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Old 02-05-17, 03:45 PM   #32
Shelby
Lurking Renovator
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Texas
Posts: 14
Thanks: 3
Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts
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I'm just now getting around to writing an update and posting some photos. My son was here early (coffee in hand) and quickly checked the pressure which thankfully held overnight.

Next steps:
He slowly released the nitrogen to within 1 PSIG and attached the vacuum pump and micron gauge. He opened the liquid & vapor valves, started the vacuum pump first to get a vacuum on the line before opening the ball valve. The vacuum process (which Xringer indicated it would) took a good long while this time. After 50 minutes, the system was down to 650 microns with an outside temp of 49 degrees (80% humidity). He continued to let it run until it was down to 300 microns. He noticed the numbers bouncing between 300 and 6-700 microns every so often. I noticed he would rotate between closing the valves (around 300 microns), pulling a vacuum down to 60 or so microns and then re-opening the valves. I asked him why he was doing this and he indicated that he just wanted to make sure that the bounce only occurred with the valves open. Once the jumping around settled (with the valves open) he just let the vacuum pump do it's thing. I'd say he vacuumed the system for 2 hours (total) just to make sure that it was thorough.

So he was feeling pretty confident that the system was ready for refrigerant. He attached a hose directly to the tank and the other end with a liquid adapter and a ball valve. With the ball valve closed, he opened the tank and using the ball valve, purged the air in the line. With the ball valve closed, he attached it to the service port. He then placed the tank on the scale and got a overall weight of 32lbs 13.8oz. He zero'd out the scale and set the alarm for 1lb 12oz. He then slowly opened the ball valve about 2-3 degrees (just barely open) and watched the scale. Once he had a feel for how quickly the unit was accepting the refrigerant he left it alone. It took about 4-5 minutes total. The alarm on the scale started to go off around 1lb 8oz. He set the ball valve to around 1-2 degrees and just let the refrigerant creep until it was at 1lb 12oz and shut everything off.

Now onto the digital gauges he used, no wires whatsoever or hoses (kind of neat). With the unit still off, he took an initial reading of 154 PSIG and temp. of 57.4 degrees (picture attached). He then restored power outside and went inside with his iPad and turned the unit on. Well so he thought !!! Our first problem since this project began.

The thermostat indicated an error P9. He checked the manual and knew just where to check. he shut off the outdoor power and removed the clam shell (not sure what else to call it) so he could access the connectors. He discovered he had placed the connector but didn't fully seat it. This wire is apparently the thermistor connection. He re-seated it and I restored power. Sure enough, the system started right up (heat mode). He then measured the outdoor temp and indoor temp (coming from the unit). 66.3 outdoor and 120 coming from the unit (heat was set to 75 degrees).

Sorry for the long write-up (maybe it'll help someone). I'll upload some photos here in a minute and I have at least 300 photos of the disassembly/re-assembly of the indoor unit (I'll post those on Microsoft OneDrive). I'm hoping we didn't miss any steps...

A big thanks to Xringer for his write-ups and amazing assistance not to mention giving my son the confidence he needed to vacuum down the outdoor unit (he's never done this before). The unit was running super quiet and putting out tons of heat.

--Shelby
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Shelby For This Useful Post:
pelotin (03-05-17), Xringer (02-05-17)