How to take nameplate photos for best results

The nameplate photo is the most important photo you can take. A clear nameplate lets the AI pull make, model, serial number, refrigerant type, tonnage, and electrical specs automatically — saving you from typing any of it.

What makes a good nameplate photo

• Fill the frame. Get close enough that the nameplate text takes up most of the image.
• Straight on, not at an angle. Angled shots distort the text and make it harder to read.
• No glare. If the nameplate is reflective, shift your angle slightly or shade it with your hand.
• Good lighting. Outdoor units in bright sun are fine. Dark mechanical rooms — use your phone's flashlight.
• Steady. Tap the shutter button gently. Blurry photos produce bad extractions.

What if the nameplate is worn or missing?

Take the photo anyway — the AI will extract whatever it can read and mark the confidence level accordingly. You'll see a warning on any field it wasn't sure about. Tap any field to correct it manually.

If there's no nameplate at all, skip the photo and include the model/serial in your voice note instead. The AI will pick it up from the transcript.

How many photos should I take?

Take one clear nameplate photo per unit. If the job has both a condenser and an air handler, take a nameplate photo of each — the AI will create a separate equipment block for each unit.

You can take up to 10 photos total. Additional photos of the job site, the issue you found, or completed work are fine to include — they give the AI more context for the summary.

The nameplate badge

On the writeup screen, photos used for equipment extraction show a small Nameplate badge in the corner. This confirms the AI used that photo for equipment data.