Rapty's Vapo LS mod by Johann

[johann]

These days I dont really post mods here anymore but Rapty asked me to post progress of mod so here it is.

Rapty asked for a more silent and powerfull machine for his conroe.

As you all know the obvious first thing to do is change compressor to NL11F. The stock LS compressor is noisy and not too powerfull. I still dont know why Asetek uses this compressor. NL11F on the other hand is nice and smooth and alot more powerfull.

Next is a bigger condensor to handle the little bigger heatload from compressor and CPU and enable rapty to run fans at reasonable setting instead of full.

Lastly a new evap lineset (Dimas v 4.1) I like the Dimas evap kit. Performance is good and mounting options good also. I added a accumulator as usual these days because Im not a fan of floodback and I like to make the captube around 2-3 inches shorter for the little warmer Conroe chips.

Captube is 2.7m 0.031 on this one.

Last time I had a stock LS on my loadtester at 150w I saw around -20c to -25c or so. After the mods I expect to see a load temp of around -42c to -45c so I would guess around 15-20c increase with less noise

Some pics:

Original unit as I received it:



Replacement parts:



ADDED:

Step 1:

Vapo removed. At least the controller, 2 fans and LCD screen remain . I believe the warranty is now void

[|RickY|]

only use the box and controler?

well i like condensor and evap from vapochill ls. i only change compressor on vapochill ls.

[johann]

Sure Ricky, the evap is not bad atall. I like it also but mounting kits are expensive. The LGA 775 kit cost almost the same price as a new custom evap kit.

Condensor also its not bad atall but with R402a you need full speed fans on that condensor. You can add desuperheater but I prefer not too. I rather replace condensor with bigger one and leave desuperheater. The condensor is not that expensive either so while busy modding I think its worth spending little more for condensor especially if customer ask for silent unit.

[Brettbeck]

Im sure this unit will work far better once you've finished with it Johann!

Good work so far !

[johann]

Ready for vacuum.

[El Snorro]

nice unit!
Dimas evap is looking good

[kayl]

hey nice going, 100% flex line is nice option.
is that a accumulator or a drier?
i always wanted to tryone and see if could be used as a replacement?

[Duniek]

johann - as always good work but
flex line isn't too short?
what is inside construction of suction acumulator?

[esdee]

aaaaarg! whyyyyyy did you replaced the stock Vapo condenser? its sooo perfect for such systems!

[johann]

Hey Kayl,

Its an accumulator, basically its empty there is nothing inside but provide the volume needed when using short suctionline or little shorter captube.

Suctionline looks short but its the same length as the original vapo, even 1 or 2 inches longer. I made flex all the way, it gives you around 10cm adjustment of suctionline length if needed. You can push it back in or pull it up if needed.

[Brettbeck]

aaaaarg! whyyyyyy did you replaced the stock Vapo condenser? its sooo perfect for such systems!

Condensor also its not bad atall but with R402a you need full speed fans on that condensor. You can add desuperheater but I prefer not too. I rather replace condensor with bigger one and leave desuperheater. The condensor is not that expensive either so while busy modding I think its worth spending little more for condensor especially if customer ask for silent unit.

[johann]

exactly

[Nosfer@tu]

Nice work.

Now blow somthing up and throw the temps at us

EDIT:
Love your pre tempreture testing
Gives a REALLY god view of your work


taken from Mouawad's Vapo LS Modded by Johann


"125w -25c
150w -20c
185w -14c

I have to say I was not impressed with the performance of the stock LS atall.

Results after Mods:

125w -47c
150w -44c
185w -40c"

[|RickY|]

Ready for vacuum.

ok, i understand your point

are you sure the condensor you use are better than vapochill ls? on pic it seems to have less pipes, less superface less area of contact

[jinu117]

AFAIK, the condenser uses rifled tubing with properly sized fin space for fan speed we use. Also, from what I see finned area is larger than that of mach or vapo's condenser.
Numeric data I got from someone at least tells me it's hugely better.. but I haven't STILL gotten my samples yet. Knock knock.
Looking good as usual Johann

[LittleDevil]

Good looking, shoe us some temps :P

thanks

[esdee]

ok, i understand your point

are you sure the condensor you use are better than vapochill ls? on pic it seems to have less pipes, less superface less area of contact

AFAIK, the condenser uses rifled tubing with properly sized fin space for fan speed we use. Also, from what I see finned area is larger than that of mach or vapo's condenser.
Numeric data I got from someone at least tells me it's hugely better.. but I haven't STILL gotten my samples yet. Knock knock.
Looking good as usual Johann

+ the original has 1/4" tubes ... i still can't find any condenser on HVAC shops with 1/4" and not 3/8 tubing!

[pazza316]

I have done the same mod using that condensor and a chilly1 head. Yes the condensor is much better with lower discharge temps and pressures compared to the stock condensor evan if you have implimented a desupereheater. This does not translate into a massive improvement in temps when loaded but the compressor runs cooler and the pressures are lower which means if you wish you can run the fans at lower speeds which we all love!!

[pazza316]

Hey Johann whats the vibration like on the unit? I put a coil around 2ft long before the condensor to help with vibration from the compressor.

[Dimas]

nice work, and nice condensor too


OT: hi,Pazza...i send you lot of pm/mails, time and patience are on they way to finish...

[johann]

Ian, vibration is not bad atall, I think most of it gets absorbed by the rubber compressor feet. Sure some of it gets absorbed by the condensor but it is mounted on a 6mm foam gasket which helps,

Unit is on the bench now but I will post more pics and temps soon.

Initial charge show same temps as always with this setup, around the -44c mark with 150w, idle around -58c.

[jinu117]

+ the original has 1/4" tubes ... i still can't find any condenser on HVAC shops with 1/4" and not 3/8 tubing!

Reason is quite simple The condensers are custom ordered. Even my condensers are custom designed and produced. It's pretty expensive till you can get your qty well above 100 a set nor anyone take you seriously enough. I have next 200+ with some design change that is coming in sometime... -_-; You really need to push volume or price won't buckle much. I might go look different supplier on next run as I am not too happy with the company's promptness. Quality is top notch but I really have hard time dealing with them for simplest thing in world and pricing is only so so for ordering 200+ pieces.

[wdrzal]

Is that a vapor(suction line) filter where you have the cap tube wrapped around??



One trick to gain sub cooling,thus efficiency, is to soft solder the cap tube to the copper line and filter,you will get much better heat transfer. Just use a low temp solder like 50/50, clean parts well and flux. I like a flux for soft solder called no-lox. Some fluxes will turn the copper green if you don't clean the remainder off.you won't be able to soft solder to the ss line.

This is done on a lot of fridges right from the factory.

Great looking rig !!!

[LukeXE]

Nice work Johann, as always !

[Brettbeck]

Is that a vapor(suction line) filter where you have the cap tube wrapped around??

I think you mean the suction line accumulator?