tracking down a leak
Don't run it with "other" gases in the system. You should do this, what's the word, "in a controlled fashion" using a gauge manifold so that you can see what's going on.
Don't do that, again, unless you have a good vacuum pump to evacuate the system. I used to use nitrogen or CO2. Only problem with any "other" gas is, if you later decide to use a "sniffer" then the nitrogen/ CO2 dilutes the refrigerant and makes the sniffer less effective.
When I first started we still used halide torches!!
This is a torch with a hose which creates suction from the flame, and draws the leaking gas up into the flame, which is also heating a piece of hot copper. The gas reacts with that hot copper, turning the flame color. It works much better with R12 than with R22 and some other refrigerants because of the chemistry of R12. I'm sure it won't work at all on the new "green" refrigerants
If you got a "good leak" and got your nose in the "wrong spot" you got a whiff of the very poisonous phosgene gas formed between the flame and the refrigerant, NOT a pleasant experience. That by the way is what Hitler used, some of the time.
Don't run it with "other" gases in the system. You should do this, what's the word, "in a controlled fashion" using a gauge manifold so that you can see what's going on.
Don't do that, again, unless you have a good vacuum pump to evacuate the system. I used to use nitrogen or CO2. Only problem with any "other" gas is, if you later decide to use a "sniffer" then the nitrogen/ CO2 dilutes the refrigerant and makes the sniffer less effective.
When I first started we still used halide torches!!
This is a torch with a hose which creates suction from the flame, and draws the leaking gas up into the flame, which is also heating a piece of hot copper. The gas reacts with that hot copper, turning the flame color. It works much better with R12 than with R22 and some other refrigerants because of the chemistry of R12. I'm sure it won't work at all on the new "green" refrigerants
If you got a "good leak" and got your nose in the "wrong spot" you got a whiff of the very poisonous phosgene gas formed between the flame and the refrigerant, NOT a pleasant experience. That by the way is what Hitler used, some of the time.
