So my main level unit kicked off due to low pressure. Did some trouble shooting and found that the capacitor wiring had shorted to a copper line causing a pinhole leak. Silver soldered the leak and ran a vacuum pump for a half hour. Shut the valve on the vacuum hose and the gauge showed the vacuum holding for a couple of hours. Went to recharge with r410a and can't seem to get past 110psi. The system nameplate shows a capacity of 1.98lbs but I'm only able get 0.5lbs in before the tank and system seem to equalize. WTF am I doing wrong?
It's running when you are charging it, right? You are charging the low side?
I don't really know anything about heat pumps, but they are basically AC systems, so I am working off of that concept.
Charge on the low side with the comperssor running as already stated.
7rx
New Reader
3/12/24 9:58 p.m.
With 410a make sure you are charging with liquid. Tank upside down. Just charge slow to make sure you don't slug the compressor.
What's the pressure? Did you fully evacuate before soldering including the compressor? If not, you won't get the full amount in... Do you have enough in there for it to kick on?
I got busy at work and didn't have a chance to check my post.
I fully evacuated the system with a vacuum pump and confirmed it held pressure. I'm recharging liquid not gas. I've been told that this is correct and that this is wrong. Any educated input? The outdoor unit is running while I'm charging but once I reach about 110psi the pressure in the bottle of R410a was the same as the system pressure so I couldn't get it to accept any more refrigerant. I think this is because I'm an idiot who forgot his basic thermodynamics class and was trying to charge from a bottle that had been sitting outside at ambient temperature overnight. The day in question was around the freezing point. -3 in Celsius so under 30 in freedom units.
Assuming I correct the tank temperature issue can I charge the unit when it's in heat vs cool mode or do I need to wait for a warmer day?
Heating the tank will help to a point thats for sure.
