Like a dog with a new bone

Semipro · 06-01-14, 08:15 PM

Where has this site been lurking? I can't believe I haven't discovered it before. If it is 1/10 as good as it looks at first glance I'm going to be spending a lot of time here.
About me:
- DIY almost everything except healthcare (wish I could do that).
- Found this place today looking for methods for refrigerant recovery. Read on to find DIY heat pump water heaters. We already have a GeoSpring that I try to pump waste heat to.
- I've spend my free time wondering about things like how to harness the heat from my clothes dryer to preheat our water (and suspect I'll find others here actually doing it).
- Doing multiple energy conservation upgrades to our house - mainly air sealing and insulation.
- Planning a PV system and hoping to tie our hybrid vehicle into it as backup power source
- Have a standing column ground-source heat pump that I tinker with
- Heat with wood, maybe with pellets in the future
- Try to raise our own veggies/fruits but glad we don't have to depend on it for survival.
- Current projects include: basement remodel with centralized mechanical room, bath, kitchen; electric assist bike, refrigerant recovery machine, boom lift repair, decorative arbor upgrade, PV system planning/siting/design; water supply upgrade to accommodate low pressure service for GSHP and higher pressure for domestic water; rain water collection system feeding into water feature, shop foundation, etc.

Anyway, I know I'll find some good info here and hope I can offer some myself after a while.

AC_Hacker · 06-02-14, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semipro

- Found this place today looking for methods for refrigerant recovery...

If you continue on your quest to do a DIY refrigerant recovery unit (if I'm reading your post correctly) please take the time while you are doing it to take notes as you go, and to take lots of photos when you post your results.

The only thing that is remarkable about this site is that people like you have voluntarily published notes and photos of their successes and their failures in their DIY projects.

Good luck to you with all your projects!

Best,

-AC

Daox · 06-02-14, 08:52 AM

Welcome to the site Semipro. It sounds like you've found the right place.

Semipro · 06-02-14, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC_Hacker

If you continue on your quest to do a DIY refrigerant recovery unit (if I'm reading your post correctly) please take the time while you are doing it to take notes as you go, and to take lots of photos when you post your results.

The only thing that is remarkable about this site is that people like you have voluntarily published notes and photos of their successes and their failures in their DIY projects.

Good luck to you with all your projects!

Best,

-AC

Yes I'm working on a recovery unit. Back before it was required and I was an auto mechanic I recovered r-12 using a DIY unit. It was nothing more than a compressor and collection tank. I probably used it hundreds of times successfully. My plan now is to do something similar but with a heat exchanger after the compressor to cool the liquid freon. I may cool the tank too.
Anyway, I'm looking for the right compressor. I found a few window AC units at our local dump site but they're are full of freon and I fixed the electrical issues they had so now they work. First I have to find a way to recovery the freon from one of these or another appliance before I can scrounge the compressor. Strangely I'm finding my options very limited.

AC_Hacker · 07-02-14, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Semipro

First I have to find a way to recovery the freon from one of these or another appliance before I can scrounge the compressor. Strangely I'm finding my options very limited.

I guess you're referring to needing a compressor so that you can evacuate your compressor(s)?

Well, the commercial evacuation unit I have turns itself off, when system pressure reaches 0 psig. There's still some gas in the system but it is an extremely small amount.

So, you must have some kind of pressure vessel that is suitable, right?

And you have a vacuum pump, right?

Pull a deep vacuum on your vessel, and leave it in the freezer, and warm up your target unit (what ever that might be) with a heat lamp for a few hours. Then you should be able to use a piercing valve, and if you proceed very slowly, to keep the temp in the vessel as low as possible, you should be able to achieve 0 psig (14.7 psi absolute), or better. Use a manifold gauge to verify that such is the case.

If for some reason, you can't get to 0 psig in one shot, close off the piercing valve, chill another vessel, and repeat 'til exhausted.

-AC

06-01-14, 08:15 PM	#1
Semipro Andy Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: SW VA Posts: 45 Thanks: 6 Thanked 13 Times in 10 Posts	Like a dog with a new bone Where has this site been lurking? I can't believe I haven't discovered it before. If it is 1/10 as good as it looks at first glance I'm going to be spending a lot of time here. About me: - DIY almost everything except healthcare (wish I could do that). - Found this place today looking for methods for refrigerant recovery. Read on to find DIY heat pump water heaters. We already have a GeoSpring that I try to pump waste heat to. - I've spend my free time wondering about things like how to harness the heat from my clothes dryer to preheat our water (and suspect I'll find others here actually doing it). - Doing multiple energy conservation upgrades to our house - mainly air sealing and insulation. - Planning a PV system and hoping to tie our hybrid vehicle into it as backup power source - Have a standing column ground-source heat pump that I tinker with - Heat with wood, maybe with pellets in the future - Try to raise our own veggies/fruits but glad we don't have to depend on it for survival. - Current projects include: basement remodel with centralized mechanical room, bath, kitchen; electric assist bike, refrigerant recovery machine, boom lift repair, decorative arbor upgrade, PV system planning/siting/design; water supply upgrade to accommodate low pressure service for GSHP and higher pressure for domestic water; rain water collection system feeding into water feature, shop foundation, etc. Anyway, I know I'll find some good info here and hope I can offer some myself after a while.

06-02-14, 08:52 AM	#3
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Welcome to the site Semipro. It sounds like you've found the right place. __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.