting when an HVAC unit breaks down.

“The digital gauges used by today’s HVAC service professionals are a far cry from what was employed by many in the industry even 10 years ago,” writes Carter Stanfield of Yellow Jacket, a manufacturer of HVAC tools and equipment. For instance, some digital manifolds aggregate data like pressure and temperature information over time. “This is a valuable tool if the technician is looking to benchmark a system,” writes Stanfield.

Want one? Digital manifold sets start at $300 and run as high as $1,800.