Refrigerant Recovery

Refrigerant Recovery:

Tools Required:
J 3900 Air Conditioning Refrigerant Recovery, Recycling and Recharging (ACR4) System
J 39500-50 50 lb. Refillable Recovery Tank

Important
^ Use only the 23 kg (50-pound) unit refrigerant tank (J 39500-50) designed for the (ACR4). The unit overfill limitation mechanism has been calibrated specifically for use with this tank, and the tank valving is set up specifically for use with the unit. Connect battery charger to vehicle battery to prevent battery drain.

1. Attach the high-side (red) hose with the quick disconnect coupler to the high-side refrigerant service valve fitting of the vehicle A/C system. This valve is located in the receiver dehydrator tube, between the receiver and dehydrator and the condenser. Open the coupler valve after attachment.
2. Attach the low-side (blue) hose with the quick disconnect coupler to the low-side refrigerant charge valve fitting of the vehicle A/C system. This valve is located in the compressor and condenser hose, between the compressor and the expansion (orifice) tube. Open the coupler valve after attachment.
3. Check the high-side and low-side gages on the unit control panel to be sure the A/C system has pressure. If there is no pressure, there is no refrigerant in the system to recover.

Important
^ If there is no refrigerant in the A/C system, do not continue with the recovery operation. Air will be drawn into the recovery tank.

4. Open both the high-side and the low-side valves on the control panel.
5. Open both the red "LIQUID" and the blue "GAS" (vapor) valves on the tank.
6. Slowly open the oil drain valve to see if the oil separator contains oil.
^ If any oil drains into the catch bottle at the bottom of the unit, allow it to drain until there is no more oil in the separator.
7. Close the oil drain valve.
^ Dispose of the oil in the catch bottle in an appropriate manner and return the bottle to its place on the unit.
8. Plug the unit into the proper voltage outlet and turn on the "MAIN POWER" switch.
9. Start engine and run for one minute with A/C system "ON" in order to stabilize system.
10. Turn ignition switch "OFF" then back to "RUN" and blower motor to "HIGH." A battery charger should be connected to prevent battery drain.

Important
^ Blower motor setting to "HIGH" will increase the rate at which refrigerant can be recovered.

11. Press "RECOVER" on the keypad. Before recovery begins, the unit will clear itself of refrigerant. "CL-L" will appear on the display. The cleaning process takes from thirty seconds to three minutes to complete.

Important
^ Maintain A/C blower motor on "HIGH" during recovery operation.

12. When cleaning is complete. The unit will automatically start recovery, and the control panel display will show the unit is in the "RECOVER" mode of the "AUTOMATIC" cycle. Also, the weight of refrigerant being recovered will be displayed.
13. The compressor shuts off automatically when initial recovery has occurred, at approximately 57 kPa (17 inches Hg) vacuum.
14. At the end of the initial recovery process, the display shows "CPU" and then alternately flashes the weight of refrigerant recovered and "OIL/OZ" ("OIL/GMS").

Important
^ A small amount of A/C system lubricating oil, polyalkylene glycol (PAG) synthetic oil might be removed with the refrigerant during recovery. The amount of oil removed (often there will be none) will vary greatly depending on a variety of conditions of the vehicle being serviced. The (ACR4) separates the oil from the refrigerant.
^ The "OIL/OZ" ("OIL/GMS") flashing is a reminder to always drain the recovered oil at this time. The same amount of oil must be replaced into the A/C system later when the system is recharged with refrigerant.

15. Slowly open the oil drain valve and drain the oil into the calibrated oil catch bottle at the bottom of the unit.
16. After the oil is completely drained, close the valve.
17. Read and record the amount of oil removed in the catch bottle.
18. Dispose of the recovered oil in an appropriate manner. Never reuse this oil.
19. Check the control panel "LOW-SIDE GAGE."
^ If the A/C system has maintained a vacuum, the recovery is complete.
20. If the "LOW-SIDE GAGE" pressure rises above "0," this indicates the presence of more refrigerant in the system. In this case, press the "HOLD/CONT" key on the keypad to recover the additional refrigerant. Repeat this step as needed until the system maintains vacuum for two minutes.

Important
^ If the display flashes "FULL" during the recovery process, and the unit shuts off, the unit tank is full.
^ An empty unit tank (J 39500-50) must be installed to accommodate additional refrigerant, before proceeding to the next step in the recovery operation. Do not use any other kind of tank.
^ It is possible to lower the amount of refrigerant in the unit tank by charging other vehicles.