Re-gas refrigerator

[MarkJ]

Hi Folks

I have a 12 volt fridge that uses R-134a gas.

How do I know if it needs regassing?

How do I re-gas it? Call a mobile car airconditioning chappie?

I want the fridge to be colder, faster, longer.

It works OK now but I would be pretty sure it hasn't been topped up for ages... It still get ice on the plate after 30 mins powered on.



Thanks for your advice


Mery Christmas!


Mark

[donradcliffe]

If the fridge has a sealed danfoss compressor and 'for ages' is less than 20 years, you probably don't need to do anything. If you have too much money and want to spend some to make sure that it is optimized, call a refrigeration man, not an air-con man. He will check the pressures and fill or bleed gas--read Calder's chapter on refrigeration before you call him.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

If you have too much money and want to spend some

Thanks for that sage advice!



Mark

[Caribsailors]

If it works and you want to keep it.......DON"T FUC& with it.

Cheers

[HorizonMarine]

If the condenser evaporator ices up from top to bottom (not just half of it) the unit is fine and needs no charging. It is an easy job to recharge one though, taking about an hour or so. If it cycles off and on, kit is doing its job also.

[Caribsailors]

Originally Posted by HorizonMarine

If the condenser ices up from top to bottom (not just half of it) the unit is fine and needs no charging. It is an easy job to recharge one though, taking about an hour or so. If it cycles off and on, kit is doing its job also.

Condenser icing? Maybe if it's a heat pump and just finished a defrost at 30F ambient. But then that would make it the evaporator

Cheers

[mayball]

Hi MarkJ
I think HorizonMarine was referring to the evaporator rather than the condenser. However, if your unit uses a capillary tube (rather than an expansion valve) and has a thin plate evaporator (with refrigerant channels pressed into it), he is correct. The charge is optimum if the last of the liquid refrigerant evaporates just as it is leaving the evaporator and entering the tubing to return to the compressor. This condition can be observed if the entire plate is frosted, but the return tubing is not frosted. Please note that the above does not apply to a unit that uses an expansion valve, sight glass and reciever tank.

Hope this helps.