Need info on how to re-fill R-134A system.

|PuNiSh3R| · 06-17-2002, 11:38 PM

I am possibly going to have to cut my system open to re-do a condensor unit and possibly evap unit.

The system is a 1/20 HP unit.. charged at 55grams.

I will need to cut the condensor line.. I need to know the correct way to do this and to attatch a new condensor unit.. same thing for the evaporater.. need to know how to properly refill and so forth.. u get the idea.

Any websites or what not will be appreciated. Thanks!

Also.. looking for Quick-Boost additive.. supposedly makes your R-134A system more efficient.. closer to R12 performence.

Cyco-Dude · 06-18-2002, 12:33 AM

well, depending on where you live you need to be certified to work with refridgerants such as R134a (its illegal to leak the stuff into the open air; old refridgerant must be recovered)
are there any valves on the pipes?? there should be at least one somewhere for evacuating / charging...

as far as the condensor and evaporator, you should be able to unscrew the lines from them...it depends on the setup i guess tho. ive only delt with car AC systems....

|PuNiSh3R| · 06-18-2002, 01:14 AM

heh.. lol.. i can go down to my local auto store and buy cans of R-134A.. so it's legal here

This is a frige system.. it doesn't have any valves.. just comes right out of the compressor...

The only thing that I will be change most likely will be the condensor.. changing it to like a 3 pass (radiator) condensor...

Thinking of water cooling it some how..

WebMasta33 · 06-18-2002, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cyco-Dude
(its illegal to leak the stuff into the open air; old refridgerant must be recovered)

My car is very illegal then... I have to recharge the AC every summer, because the seals crack in our -20 degree winters....

bigben2k · 06-18-2002, 08:42 AM

That law is only enforced for shops, not individuals. Cops/EPA don't have the time to chase you, they'd rather chase where most of it comes from: the shops.

Punisher: why do you want to refill it? I'd contact an AC shop to see if they could fix you up. Heck, maybe even a garage would do it.

|PuNiSh3R| · 06-18-2002, 08:49 AM

Well you see... this system is from a frige.. and it has a grill design for the condensor.. and it ran through the shell of the frige.. right under the metal outter shell.. I recently tore the metal top shell off to get the condensor out cuz it gets extremely hot when it has to work against the water.

I was thinking about replacing that puny grill design with a 3pass radiator type condensor.

I was also thinking about changing the evaporator which is the ice box in the frige... changing that to a copper tubing spiral design so it would be easily fit into my resevior.

To do all of this would require me to cut off the old stuff.. there for loosing the charge in the system.

I have no problem doing this.. just as long as I know I can re-charge the system with out needing expensive equipment.. or expensive help from a shop.

I don't really care bout letting it leak out.. China puts more polution out with it's unregulated factories.. my 55grams of propane R-134A won't do a damn thing.

bigben2k · 06-18-2002, 10:13 AM

Well, if you're going to rebuild it...

I'd still go to an AC shop, tell them your plan, and make sure that you provide them with all the supplies.

The least that they should be able to do, is drain your system, and refill it once you've modded it the way you want it.

Ask them to put a valve so that the system can be drained later, in case you change your mind...

|PuNiSh3R| · 06-18-2002, 10:43 AM

Ok.. but just say I do this myself..

I am most likely just going to change the condensor.. using the same tubing.. I just need to spiral it up for the PVC tubing..

How would I re-attatch it to the compressor? Sodder? .. that's what I need to know.. and also where I re-fill it and if I need to vacuum it for moisture or dirt.. I am going to call an AC shop and talk to them also.. if they won't charge me much to do this.. then I'll go with them.

jtroutma · 06-18-2002, 03:33 PM

YOu can solder the pipes back together just like regular copper to copper piping works. Just make sure that the entire system is drained of the freon. Reason: burn freon and you make a really nasty looking gas and is probably not the best for you health

I do agree with BigBen.... Take the system to a shop of a refrigeration store and have them discharge the system and fill it back up again.

Also when you solder the condenser and the evaporator back together, make sure you pressure test it to say 200psi before you get it refilled again. True, China may be releasing more contaminants into the environment than we do, however we dont need to go helping them out in destroying the Ozone layer

Good luck

BTW Did you say you needed a more powerful compressor? Could I interest you in a 1.5 ton compressor for cheap?

bigben2k · 06-18-2002, 03:57 PM

Actually, I meant: go to the shop, have them discharge it, take the parts home, rebuild it (and put in a refill/bleed valve this time!), then go back to the shop for the refill.

Tell them what you're doing, and that that is your plan. They might be able to provide you with the refill/bleed valves (they should have standard connections).

Of course if they're really friendly, they'll do all that for you, but for a price I'm sure (at least slip them a $20, huh?)!

Soldering copper is fun...

|PuNiSh3R| · 06-18-2002, 09:42 PM

Unfortunatly I know for a fact now that I am going to have to re-design the condensor and probably will just do the evap right away since the system will be open.

I will probably make the evaporator a copper coil.. I will talk to the frige guys about what size it should be and how the system should be tuned.

Supposedly.. a guy is supposed to call me tomorrow.. sort of a regular individual.. I guess he's just HVAC cert or he just knows a lot.. I gave my number to the frige sales guy at a Rainbow Rent-A-Center.. he said he knew someone who would be willing to help me with this job.

Looks like I am going to piss away more money

I sure hope this setup really works..

06-17-2002, 11:38 PM	#1
\|PuNiSh3R\| Foo's Been Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 255	Need info on how to re-fill R-134A system. I am possibly going to have to cut my system open to re-do a condensor unit and possibly evap unit. The system is a 1/20 HP unit.. charged at 55grams. I will need to cut the condensor line.. I need to know the correct way to do this and to attatch a new condensor unit.. same thing for the evaporater.. need to know how to properly refill and so forth.. u get the idea. Any websites or what not will be appreciated. Thanks! Also.. looking for Quick-Boost additive.. supposedly makes your R-134A system more efficient.. closer to R12 performence.

06-18-2002, 08:42 AM	#5
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	That law is only enforced for shops, not individuals. Cops/EPA don't have the time to chase you, they'd rather chase where most of it comes from: the shops. Punisher: why do you want to refill it? I'd contact an AC shop to see if they could fix you up. Heck, maybe even a garage would do it. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

06-18-2002, 10:13 AM	#7
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Well, if you're going to rebuild it... I'd still go to an AC shop, tell them your plan, and make sure that you provide them with all the supplies. The least that they should be able to do, is drain your system, and refill it once you've modded it the way you want it. Ask them to put a valve so that the system can be drained later, in case you change your mind... __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

06-18-2002, 03:33 PM	#9
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	YOu can solder the pipes back together just like regular copper to copper piping works. Just make sure that the entire system is drained of the freon. Reason: burn freon and you make a really nasty looking gas and is probably not the best for you health I do agree with BigBen.... Take the system to a shop of a refrigeration store and have them discharge the system and fill it back up again. Also when you solder the condenser and the evaporator back together, make sure you pressure test it to say 200psi before you get it refilled again. True, China may be releasing more contaminants into the environment than we do, however we dont need to go helping them out in destroying the Ozone layer Good luck BTW Did you say you needed a more powerful compressor? Could I interest you in a 1.5 ton compressor for cheap? __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

06-18-2002, 03:57 PM	#10
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Actually, I meant: go to the shop, have them discharge it, take the parts home, rebuild it (and put in a refill/bleed valve this time!), then go back to the shop for the refill. Tell them what you're doing, and that that is your plan. They might be able to provide you with the refill/bleed valves (they should have standard connections). Of course if they're really friendly, they'll do all that for you, but for a price I'm sure (at least slip them a $20, huh?)! Soldering copper is fun... __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

06-18-2002, 12:33 AM	#2
Cyco-Dude Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 836	well, depending on where you live you need to be certified to work with refridgerants such as R134a (its illegal to leak the stuff into the open air; old refridgerant must be recovered) are there any valves on the pipes?? there should be at least one somewhere for evacuating / charging... as far as the condensor and evaporator, you should be able to unscrew the lines from them...it depends on the setup i guess tho. ive only delt with car AC systems....

06-18-2002, 01:14 AM	#3
\|PuNiSh3R\| Foo's Been Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 255	heh.. lol.. i can go down to my local auto store and buy cans of R-134A.. so it's legal here This is a frige system.. it doesn't have any valves.. just comes right out of the compressor... The only thing that I will be change most likely will be the condensor.. changing it to like a 3 pass (radiator) condensor... Thinking of water cooling it some how..

06-18-2002, 08:49 AM	#6
\|PuNiSh3R\| Foo's Been Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 255	Well you see... this system is from a frige.. and it has a grill design for the condensor.. and it ran through the shell of the frige.. right under the metal outter shell.. I recently tore the metal top shell off to get the condensor out cuz it gets extremely hot when it has to work against the water. I was thinking about replacing that puny grill design with a 3pass radiator type condensor. I was also thinking about changing the evaporator which is the ice box in the frige... changing that to a copper tubing spiral design so it would be easily fit into my resevior. To do all of this would require me to cut off the old stuff.. there for loosing the charge in the system. I have no problem doing this.. just as long as I know I can re-charge the system with out needing expensive equipment.. or expensive help from a shop. I don't really care bout letting it leak out.. China puts more polution out with it's unregulated factories.. my 55grams of propane R-134A won't do a damn thing.

06-18-2002, 10:43 AM	#8
\|PuNiSh3R\| Foo's Been Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 255	Ok.. but just say I do this myself.. I am most likely just going to change the condensor.. using the same tubing.. I just need to spiral it up for the PVC tubing.. How would I re-attatch it to the compressor? Sodder? .. that's what I need to know.. and also where I re-fill it and if I need to vacuum it for moisture or dirt.. I am going to call an AC shop and talk to them also.. if they won't charge me much to do this.. then I'll go with them.

06-18-2002, 09:42 PM	#11
\|PuNiSh3R\| Foo's Been Banned Join Date: May 2002 Location: Pennsyltucky Posts: 255	Unfortunatly I know for a fact now that I am going to have to re-design the condensor and probably will just do the evap right away since the system will be open. I will probably make the evaporator a copper coil.. I will talk to the frige guys about what size it should be and how the system should be tuned. Supposedly.. a guy is supposed to call me tomorrow.. sort of a regular individual.. I guess he's just HVAC cert or he just knows a lot.. I gave my number to the frige sales guy at a Rainbow Rent-A-Center.. he said he knew someone who would be willing to help me with this job. Looks like I am going to piss away more money I sure hope this setup really works..

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