Help! Need to quickly recharge mach 1!!!

[cwatson]

I accidently bent the tube too close to the solid copper tube and it had a leak. I then cut off the insulation and found the location. I think it will be easy to seal off the leak, but the real problem is the PC is immobile right now and I really cant get it too a refrigeration place. What is the easiest gas to get(many are accessable) and the easiest way to charge the system. It is full of air right now.

[bh2k]

Propane R290

[cwatson]

Wont that explode if it leaks again? Can I do this without brazing? And HOW do I charge it?

I have an old AC I can get a compressor out of if need be

[bh2k]

If it leaks again no...
Yes, you need to braze it again.

You're better sending it to chilly1 or pc ice to have it repaired by a professional.

[cwatson]

my moms lab, where im building this thing, apparently has vaccuums already installed. It also has a mystery gas that I am further looking into.

[cwatson]

The gas is methane. The wound is worse then I had thought. Check it out:



pic2 (http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/micfac/Beta/images/confocal/comp(78).JPG) pic1 (http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/micfac/Beta/images/confocal/comp(79).JPG)

[bh2k]

Methane is a HPG and can't be used in a system like yours.

[cwatson]

How would I go about repairing that rip? The vaccuum seems to work fine. What are the risks if the system has little air in it?

[cwatson]

im getting a propane torch and some propane to recharge it this evening.

[JSU]

um i dont think you can repair corrogated steel by brazing, you might want to stop by johnstone supply or somethign and see if they have a any fitting that will reattach it.

[JSU]

about rechargin it with proane you are going to need 1 schrader valve atleast 1 piercing valve if you dont feel like brazing schrader on. You will also need a charge hose. Vacuum out the system then break the vacuum with alittle propane then vacuum again break with propane then vacuum and charge. if you dont have any guages to monitor the psi, then just add alittle bit until the evapoator gets cold. Then once it gets nice and frosty that should hold you over for a few days until you can get it realy repaired.... remember if you do it without guages or proper equipment it wont perform well and will prolly leak so get it proffesional help ASAP.

[cwatson]

it broke where the corregated steel met the copper. Apparently they had some seal rubber or something ghetto installed there. I will braze it and have a repairman come out later to recharge it. I thank you all!

[chilly1]

The silver solder has a melt point of 1100 degF you will need to clean teh joint and remove the broken piece of tubing finish the end of the corregated pipe flush and insert it into the swagged copper end use 45% silver and Floride paste flux propane will not do it. Mapp gas will but takes a while use an inert gas while brazing. Vacume to 29 inches ov vacume three times with apurge of the gas you are charging with to rinse the system out.

[cwatson]

Ill have the refrig guy vacuum and charge. The torch is MAPP. I have bronze brazing rods and "non electrical repair soldering paste flux".

[cwatson]

Im going to checkout that baker block thread to see how you all go about brazing. Luckily i brought my dremel and just got some cutting wheels.

[JSU]

The bronze braising rods wont do it. Ive tried many times. Im using 56%silver now and it does the job realy well. To test your join with the solder you are using if you manage by some miracle to get it evenly around the whole thing (it doesnt stick to the steal like it does to copper) try pulling it or twisting it and it will come out.

[cwatson]

i overdid it...it seems strong

[cwatson]

refrig guy is here, its charging as I type.

[craig588]

Make sure you charge it with a load. It will not hold the temps if you don't have a load on it.

[JSU]

Did you use silver braize?

[cwatson]

can I just mount it in order to charge it with load?

[cwatson]

no, bronze....ive tried hard to rip it out, it wont go

[JSU]

dont try ripping if you turn it side to side it will prolly come out but if you feel you have a goo joint then good.