scroll compressor wierdness...

[FoxTrottZero]

I have a HUGE Wall A/C unit... 10000 btu/hr... I think the compressor is approaching 1 hp... something like that.

I got the A/C running (Tough, since it's like 0 C here) and it ran fine...

So it worked... yay. Drained the system which took hardly any time... it was empty in less than a minute... I have an older, smaller system that took about 30 minutes to drain completely.
So it was empty, I thought... Cut out the captube to save... cut out the compressor. Put it down on the floor and accidentally bumped it with a wrench... and all this white foamy crap shot out of it... just a spurt, real quick... (I think it likes me a little too much... Ah, love-hate relationships! :rolleyes: ) but then the bottom half of the compressor housing got cold and frosted a little...

Was there liquid refrigerant hiding in my compressor? how'd it get there? Why the foam? was it oil or something? Is the compressor still ok? it seems to run fine, but...

[Pandrone]

Foam? This happened to me as i was cutting a compressor out from a fridge. This was in a neighborhood with alot of old people, so it was a bit sneaky. When i finally got it free and started walking it spit out a huge amount of refrigerant + oil. You bet i was surprised :D. Anyway, i think it was some liquid refrigerant + oil that it spit out.

[lalPOOO]

I think it was refrigeerant stuck inside the compressor, when you shook/moved it the innards of the compressor shifted and the refrigerant came out.

[pythagoras]

Sounds like refrigerant dissolved in the oil. When the system is closed its under pressure, once you cut it the pressure drops to atmospheric and a knock or a shake helps the refrigerent boil off quickly causing a foam with the oil.

Its like shaking a can of coke.

Regards

John.

[FoxTrottZero]

Ah... K.

I was a little concerned because I've heard that liquid in the compressor is BAD BAD BAD! thought that I might have something wrong...

Ok... COol.

[Aphex_Tom_9]

well it has to have oil in it...

[buffarilla]

funny

[FoxTrottZero]

Yeah... by the way... Do I need to refill the compressor with oil now that I've ripped it out of the A/C?
Seems like most of it should still be in there...

And what about propane? can I use propane in an R134a system?

[Pandrone]

Yeah... by the way... Do I need to refill the compressor with oil now that I've ripped it out of the A/C?
Seems like most of it should still be in there...

And what about propane? can I use propane in an R134a system?

Yes you can use propane in an R134a system, R134a systems usually use POE oil that is very hygroscopic. That means that if you leave the compressor open to atmosphere for a longer time you need to change the oil. R290 (propane) works fine with POE oil :).

[FoxTrottZero]

Ok... Pandrone. Thanks...

How do I get the oil out of the compressor? and how much should I put into it?

[cold_ice]

Turn it upside down, and wait unil all the oil drained out (this can take time. Then put the same amount of new oil in, as you took out.

[FoxTrottZero]

Ok... problem.


It's been sitting upside down for three hours and has only drained (out of the high pressure outlet) maybe ten or twelve drops!
Could I plug it in while it's inverted like this and run it for a couple of seconds to get the oil out?
How much oil should be in there!? I thought it was like 1 pint/.5 Liters!

THe compressor's not messed up is it? :(

[Pandrone]

You should drain the oil from the suction-port. The suction usually doesnt connect anywhere in the compressor, in other words it dumps the gas in the compressor housing. The dischargepipe connects directly to the compressor itself. That means it will only drain the oil that's in the compressor compartment, not the oil from the compressor housing. My explaining sucks, hope you understand..