Refrigeration Recharge

[oceandreams89]

Hey Guys,

Has anyone recharged their own Adler Barbour cold machine themselves with the 134a kits from the auto parts stores? Mine is a few years old and I'm not happy with my mounting location. I'm going to move my compressor unit and it is low on coolant now anyway so I figure I will have to top it off after a little more of the goo escapes. Is there a certain amount of refrigerant that the system holds and what is the do it yourself procedure without fancy refrigeration tools.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Todd

 

[Guy Stevens]

By weight only.

They are charged by Weight, the weight of the charge being listed on the sled that the compressor and condensor are mounted to. You MUST discharge all existing 134A and refill by weight.

The dicey part is that you don't want to discharge or add any extra oil out of the system.

If you have any more questions ask away. I think there are a couple of liscensed reefer techs here on the site, including myself.

Guy

 

[Emerald]

Hi Guy,

Just from plain curiousity, and perhaps if I knew more about refer systems on boats I wouldn't ask the question at all, but why can't you charge based on pressures like on an automotive system?

Thanks, just curious, as I am still hauling around ice

-David
Independence 31
Emerald

 

[oceandreams89]

Will those a/c recharge kits from napa with 134a work with the Adler Barbour fittings? I also see 3 screw top cap fittings on the plumbing. 2 are on the pipe connectors, and one on top of the compressor that has the recharge tag on it. Which ones are which? I assume the one with the tag is the charge fitting but I'm not sure.

I have never serviced one of these before, but I have heard of people doing it themselves. My yard charged $184 last year for a charge and leak check after I had to un link the fittings to move the copper tube around to make space. I would sure like to do it myself for the cost of the kit if it is possible. I try to stick to the thinking that part of sailing is about self reliance, and what one man can do, another can do. I'm not sure how much money that mentality has saved over the years with my various hobbies, but it must be plenty. Not to mention the educational value.....

Thanks

 

[Guy Stevens]

Recievers and accumulators

Your automotive systems have recievers or accumulators which can take care of a little "extra" refigerant depending on the temperature of the compressor and the cooled area. Your little adler barbor system does not have either..... Setting it by pressure is not as specific as setting it by weight, and can result in an over charge situation which will cause compressor slugging, and early failure.

Undercharging can cause poor cooling and a lack of lube oil to the compressor in extreme situations.

Guy

 

[ted_reshetiloff]

Are we sure the older Adler Barbors were 134? I was thinking they might be R12? Mine I think is OEM from 1989 and I was thinking of getting it recharged but figured if I had to get r12 I would end up paying an arm and a leg. I have not looked closely at mine to see what it takes. Guy is dead on with the charge by weight comments based on what I have been told about these units verses automotive.

 

[Guy Stevens]

Sounds more like R-12

It does sound from the cost of a recharge on your unit that it might be r-12. It should state the refigerant on the sled along with the weight.

R-12 is expensive.... Over $100 per 12 oz on the retail market.


Guy

 

[soup1438]

R-12 vs R-134a

Assuming one has such a unit that uses R-12...

What is needed to convert to R-134a? Or is it "rip it out and install anew"?

Also, is there a chance that the person doing the work will buy the R-12 charge out of the unit? It's not like that stuff "goes bad", right?

 

[oceandreams89]

It is 134a. The yard is just really expensive. The refrigerant came to 10 bucks the rest was labor...hence my question about a self recharge..

I just said the heck with it and pulled it all out, compressor / evap and everything, and brought it down to Waeco Adler/Barbour today for them to fix. The thing is still under warranty as it turns out. I thought it was a 1 year and it turns out it is 2 years. It must have been undercharged from the factory. They found no leaks anywhere last year. Who knows. I'm sure Waeco will straighten it out and they say I'll have it back in by the end of the week. Real good customer service.

I was going to move the compressor anyway to the lazarette from under the galley sink. After all the work I did to vent that area and make it look beautiful and clean under there, it kept us awake at night when it would cycle. Live and learn. I usually end up doing some jobs twice, but they are always right the second time ........

Thanks again.

 

[diamondjim]

Refrigerant

Hi guys,
Try this site for an informative way around for your refrigeration & A/C needs. This stuff is more efficient tahn r-12 or 134a and you don't need a permit from EPA (economic protection agency)! I've used it in auto A/C units and it works as advertised. I used gages and watched pressures but weight of refrigerant is important.
Any other comments?
<> Jim

 

[oceandreams89]

Adler Barbour / Waeco dove into the problem and found a very small leak on the top fitting to the expansion tank. Evidently a part not made by them and has been prone to leaks. The fixed it at n/c. and I have successfully moved the compressor to the lazarette where it is much quieter. Running the hoses was a serious pain and at times the air coming from my hatches must have been a venomous blue, but it's in and working better than ever. I set it a bit too high at first and it froze some of our bottles water in a few hours time.

Hopefully it will stay good and I wont have to worry about recharge for many years. I sure don't want to have to take it out again after the project it was to thread the copper tube through the aft cabin.

Thanks

 

[ligolaiva38]

I had a problem on my new AB refrigeration system when I connected the tubes from the box in the refigerator to the compressor and lost too much 134 refrigerent. The box was only frosting up along the botom. I contacted a refrigeration specialist from a boat yard in Long Beach to come and refill the lost refrigerent. He did and filled it up totally which was way too much. The unit would not stop working and the the tubes had an inch of ice around them all the way to the compressor. Something was wrong so I contacted the guy in Long Beach again and he said he was too busy to come out again. Maybe he will have time next fall 4 or 5 months from then. I was quite disappointed and desparate.
Luckly. I found a great place on the internet: http://kollmann-marine.com/phpBB/index.php and had some great answers to my questions. I even bought the book and did my own fixing and learned a lot about refrigeration units.
I let out the refrigerent until the unit worked for 6 minutes before shutting off which is aprox. the right amount of refrigerent. The unit was frosty in the box but no longer frosy outside the box which was just right. A general and simple way to judge the correct amount of refrigerant in the unit.
If you contact the list, read some others questions and answers or ask questions you will get great answers on filling up with refrigerant correctly using the NAPA adapter or any thing else you have questions about refrigeration.
I thought the book was well worth it and recomend it to anyone who wants to learn about their refigeration system.

Now my fridge works great. Good luck.

http://kollmann-marine.com/phpBB/index.php

John