What You'll Learn

• When and why you need to build a system profile manually instead of using the AI profiler
• How to access the manual profile editor from a new or existing project
• What each profile field controls and where to find the correct value on the equipment
• How incorrect profile values produce false pass/fail results in diagnostics
• How to select the correct metering device type and why it determines your charge target
• How SEER rating maps to condensing temperature over ambient (CTOA) targets
• How to enter manufacturer, model, and serial number data for complete documentation

What You'll Need

• Device: iPhone (iOS 15+) or Android phone (Android 10+) with measureQuick installed
• Account: measureQuick account with active subscription (see Creating Your measureQuick Account)
• Equipment access: You need to be at the job site or have the nameplate data available (photos work)
• Knowledge: Familiarity with the AI System Profiler workflow (see AI System Profiler)
• Time: 10-15 minutes to read; 5-10 minutes per profile in the field

Why Manual Profiling Matters

The AI System Profiler handles most equipment identification automatically. You take a photo of the nameplate, and the app fills in the profile fields. But the AI profiler does not always succeed. Older equipment with faded nameplates, custom-built systems, replacement components from different manufacturers, and uncommon brands can all produce incomplete or incorrect AI results.

When the AI profiler returns partial data, wrong data, or no data at all, you need to complete the profile manually. Every diagnostic calculation in measureQuick depends on the system profile. Wrong profile values produce wrong targets, which produce false pass/fail results. A test that looks like a refrigerant charge failure might actually be a profile error.

As Jim Bergmann explains: "the thing you need to understand when we do a profile is it's an educated guess about how the piece of equipment should perform." The profile tells measureQuick what to expect. If the expectation is wrong, every diagnostic comparison is wrong.

This is not a rare edge case. In the V12 database, 56.0% of piston-metered cooling tests show refrigerant charge failure. Some portion of those failures trace back to incorrect profile data rather than actual charge problems. Getting the profile right is the first step to getting diagnostics right.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access the System Profile Editor

There are two paths to the manual profile editor.

From a new project:

1. Tap Projects on the home screen.
2. Tap the + button to create a new project.
3. Select the test type (A/C, Heat Pump, Gas Furnace, etc.).
4. The app opens the system profile screen. If the AI profiler did not run or did not return results, all fields are blank and ready for manual entry.

From an existing project (editing AI results):

1. Open the project from the Projects list.
2. Tap the System Profile section at the top of the workflow.
3. Tap Edit to modify any field the AI profiler populated.

System Profile screen with all fields visible, showing the Edit button in the upper right

You can also reach the profile editor mid-workflow. If you realize the profile is wrong while reviewing diagnostics, tap the profile section from within the active test to correct it. Diagnostics recalculate immediately after you save changes.

Refrigerant Defaults (New in 3.6)

measureQuick 3.6 remembers the last refrigerant type you used and pre-populates it for the next job. If you service multiple systems with the same refrigerant in a day (e.g., a string of R-410A units), you no longer need to reselect the refrigerant each time. The default carries forward until you change it. Confirm the pre-populated value matches the equipment on each job before proceeding.

Step 2: Select the Refrigerant Type

The refrigerant type is the most critical profile field. Every pressure-to-temperature conversion in the app depends on it. If the refrigerant is wrong, every calculated value (superheat, subcooling, saturation temperatures) is wrong.

1. Tap the Refrigerant field.
2. A searchable picker opens with 100+ refrigerant types.
3. Type the first few characters (e.g., "R410" or "R22") to filter the list.
4. Select the correct refrigerant.

Where to find it: The nameplate on the outdoor unit (condenser) lists the refrigerant type. Look for a line that says "Refrigerant," "Charged with," or "Factory Charge." Common residential types:

Refrigerant picker showing search results for R41 with R-410A highlighted

What goes wrong if this is incorrect: Every pressure/temperature relationship changes with the refrigerant. R-410A at 250 PSI on the high side corresponds to a different saturation temperature than R-22 at 250 PSI. If the profile says R-22 but the system contains R-410A, the app calculates superheat and subcooling against the wrong saturation curve. All charge diagnostics become invalid. There is no partial impact here. Wrong refrigerant means the entire test is unreliable.

Step 3: Set the System Tonnage

Tonnage defines the nominal cooling capacity of the system. measureQuick uses it to calculate airflow targets and evaluate whether the system is delivering the expected capacity.

1. Tap the Tonnage field.
2. Select from the available options (typically 1.0 to 5.0 tons for residential, in 0.5-ton increments).

Where to find it: The condenser model number usually encodes the tonnage. Look for a two-digit number divisible by 6 in the model string:

For example, a Carrier model number 24ACC636A003 contains "36," indicating a 3-ton system. This convention is not universal across all manufacturers, but it covers the majority of residential equipment.

You can also find the rated capacity on the nameplate or in the AHRI Directory (ahridirectory.org) by searching the outdoor unit model number.

Tonnage selection field showing options from 1.0 to 5.0 tons

What goes wrong if this is incorrect: Tonnage drives the airflow target. A 3-ton system at 400 CFM/ton should move 1,200 CFM. If you enter 2 tons, the app targets 800 CFM. Your actual measured airflow of 1,200 CFM now looks 50% high, and the app may flag false airflow warnings. Capacity calculations also shift, producing misleading efficiency numbers.

Step 4: Set the Design Airflow (CFM/ton)

Design airflow tells the app how many cubic feet per minute the system should deliver per ton of cooling capacity. Combined with tonnage, this sets the total airflow target.

1. Tap the Design Airflow or CFM/ton field.
2. Enter the value. Typical residential range is 350-450 CFM/ton.

Where to find it: This value is not on the nameplate. Check one of these sources:

• Manufacturer installation manual: Lists the required airflow for each operating condition.
• ACCA Manual S / Manual J: The system design documentation specifies design airflow.
• General guidelines by climate:

When in doubt, 400 CFM/ton is the most common default for standard-efficiency systems.

Indoor Measurements showing mQ Estimated airflow at 400 SCFM

What goes wrong if this is incorrect: The app calculates expected temperature drop (Delta-T) across the evaporator using this value. Higher CFM/ton = lower expected Delta-T. Lower CFM/ton = higher expected Delta-T. A wrong value shifts the target, causing false pass or false fail on airflow diagnostics. It also affects superheat calculation on systems without measured airflow data.

Step 5: Set the SEER Rating

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) tells the app how efficient the system is designed to be. The app uses SEER to determine the condensing temperature over ambient (CTOA) target, which is a key input to charge diagnostics.

1. Tap the SEER or Efficiency field.
2. Select the SEER range that matches the equipment.

The app maps SEER to a specific CTOA target. Higher-efficiency systems have lower CTOA because their condensers are larger relative to capacity, so they reject heat with a smaller temperature difference.

Where to find it: The outdoor unit nameplate often lists SEER directly. If not, search the AHRI Directory (ahridirectory.org) using the condenser and evaporator model numbers. The AHRI lookup returns the certified SEER for that specific combination.

Note: The SEER rating applies to the matched system (outdoor unit + indoor coil), not the outdoor unit alone. An outdoor unit paired with a different indoor coil may have a different SEER. Use the AHRI-certified value for the actual installed combination.

SEER selection showing available ranges with CTOA targets displayed

What goes wrong if this is incorrect: Wrong SEER = wrong CTOA target. If you enter SEER 13 for a system that is actually SEER 18, the app expects a higher condensing temperature over ambient than the system is designed to produce. The system runs at a lower CTOA (because it is more efficient), and the app may incorrectly flag this as undercharge. The reverse error (entering a higher SEER than actual) can mask a real overcharge condition by expecting a lower CTOA than the system should produce.

Step 6: Select the Metering Device

The metering device type determines which charge verification method the app uses. This is the second most consequential profile field after refrigerant type.

1. Tap the Metering Device field.
2. Select one of the available options:
   • TXV (Thermostatic Expansion Valve)
   • Fixed Orifice / Piston

Where to find it: Check the indoor coil (evaporator) documentation or look at the metering device physically:

• TXV: A brass body with a sensing bulb clamped to the suction line. If you can see a sensing bulb with a capillary tube running from it to a valve body at the evaporator inlet, it is a TXV.
• Fixed Orifice / Piston: A small brass cylinder with a hole drilled through it, installed in the liquid line entering the evaporator. No sensing bulb, no capillary tube.

Some systems are shipped with a piston but include a TXV in the box for the installer to swap in. Check what is actually installed, not what is in the box.

Subcooling target for TXV systems: If you select TXV, verify the subcooling target against the manufacturer's data plate. The target ranges from 6 to 18 degrees depending on the manufacturer and model - it is not always 10. Accepting a wrong default shifts your charge assessment by several degrees, which is enough to produce a false pass or false fail on refrigerant charge. Always check the data plate.

The manufacturer's installation manual and the AHRI Directory also specify the metering device for each indoor/outdoor combination.

Metering Device selection showing TXV and Fixed Orifice options

As noted in the measureQuick "Cooling Commissioning Measurements Walk Through" video: "you enter the SEER rating, you enter the metering device type - all of those are fairly obvious." The fields may seem straightforward, but selecting the wrong option has outsized consequences.

What goes wrong if this is incorrect: This is a binary error with direct diagnostic consequences.

• TXV systems are evaluated by subcooling. The TXV maintains superheat automatically, so subcooling is the indicator of charge level.
• Piston/fixed orifice systems are evaluated by superheat. Without a TXV to regulate superheat, it varies directly with charge level.

If you select TXV when the system has a piston, the app targets subcooling and ignores superheat variation. You miss the actual charge signal. If you select piston when the system has a TXV, the app targets superheat, which the TXV is actively controlling. You get a misleading pass on charge while the subcooling (the real indicator) goes unchecked.

Step 7: Enter Charge Parameters (Optional)

Charge parameters are relevant when you are adding refrigerant or verifying total system charge against factory specifications.

1. Factory Charge (oz or lbs): The amount of refrigerant the outdoor unit ships with. Found on the condenser nameplate.
2. Line Set Length (ft): The actual length of the refrigerant lines between the outdoor unit and the indoor coil.
3. Additional Charge per Foot (oz/ft): The amount of extra refrigerant required per foot of line set beyond the factory-assumed length. Found in the manufacturer's installation manual.

These fields are not required for standard diagnostic workflows. If you are running a commissioning test or verifying charge after a repair, fill them in. If you are running a standard service check, you can skip these.

Charge parameters section showing Factory Charge, Line Set Length, and Additional Charge per Foot fields

Step 8: Enter Manufacturer and Equipment Identification

These fields document which equipment is installed. They do not directly affect diagnostic calculations, but they are essential for complete test records, reports, and equipment tracking.

1. Condenser Manufacturer: The brand name on the outdoor unit (Carrier, Trane, Lennox, Goodman, etc.).
2. Condenser Model Number: The full model number from the condenser nameplate.
3. Condenser Serial Number: The serial number from the condenser nameplate.
4. Air Handler / Furnace Manufacturer: The brand name on the indoor unit.
5. Air Handler / Furnace Model Number: The full model number from the indoor unit nameplate.
6. Air Handler / Furnace Serial Number: The serial number from the indoor unit nameplate.
7. Evaporator Manufacturer: If the evaporator coil is from a different manufacturer than the air handler, enter it separately.
8. Evaporator Model Number: The evaporator coil model number.
9. Evaporator Serial Number: The evaporator coil serial number.

Where to find it: Each component has its own nameplate. The condenser nameplate is on the outdoor unit (usually on the service panel or rear panel). The air handler nameplate is on the indoor unit (usually inside the blower compartment or on the side panel). The evaporator coil nameplate is on the coil housing, sometimes visible only after removing the access panel.

Manufacturer and model number fields with sample data filled in

Tip: Take a photo of each nameplate before you start entering data. Nameplate labels fade, and you may need to zoom in on fine print. Having the photo on your phone lets you reference it without walking back to the unit. As the "Setting Up measureQuick Jobsite and Equipment For The First Time" video explains: "here's where you'll take some pictures of the system, the nameplate data, and enter that in."

Step 9: Save and Verify

After entering all profile fields:

1. Check the Verify Profile confirmation checkbox (new in 3.6). This step requires you to explicitly confirm that you have reviewed the profile data before proceeding. The app will not let you continue to measurements until this box is checked.
2. Tap Save or Done to confirm the profile.
3. The app returns to the workflow screen with the updated profile.
4. Review the diagnostic targets that appear on the Diagnostics screen. Verify that the targets make sense for the system you are working on.

If you see a target that looks wrong (e.g., subcooling target on a piston system, or airflow target that does not match the tonnage), go back and check the profile fields. It is faster to fix the profile now than to troubleshoot false failures later.

Saved system profile summary showing all entered fields

Quick Profiles as an Alternative (New in 3.6)

If your company installs or services a limited set of equipment configurations, Quick Profiles can replace most manual data entry. Quick Profiles are company-level templates that pre-populate make, model, tonnage, refrigerant type, nominal airflow, and metering device. Instead of entering each field by hand, you select a template and let the AI profiler capture the serial number from a nameplate photo.

Quick Profiles are best suited for companies with standardized equipment. For one-off or unusual systems, manual entry remains the right approach.

For setup and usage details, see Quick Profiles (Equipment Templates).

Profile Field Reference Table

Video Walkthrough

• YouTube: (9,324 views, 18:40). Shows how profiling differs for variable-speed and inverter-driven systems, published 2024-06-14

• YouTube: (856 views, 2:15). Demonstrates the contrast between manual profiling and AI-assisted profiling, published 2025-02-12

• YouTube: (975 views, 1:12). Shows the AI Profiler that replaces manual entry for supported equipment, published 2025-02-06

Tips & Common Issues

The AI profiler returned partial results and I need to fill in the rest

This is the most common scenario. The AI profiler may identify the manufacturer and model but miss the tonnage or metering device. Open the profile editor, keep the fields the AI got right, and manually enter the missing ones. You do not need to re-enter everything from scratch.

I am not sure whether the system has a TXV or piston

If you cannot visually confirm the metering device and do not have the installation manual on hand, check the AHRI Directory (ahridirectory.org). Enter the outdoor and indoor model numbers. The certified rating includes the metering device type. If the AHRI lookup is not available, look for a sensing bulb on the suction line near the evaporator inlet. Sensing bulb present = TXV. No sensing bulb = piston or fixed orifice.

I changed the refrigerant type mid-test and all my diagnostics shifted

This is expected. The app recalculates all saturation temperatures, superheat, and subcooling when the refrigerant type changes. If you changed from R-22 to R-410A (or vice versa), the shift will be large. Verify the new refrigerant type is correct, then review the updated diagnostics. Do not trust any pass/fail results from before the correction.

The model number on the nameplate does not match what the AI profiler entered

The AI profiler works from a photo, and nameplate labels can be partially obscured, faded, or damaged. If you can read the nameplate clearly and the AI result does not match, override it manually. The value you type in always takes precedence over the AI result.

I cannot find the SEER rating anywhere on the equipment

Some older units do not list SEER on the nameplate. Try these sources in order:

1. The AHRI Directory, using the condenser and indoor coil model numbers.
2. The manufacturer's product data sheet (search the model number on the manufacturer's website).
3. The original installation documentation if the homeowner has it.
4. If none of these work, estimate based on the year of manufacture and equipment class. Systems from 2006-2015 are typically 13-16 SEER. Systems from 2015-2024 are typically 14-20 SEER. Select the closest SEER range and note the estimate in the project notes.

The tonnage in the model number does not match the nameplate capacity

Some manufacturers use model number conventions that do not follow the standard BTU encoding. For example, a Mitsubishi mini-split model number may not contain a "24" or "36" in the expected position. Always cross-reference the model number decode with the nameplate rated capacity. If they conflict, trust the nameplate.

I need to profile a system with mismatched components

When the condenser is from one manufacturer and the indoor coil is from another (a common scenario with replacement equipment), enter each component separately. The SEER rating for mismatched systems is lower than for matched systems. Check the AHRI Directory for the specific combination. If the combination is not AHRI-listed, use the condenser's standalone SEER rating as a conservative estimate.

Related Articles

Prerequisites (complete these first):

• AI System Profiler
• Understanding Workflow UI Navigation

Follow-up articles (next steps after this one):

• Profile Verification
• Metering Device Identification
• Variable Speed Equipment
• A/C Service Workflow

Related in the same domain:

• Equipment Types
• High-Efficiency / Oversized Evaporator (existing help desk article: "How do I work with a High Efficiency / Oversized Evaporator in mQ?")
• Quick Profiles (Equipment Templates)

Need Help?

If you get stuck or this article does not answer your question:

• Check the Related Articles section above
• Contact measureQuick support: support@measurequick.com