chiller refrigerant

[Chipie]

Hi,
Can the Pacific coast Imports model cl280 chiller be filled again if the refrigerant gas (R134a)is low?
Thanks

 

[Jeremy B.]

Hi,

The refrigerant used in these is R-22a, which can be refiilled in these units. Just contact a licensed refrigeration specialist in your area and they will be able to service the unit for you.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[Chipie]

Well that weird. It says R134a on the back of the chiller. Hum....


Maybe it's because i'm in Canada?

 

[Chipie]

Hi Jeremy,
Do you know where the refrigerant is added? I don't see any plug. But i'm not refrigerant tech lol.

 

[Jeremy B.]

If you pull the cover off of the unit you should see a little port on there that they can hook up to.

I was told the refrigerant in that unit is R22a, however it could also be R134a.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[Chipie]

I wish i knew what it looks like, I've taken the cover off but don't see anything that look like a port. Maybe it's right there, i just don't know what to look for.

 

[Jeremy B.]

You should be looking for something that kind of looks like a valve stem that you would find on a bicycle tire.

 

[Chipie]

Should it be right on the round tank?

 

[Jeremy B.]

It should be on one of the lines coming off of the compressor. Look around the entire unit for a port like this.

 

[Chipie]

I'll try again to to remove the lager cover, it has some things attached to it and i didn't dare pulling on it too much. Thanks

 

[Chipie]

I looked again. Still don't find it. I've taken picture so you can see what i see. Can you tell me what would be the compressor in there? I know, i know. I'M clueless lol.
Thanks for trying to help.

There's 2 places that the cooper pipes end and one end is just square(no valve, just cooper) and the other is kind of pinched flat.

 

[Chipie]

Can it be under those black foams ?

 

[Jeremy B.]

It could possibly be under the insulation. I will try and pull one apart tomorrow and see if i can find it for you.

 

[mojo~]

most of these small units don't have ports. You will need a piercing valve to add the 134a the the low pressure line. 4 basic parts. Compressor small high pressure line to the condenser. line is hot. from condenser to the Expansion valve. Usually a capillary tube really small line line will be hot still. From there it goes to the low pressure side. and it will be a larger tube going intothe evaporator. after the evaporator and back the compressor. This is where you want to put the piercing valve. Between the evap and compressor. The line should be cool to cold to the touch. You should be licensed if you are doing this. I have mine through ESCO and the EPA. Hope this helps the valve are only a couple bucks and 134a doest not require license

 

[Chipie]

Thanks you very much for an excellent explaination. No wonder i couldn't find the valve lol.

 

[mojo~]

Sorry Jeremy, thought I would lend a hand.

 

[Jeremy B.]

Thank you Jesse, very much appreciated! My evaporative condenser knowledge is obviously not as good as yours, but since you deal with that on a daily basis.....

Thanks again for the help!

 

[Chipie]

Thankyou both for helping. It is appreciated.
I plugged the chiller again and it actually cools a bit. I've never had a chiller before and myabe i'm just expecting too much. Maybe Jesse would know a bit about this. I was testing the chiller in a 10 gallons tank. How much time(approximate) should it take this 1/10 hp cl280 to cool a 10 gallons of 7 degrees F. It's about 70 in the room.

 

[Chipie]

I took 25 minutes to cool a 10 gallons 5 degrees F when room temperature is only 70 F. That can't be good?

 

[mojo~]

well 1 btu is equal to the energy to raise 1 lb of water 1 degree at 1 atmosphere. I would run it fora while and check it out. Fill up the tub and check it in there. A 1/10 is pretty small. good for nano tanks. ect... And I just ook the classes in school. I only use any of it a couple times a year.lol. When the bosses office get too warm in the summer mainly.