Carrier Vatna

[bellg]

I am going to look at an ice-cream truck to-morrow.
Owner says it only reaches -23 ovennight when it should be reaching -35, (its got plates instead of evaporator). He says 1 plate is not icing up near as much as the others.
Its a Carrier Vatna 400H on 134a (08 reg)
Never worked on these before. Any ideas?

[cadwaladr]

do the basics,clean condensor check charge ,let us know the readings,tell him to park it in the shade are you having the same ambients as we are?

[BRM]

Ive never seen one of these before but if theres multiple txv's , one could be r-s . But if theres only one txv then the plate thats not icing is probably the last in line and it could just be short of gas
brm

[abbsnowman]

I would love to see some pictures of this beast!

[radekklimat]

Surely there is nothing to photograph as it is the chassis

[abbsnowman]

There has to be a condesing section and a box..No?

[TimSaxon]

could the plate of lost some of its solution... what are they filled with?

[djbe]

There has to be a condesing section and a box..No?

From distant memory.......

Condensing section used the condenser frame from the old Mistral series, was it called a Sunbird or Oasis in the states?

It just had a semi hermetic compressor fitted. Used to freeze down eutectic plates or beams in the load area.

regards,
djbe.

[bellg]

From distant memory.......

Condensing section used the condenser frame from the old Mistral series, was it called a Sunbird or Oasis in the states?

It just had a semi hermetic compressor fitted. Used to freeze down eutectic plates or beams in the load area.

regards,
djbe.

Yes, you are right there - it is a very basic condensing unit with hermetic compressor. Inside it has got 2 plates on front wall with 5 on the roof (with seperate exp valves)
This one does'nt even have a thermostat.

[djbe]

Is the gas charge Ok?

TXV on the affected plate OK?

What kind of state is the condenser coil in? Carrier coils tend to rot fairly quickly, after a few years they can't cope with high ambients?

regards,
djbe.

[thermo690]

I am going to look at an ice-cream truck to-morrow.
Owner says it only reaches -23 ovennight when it should be reaching -35, (its got plates instead of evaporator). He says 1 plate is not icing up near as much as the others.
Its a Carrier Vatna 400H on 134a (08 reg)
Never worked on these before. Any ideas?

Unit Data and Spec Sheet:
• STARTING VALVE
R404a : 1.8 bar
• LOW PRESSURE SWITCH
R404A :Opens at: -50°C
Closes at: -38°C
• HIGH PRESSURE SWITCH
R404A :Opens at: 30bar
Closes at: 25bar
• REFRIGERANT
1,2 to 1,5 kg per eutectic plates
TX setting, start by turning all the TX in and then 2 and ¾ out,
with orifice 1.
If there is 1 TX on the last plate ( 7 plate ) then make that setting 2
turns out. CHECK PLATE TEMPS AFTER RUNNING OVER
NIGHT. Should be at least -40 Deg C.
:off topic: have fun

[bellg]

Unit Data and Spec Sheet:
• STARTING VALVE
R404a : 1.8 bar
• LOW PRESSURE SWITCH
R404A :Opens at: -50°C
Closes at: -38°C
• HIGH PRESSURE SWITCH
R404A :Opens at: 30bar
Closes at: 25bar
• REFRIGERANT
1,2 to 1,5 kg per eutectic plates
TX setting, start by turning all the TX in and then 2 and ¾ out,
with orifice 1.
If there is 1 TX on the last plate ( 7 plate ) then make that setting 2
turns out. CHECK PLATE TEMPS AFTER RUNNING OVER
NIGHT. Should be at least -40 Deg C.
:off topic: have fun

Thank you Thermo690.
That information was extremely helpful.
The owner, however, has decided to struggle on at -23 for a few more weeks before the truck will be empty again.
Will try those suggestions then.
Will keep you posted.