Charging my system - Help

[JohnFish]

After 3 weeks of making my own system just today I charged my system with 404. I started putting refrigerant inside but I dont know how much I needed so I tried to get the red gauge near 150 psi and I closed the blue valve. It got around 180 psi and the blue gauge around 0 (a bit less as you can see). Although, I still cant see any frost (after 10 min of running) in the suction line and the evaporator (its sealed inside a res) inlet gets quite cold but no frost. What does this mean?I need more refrigerant in?

http://img27.exs.cx/img27/9177/DSC00679.jpg

[JohnFish]

forgot to say that the bottom of the compressor is quite hot and the top is really hot.

[JohnFish]

Update: When I turn the compressor off I get these pressures:

http://img15.exs.cx/img15/7310/DSC682.jpg

When the compressor is on I get the pressures posted at the first post.

[gkiing]

The second picture shows the system with equalized pressure.. i think. You should charge it undre whatever full load you're going to be using to get an accurate charge. Usually you can just charge until you get the coldest temp possible, then tune it for heatload, or charge it to a full sight glass if you have one installed in the liquid line.

[EDIT] By the way 404a is really expensive you should try r22 it works almost as well.

[m0nk33y]

hehe. r22 is expensive toO!!! use r-290!!!!! :)

[gouda96]

What would the temp differences be from r404a, r22, and r290 in a mach1?

[m0nk33y]

redwolf says that a combination of r22 and r290 might be a cheaper and better alternative

[JohnFish]

guys...we are getting out of topic...I dont want to use r22 or any other refrigerant

[Pandrone]

Try charge it some more :). Or you did try that already?


Let him use what refrigerant he wants to use, 404a may be cheap where he lives :).

[JohnFish]

btw, 404 is about 10 euros per kg here. I believe its not that expensive

[m0nk33y]

hmm you could be undercharge and your condenser is inadequate, but im not sure