Results 1 to 16 of 16
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01-07-2008, 03:02 PM #1
telling if a system is short of gas
Hey,
If a split a/c system has a vertically mounted sight glass should it be full to the top when demanding for cooling. At present its only has liquid about 1/3 of the way up. I know you shouldnt judge by sight glass alone but just trying to get a rule of thumb
The condensor coils are choked and im about to get scaffold to clean them...would this affect the sight glas bubbling
The evapourator was originally iced up completely too
Any help much appreciated
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01-07-2008, 03:05 PM #2
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
just to add the unit seems to ice up just at the front of the evap at the moment
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01-07-2008, 03:07 PM #3
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
Run the system after cleaning the condenser and then check the sight glass, aqd refrigerant and check pressure in low and high side.
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01-07-2008, 04:00 PM #4
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
The evap is freezing up because there is not sufficient airfow passing over the coils. You need to clean both coils to be sure of correct airflow.
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
Marc
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01-07-2008, 05:49 PM #5
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
the bubbles you are seeing aredue to flashgas clean both coils and check again.
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01-07-2008, 05:54 PM #6
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
hey folks cleaned the condensor coils and no change...but got the following
When ac unit is started almost immediately the front of the evaporator has ice on itThanks in advance
R59…using the r22 scale the lp pressure is 0.4 bar and the hp is 8 bar. The 0.4 bar equates to –35oC on the temp for r22. As this is an ac split this is far too low and all these points indicate the unit is short of gas….don’t they
The sight glass has practically no level but then fills half way as if its pulsing. The liquid line to the evap and the return to the compressor both feel about the same temperature.
Is the above way of thinking correct. Im just learning fridge at the moment…as you can tell J
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01-07-2008, 07:33 PM #7
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02-07-2008, 06:24 AM #8
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
Yes the charge looks low if the 8 bar measured was the the discharge. Is the evaporator fan running?
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
Marc
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02-07-2008, 06:38 AM #9
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
sorry the reading of 8 bar was taken at the liquid line just after the condensor and the 0.4 from the suction...The evap is spotless and evap fan is running. the unit is an imi 80
cheers
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02-07-2008, 08:35 AM #10
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
The IMI splits tend to have a restrictor (field installed) on the liquid line directly after the service valve. This can sometimes choke, it can be difficult to check without stripping but if you have a large TD across the restrictor then that could indicate a blockage. A discharge temp taken at the coil entry would be handy and confirmation that the fan speed controller is operating properly would help also.
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02-07-2008, 08:37 AM #11
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
P.S. is there a drier and is it TEV or cap?
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02-07-2008, 09:29 AM #12
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
there is a drier and its cap
Thanks folks for your assistance. My job doesnt entail a huge amount of fridge breakdowns and fortunately im on the same systems all the time so I can learn them as i go.
Ive spoke to the manufacturer who have said the r22 pressures are 3 bar and 16bar. This unit has r59 in it
Are there any charts anywhere for knowing whether to charge as a gas or a liquid for each gas
once again your help has been very much appreciated
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02-07-2008, 01:19 PM #13
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
If it is an IMI unit then it shouldn't have a drier in the expansion line.
Sight glasses can be misleading on IMIs.
As said above, check for a blockage around the restictor.
Recharge with the condenser fan at high speed, use the charging plug if there is one.Brian - Newton Abbot, Devon, UK
Retired March 2015
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02-07-2008, 08:25 PM #14
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
There is no better way than recover, weight, compare to manufacturer's data and recharge.
Symptoms of low charge are simultaneous low suction pressure, low condenser pressure, high compressor superheat.
Unfortunately some combination of system problemas can give similar symptoms or even disguise these, example you may get normal condensing pressure if you also have hot air recirculation.
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02-07-2008, 11:23 PM #15
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
Don't know if this helps but it is a manual for a Marstair MCU condensing unit which is basically an IMI double.
http://www.heronhill.co.uk/productde...cfm?prodID=MCUBrian - Newton Abbot, Devon, UK
Retired March 2015
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04-07-2008, 06:54 AM #16
Re: telling if a system is short of gas
thanks for your assistance its now running like a dream
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