Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:08:32 -0400
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: RedTek and the Sight Glass
In-Reply-To: <COL125-W3280AEAE68E6BED8BA664DCF350@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Mike,
I use ES-12a from autorefrigerants.com. I'm not sure, but I am assuming
that RedTek is a similar butane/propane refrigerant.
Your pressure and temperature numbers sound nearly normal to me. My system
leaks enough that I typically add one 6 oz. can per season. When it is
well charged, I usually see a temperature drop of 25 to 30 degrees,
measured with an IR gun at the intake and output at the rear unit (duct to
the front has been removed).
Of course when the sun has been shining on the back of the van and the
intake air is 90 or 100F, the air coming out doesn't feel very cold at
first. After going down the road for a while, it gets caught up and we
start backing off on the fan and the temp control.
Larry A.
On Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 9:47 PM, Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@hotmail.com>wrote:
> Dennis -
>
> Sadly I have no way to measure the high side pressure. I was hoping to
> not have to get set up as an AC tech, and we'll see how it goes. The
> radiator fan isn't running at high speed. It would still be interesting
> to hear from anyone else who is using RedTek what they are seeing in their
> sight glass.
>
> Today I got a replacement low-pressure valve adapter which doesn't leak
> when it's screwed on, so I was able to re-test the pressure. Before
> starting the engine, ~ 70 lbs. After starting it dropped to ~ 34 lbs,
> right in where the RedTek folks recommend. Not sure why it dropped from
> when I was loading the refrigerant, but there it is.
>
> After running for 10 minutes or so I was getting ~ 52 degrees out of the
> vent on fan speed 2. Ambient temperature in the garage ~ 75. I shut up
> the engine compartment and went for a drive. After about 15 minutes, the
> vent temp was just under 50.
>
> The condenser up front is pretty clean and seems warm, but not hot. At
> this point I think I'm going to run with it for a bit. If it can't drop
> more than 25 degrees below interior temperature I gather something isn't
> right, but I need to know more about how to dig into the system to find out.
>
> - Mike
>
> Mike Finkbiner
>
> '87 Westy
> Moscow, Idaho
> mike_l_f@hotmail.com
>
>
>
> You can't see a thought, you can't measure, weigh, nor
> taste it - but thoughts are the most real things in the Galaxy.
> - Richard Baslim
>
> > From: d23haynes57@hotmail.com
> > To: mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: RE: RedTek and the Sight Glass
> > Date: Thu, 29 Aug 2013 00:35:43 -0400
> >
> > You really need to see what is happening on the high side. The radiator
> fan
> > must run at low speed when the compressor is on and when the high side
> > pressure reaches a certain limit the fan should go into a faster speed.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Mike Finkbiner
> > Sent: Thursday, August 29, 2013 12:14 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: RedTek and the Sight Glass
> >
> > Dennis -
> >
> > I'm using the gauge that comes with the RedTek kit, and it's only for the
> > low side. Does the radiator fan have anything to do with AC pressure, or
> > does it just run on temperature. Seems it is on all of the time while I
> > have been running the air conditioner.
> >
> > Interesting comment about the warm air from the engine compartment.
> Makes
> > sense.
> >
> > I'm still curious about whether the sight glass should show bubbles.
> > Perhaps someone who runs RedTek already will be able to answer that.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > - Mike
> >
> > Mike Finkbiner
> >
> > '87 Westy
> > Moscow, Idaho
> > mike_l_f@hotmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> > You can't see a thought, you can't measure, weigh, nor
> > taste it - but thoughts are the most real things in the Galaxy.
> > - Richard Baslim
> >
> > > From: d23haynes57@hotmail.com
> > > To: mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: RE: RedTek and the Sight Glass
> > > Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 22:05:03 -0400
> > >
> > > What is the high side pressure? 40-50 psi is way too high for any R12
> > > type replacement. Keep in mind that the AC systems relies in
> > > recirculating sir to cool things down. With the engine compartment
> > > open and the AC sucking all that engine heat you will need see a 40
> > > degree discharge especially with the fan on high speed. You need to
> > > measure both the high and low side pressures to make sure the
> > > compressor and expansion valve is working. The gauge set will indicate
> > > pressure and ~ coil temperatures. Automotive systems should be filled
> > > by volume, and then tested for proper pressures. Too many variables to
> > > just fill by pressure unless you really know what you are doing. An
> > > overfilled system will damage the compressor in short order. Not being
> > > able to pull down the low pressure side is usually a sign of a bad
> > compressor. Busted valve parts!
> > >
> > > Dennis
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > > Behalf Of Mike Finkbiner
> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 9:29 PM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: RedTek and the Sight Glass
> > >
> > > I'm running into conflicting advice about what the sight glass should
> > > look like after switching from R12 to RedTek.
> > >
> > > I had the R-12 in my '87 Westy system removed and a vacuum pulled,
> > > then put the adaptor on the low side plug and started installing the
> > > RedTek. After a couple of cans and the can of leak stop, with the AC
> > > running full bore I was getting low-side pressure above 40, but
> > > according to my calibrated hand, no significant cooling from the
> > > vents. The AC fan was running and the low-pressure tube out of the
> > compressor was chilly, but not really cold.
> > >
> > > Looking at the sight glass I saw lots of bubbles, so I assumed I
> > > needed to add more coolant, and did a bit more, but no more cooling.
> > >
> > > Shut down after about half an hour and noticed the low pressure valve
> > > adapter was hissing. When I unscrewed it, that stopped, but I
> > > wondered how much coolant had leaked out.
> > >
> > > I called the RedTek help number and a man in tech support said he
> > > wasn't too familiar with the automotive side, but on some Vanagons I
> > > might need low side pressures over 50 psi. They also recommended
> > > running it again after it sat overnight in case there was some crud
> > > floating in the system that needed to settle. They are shipping me a
> > > replacement adapter and some more refrigerant.
> > >
> > > I borrowed a digital thermometer the next day, started the engine and
> > > ran the air conditioning to see if there was any difference. With an
> > > air temperature in the garage of 74, the AC was blowing 54, so it is
> > > cooling some. I thought it should drop 40 degrees below ambient if
> it's
> > running OK.
> > > Again, lots of bubbles in the sight glass.
> > >
> > > Then I ran into a note which indicated that the sight glass is not
> > > reliable for RedTek, because it's much lighter. They said I should
> > > expect bubbles, and might actually have too much refrigerant in the
> > > system. They recommended letting enough out to get the low side
> > > pressure down to below 40 and see what happened.
> > >
> > > So - if you are running RedTek, what does your sight glass look like?
> > >
> > > - Mike
> > >
> > > Mike Finkbiner
> > > '87 Westy
> > > Moscow, Idaho
> > > mike_l_f@hotmail.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > You can't see a thought, you can't measure, weigh,
> > > nor taste it - but thoughts are the most real things in the Galaxy.
> > > - Richard Baslim
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
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