Figure 6-53. - Connections for low-side charging.

the line with gas and clears the air from the line. After clearing, tighten the connection.

2. Connect a line from the LOW (LO) valve (suction) on the gauge manifold set to the suction service valve of the compressor.

3. Start the compressor.

4. Open the valve on the cylinder and the LOW (LO) valve (suction) on the gauge manifold set.

5. Open the suction service valve on the compressor to permit the gas to enter the compressor where it will be compressed and fed to the high side. Add the refrigerant slowly and check the liquid level indicator regularly until the system is fully charged. It is easy to check the receiver refrigerant level in some makes of condensing units because the receiver has minimum and maximum liquid level indicator valves which show the height of the liquid level when opened. If a liquid line sight glass is used, the proper charge may be determined when there is no bubbling of refrigerant as it passes by the glass. The sight glass will appear empty.

Again, be certain the refrigerant cylinder is in the vertical position at all times; otherwise, the liquid refrigerant will enter the compressor and, liquid not being compressible, damage the piston or other parts of the compressor.

REFRIGERANT LEAKS

system is when there is enough pressure to increase the The best ti me to test joints and connections in a rate at which the refrigerant seeps from the leaking joint. There is usually enough pressure in the high-pressure side of the system; that is, in the condenser, receiver, and liquid line, including dehydrators, strainers, line valves, and solenoid valves. This is not necessarily true of the low-pressure side of the system, especially if it is a low-pressure installation, such as for frozen foods and ice cream, where pressures may run only slightly above zero on the gauge. When there is little pressure, increase the pressure in the low-pressure side of the system by bypassing the discharging pressure from the condenser to the low-pressure side through the service gauge manifold Small leaks cannot be found unless the pressure inside the system is at least 40 to 50 psi, regardless of the method used to test for leaks.

Halide Leak Detector

The use of a halide leak detector (fig. 6-54) is the most positive method of detecting leaks in a refrigerant system using halogen refrigerants (R-12, R-22, R-11, R-502, etc.). Such a detector consists essentially of a torch burner, a copper reactor plate, and a rubber exploring hose.

Detectors use acetylene gas, alcohol, or propane as a fuel. A pump supplies the pressure for a detector that uses alcohol. If a pump-pressure type of alcohol- burning detector is used, be sure that the air pumped into the fuel tank is pure.

Figure 6-54. - Halide leak detector.