Blue mean machine cascade

[n00b 0f l337]

Welcome to the hobby

[chispy]

Thank you guys we work so hard to get it back running im exhausted , but with a big grin on my face and well worth it all the hard work ,burned my hands twice , got cut in my fingers and some scars in my arms hehehe ...

[Dumo]

Awesome work there Chispy, congrats

[Buckeye]

Thank you guys we work so hard to get it back running im exhausted , but with a big grin on my face and well worth it all the hard work ,burned my hands twice , got cut in my fingers and some scars in my arms hehehe ...

Extreme Cooling Battle Scars !!
Yeah man thats what its all about

Really happy that that you got it running Angelo. I know you have been through a lot with this Cascade fix. At least you had some one near you who could do the work. Your AC guy is prolly going... Angelo what the heck is this thing, and you do what with it ???

LOL

[Daveburt714]

Thank you guys we work so hard to get it back running im exhausted , but with a big grin on my face and well worth it all the hard work ,burned my hands twice , got cut in my fingers and some scars in my arms hehehe ...

Gratz on getting your cascade back up Chispy!
Looks like "war wounds" are just part of the phase game...
Wear your scars with pride Bro!

[sdumper]

Chipsy the compressor in your picture is the second stage compressor.

Which compressor did you replace? You said it was the first stage but if you did replace the second stage then you are going to need r1150 not r404a,

[chispy]

Chipsy the compressor in your picture is the second stage compressor.

Which compressor did you replace? You said it was the first stage but if you did replace the second stage then you are going to need r1150 not r404a,

Uh Oh , you are 100% correct , i think we made a noobie mistake and use r404a on the compresor that was replaced indeed its the second stage as you stated , no worries all we need to do its take the r404a out and charge with r1150 hopefully ( me thinks ), correct me if im wrong and give me some guidance so we dont make no more noobie mistakes , im sorry we are somekind confuse and use the wrong gas then , this is my first time working on a cascade and we are learning from the mistakes as we go on , Scott it needs to be charged at 125~130psi with r1150 second stage with new compresor ? Do we have to do anything else when we take the r404a out and regas with r1150 ? The Cascade its already fixed and everything working as it should and in placed , its all done and put back togeher nicely , only mistake was we use the wrong gas then. Hmmm thinking about it Ron told me the same yesterday , sorry for being such a noobie and i ask so many questions , take a look at this picture and i highlight the compresor that we change that is indeed the second stage , as thats the second one we turned on after running the first stage first compressor and let it iddle at -42c after pulldown temperatures , keep coming the feedback guys and if you guys see any more mistakes we made seen the pictures provided let me know. uh i feel like a total noobie now lol , bare in mind this is a learning experience for me and the A/C techs and enginners helping me out to fix the cascade with no previous experience on cascades. thank you for pointing that out.

Kind Regards: Angelo.

here is the picture and highlight in red the compressor that we change.

[sdumper]

Im confused so it was your second stage compressor all along that went bad and not your first stage. The first stage connects to the large condenser and the second to the blue suction line.

Can you get r1150 in Puerto Rico?

[chispy]

Im confused so it was your second stage compressor all along that went bad and not your first stage. The first stage connects to the large condenser and the second to the blue suction line.

Can you get r1150 in Puerto Rico?

My mistake yes ,I keep calling the second stage compressor by mistake first stage compresor im such a noobie on this , i will let you know if we can get hold of r1150 here , hopefully.

[runmc]

Keep in mind that r1150 (ethylene) is a high pressure gas. You won't be able to connect your charging manifold (gauges) directly to the r1150 bottle. You will need to use a regulator on the gas bottle so you can turn down the pressure before you let the gas into your gauges.
Maybe you can find 1150 at a welding supply or a company that sells oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene, and other types of gases like these.

[chispy]

Keep in mind that r1150 (ethylene) is a high pressure gas. You won't be able to connect your charging manifold (gauges) directly to the r1150 bottle. You will need to use a regulator on the gas bottle so you can turn down the pressure before you let the gas into your gauges.
Maybe you can find 1150 at a welding supply or a company that sells oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene, and other types of gases like these.

Thank you Ron will do

[sdumper]

If you cant source Ethelyn you can try Ethane not as cold but close enough.

[chispy]

If you cant source Ethelyn you can try Ethane not as cold but close enough.

We started looking for r1150 (ethelyn) , its kind of hard to find that gas , we are making a few phone calls , i will update you as soon as we can find r11150 if not we will give it a try at Ethane. Scott how much shaould we charge tu unit to 125psi-135psi ? As Ron stated the giuys at the A/C shop will use a regulator on the gas bottle. I need to know how much to charge the compressor with either gas ** Very Important** . That's all we need to do to get this unit back to full capacity , regas and load test , everything else its done.

I got a little scared after reading old treads like the one Peter ( Shamino ) almost kill himself while charging r1150 on his Cascade : http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...he-experienced , Thank god he is Ok , close call huh ...

[Buckeye]

Stay safe Angelo.

Charge that puppy outside so you don't vent anything in doors.

[sdumper]

Did you write down the pressure before you swapped the compressor?
If so use that pressure for 1150.

If not or if your using Ethane start with 125 to 130 and let it cool to its lowest temp. Next add 300 watts load and let the temp rise at least 10 to 12 degrees and if it looks like its going to keep rising then add a short burst of gas until the temp stops getting warmer and starts getting colder. After its stable and hold load at 300 watts then shut the whole unit down and let it sit for a few hours and then reverify that it actually holds load.

[chispy]

Did you write down the pressure before you swapped the compressor?
If so use that pressure for 1150.

If not or if your using Ethane start with 125 to 130 and let it cool to its lowest temp. Next add 300 watts load and let the temp rise at least 10 to 12 degrees and if it looks like its going to keep rising then add a short burst of gas until the temp stops getting warmer and starts getting colder. After its stable and hold load at 300 watts then shut the whole unit down and let it sit for a few hours and then reverify that it actually holds load.

Im still waiting for one phone call , i found some r1150 , Scott with the Compressor turned off completely we should charge ~125psi r1150 ? i took a picture of the pressures when the cascade first broke , but guess what , my little girl playing with daddys phone erased the pictures :/

[chispy]

be back later. Update me on that Scott.

Thank you.

[mytekcontrols]

Not that I'm recommending this over a pressure regulator, but in the past I've made up a transfer line by brazing about 5-6 feet of cap tube (0.042-0.064 ID) to a brass high pressure tank fitting with a standard 1/4" male flare fitting on the other end. Then I use this with a gauge set on the recovery tank side to transfer from the high pressure cylinder into a standard 30lb recovery tank. The cap tube allows for a reduced and more controllable flow, although it's not going to reduce the pressure, so do not open the high pressure cylinder's valve wide open (you'll be carefully cracking open the high pressure cylinder's valve, and using it to regulate the pressure as seen on the other end). Usually I'll transfer 350 psi to the recovery tank (do not exceed 400 psi), which can then be safely added into the refrigeration unit.

[sdumper]

You can pick up a 580 regulator at almost any Welding shop relatively cheap just dont use a used one...

And yes you can charge off through the expansion tank. It will take some time to balance out so be patient.


--side note in case your curious-- the expansion tank has the most volume in the second stage but feed the rest of the system through the suction line using captube so it wont balance out instantaneously...

[runmc]

Be sure to charge second stage to desired pressure when the system is at ambient temperature. When you turn the first stage on the second stage pressure will drop because it is being cooled in interstage heat exchanger . When you turn off the first and second stage the pressure will rise in second stage as it warms back to ambient temp. Don't add gas when running and cold because you may end up with 500psi (or more) when the second stage warms back up. At a high pressure like that something is going to give.

[sdumper]

Good point Ron and thanks for pointing this out. Ive worked on cascades so many times that I sometimes forget how dangerous it can be.

I should know better!!!!

[l0ud_sil3nc3]

Awesome thread guys, lots of great information here

[chispy]

Oh woow , i just got a called from the guys where they can source the gas r1150 imported from USA to the island of P.R. ( http://www.steelandpipes.com/ ) as there is none of this rare gases availlable here in Puerto Rico it has to be imported via order thru Praxair ,price for a small one time use disposable tank $255US Dollars :/ , now im trying to find Ethane , Is Ethane number UN Number:1035 ??? ( http://www.advancedspecialtygases.com/Ethane.htm ) , the cheapest of the 2 will be used , as i have already spent way too much money reapiring this cascade , im going to end up completely broke after its finnish

[runmc]

I'm afraid your going to find them all expensive. Here is another alternative and maybe a bit more common for P.R. - http://www2.dupont.com/Refrigerants/...n/Freon23.html

[chispy]

I'm afraid your going to find them all expensive. Here is another alternative and maybe a bit more common for P.R. - http://www2.dupont.com/Refrigerants/...n/Freon23.html

Thanks Ron will look into it.