skipper_stu
regular
Reged: 24/02/2003
Posts: 2289
Loc: North Wales
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the oil does not dissolve in the gas! if you get a catastrophic leak then some oil will escape, the seal on automative systems is a ceramic seal similar to the one on car water pumps, if you dont use it during the winter some leakage occurs past the ceramic face and steel face, most car manufacturers recommend that you run the system once a week to make sure that hte seal is kept sealing
see here for more definitive info http://www.carcare.org/climate_control/refrigerants_oil.shtml
stu
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http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk/toast/toast.asp
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trouville
regular
Reged: 10/06/2004
Posts: 2847
Loc: crusing with an Arpège
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That sounds a good idea!Never thought of ebay for recharging the fridge!
I do use it in winter all year.Not when im away as now,but otherwise i just leave it running with yogurt cheese fish diy mayonnaise cucumber the only difference is i turn the thermostat up that is to keep it at about 8 degrees winter summer 5 degrees
Dose it realy matter if its freon Propane or CFC?? On such a small fridge wouldent any refrigerant do?
Thats interesting i do run it as good as every week except now for example i hadent thought of lubricating the seals by use!
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liveaboard
Edited by trouville (14/05/2008 21:15)
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pampas
regular
Reged: 17/07/2003
Posts: 603
Loc: Falmouth
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If its a sealed unit and the motor is inside the clyindrical domed unit(usually painted black) there are no seals between the compressor and motor to worry about. and any oil can only leak out where the gas has leaked out. The fan I suspect is something like a computer fan and a spray of aerosol OIL (Not the dreaded WD40) would do no harm. As already mentioned, you need to know the specs. for the machine in order to put the correct oil and gas weight into the compressor.
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trouville
regular
Reged: 10/06/2004
Posts: 2847
Loc: crusing with an Arpège
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this is quite different!
Its a compressor which seems to have a central shaft passing through the compressor unit and the fan is attached to the shaft,so theres certainly a seal at the top and bottem
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liveaboard
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reeac
regular
Reged: 06/06/2003
Posts: 286
Loc: Orford, Suffolk, UK
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Quote:
They leak when not used, like Car A/C unites.
Try and use once a month...
I think that electrically powered fridges are different from car A/C units as the former are fully sealed with electrical connections to transmit the power in whereas car A/C units feature a belt/ pulley/ shaft/seal. Shaft seals certainly leak if the unit is left idle but run them at least once a week and they'll go on for years. My current car's air con has been trouble-free for 10 years so far.
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skipper_stu
regular
Reged: 24/02/2003
Posts: 2289
Loc: North Wales
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ermm, that is what i was talking about!! a ceramic seal is what is used on pulley driven compressors!! on the round sealed type of compressor that s used on domestic mains compressors there is no seal, and if there is a leak it it is usually from the evaporator where some dildo has "defosted" it with a sharp knife!!
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http://www.beneteau-owners-association.org.uk/toast/toast.asp
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William_H
regular
Reged: 28/07/2003
Posts: 3605
Loc: West Australia
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Have a good look around the whole of the plumbing for the fridge. Look for a stain of oil. As already said if the gas leaks out it often leaves an oil stain. If the gas has gone it usually requires the system be evacuated to high vacuum before adding the correct amount of gas and possibly some oil. If it is portable take it to a fridge repair man.
good luck olewill
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john_morris_uk
regular
Reged: 03/07/2002
Posts: 3669
Loc: Plymouth UK
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If you get garage/mobile fridge repair unit to attend, then the machine that they evacuate the system with will also usually remove the oil and measure how much was in the there. They will also be able to have a good guess as to how much to put back in. The machines that I have seen used are on wheels - rather like a sacktruck, but with all the bits in a box the size of a very large suitcase. Not small enought to bring on board easily, but something you could wheel down a pontoon. They usually fasten onto two valves like the one you describe, either side of the compressor - ie in the low pressure and high pressure side, and will give you an indication of compressor pressures etc.
It sounds as though you have a shaft driven compressor, which is much more similar to the standard car/automotive system so ignore the comments about 'black box sealed systems.
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“When you discover that you are riding a dead horse,
the best strategy is to dismount.”
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deisel
regular
Reged: 30/01/2008
Posts: 94
Loc: rye, sussex
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Nowadays You Can Recharge Yourself!. As A Mechanic We Buy A Large Aerosol From Motor Factors It Has The Valve & Pressure Gauge Attached, All You Do Is Connect & Squirt!, It Costs About 40 Quid, It Works On Cars!!!!
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trouville
regular
Reged: 10/06/2004
Posts: 2847
Loc: crusing with an Arpège
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The garages & fridge people do seem all to use a "sacktruck" with a unit that has gauges.Ive never ever thought of refilling a fridge.More of looking for one i could afford.
The oil question ill ask.I dident think there had to be a vacuum first but it seems reasonable!
I still have an old compressor fridge i bought S/H in 1993 that was powered buy the engine the thermostat gave up and it froze the large holding plate which swelled up & pushed its screws off the fridge!Wonder if that would still work?
As it happens im going to a garage late this afternoon with my girl friend to collect her car ill ask how they recharge a cars system
I like the comment about defrosting a fridge with a knife!I had a stab at an ice box that had to be defrosted,it was my girlfriends fridge & she was less than pleased with me!!
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liveaboard
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