Refrigerant Drum Method

Charging The CCOT A/C System With Refrigerant Drum:

PROCEDURE

Place the drum on a scale and note the total weight before charging. Watch the scale during charging to determine the amount of R-12 used.

1. Connect manifold gage set J 23575-01 (or equivalent) as follows:

a. Low pressure gage to accumulator fitting.

b. Manifold gage set center hose to Refrigerant-12 source.

c. High pressure gage to vacuum pump.

2. To begin evacuation of the A/C System with manifold gage set and vacuum pump as illustrated in slowly open high- and low-side gage valves and begin vacuum pump operation. Pump the system until the low-side gage reaches 711.2 - 736.6 mm (28"-29") vacuum.

NOTE: that in all evacuation procedures, the specification of 711.2 - 736.6 mm (28"-29") vacuum is used. This specification can only be reached at or near sea level. For each 304.8 m (1, 000 feet) above sea level, specification should be lowered by one inch vacuum. At 1524 m (5,000 feet) elevation, only 584.2 - 609.6 mm (23"-24") of vacuum is required.

If prescribed vacuum can't be reached, close vacuum control valve, shut off pump and look for a leak at connections or pump.

3. When gage reaches prescribed vacuum, the system is fully evacuated. Close the high-side gage set valve and turn off the vacuum pump.

4. Watch low-side gage to be sure vacuum holds for five (5) minutes. If vacuum is held, disconnect vacuum hose at gage set and then proceed to charging.

5. If vacuum does not hold for five (5) minutes, charge system with 240 ml (1/2 pound) Refrigerant-12 and leak check. Recover refrigerant from A/C system again and repair leak as necessary. Repeat evacuation procedure.

WARNING: Never charge the refrigeration system at the high pressure side.

6. Start engine, run until engine reaches operating temperature, set A/C mode control lever on "OFF."

7. With the Refrigerant-12 drum inverted, open R-12 source valve and allow 480 ml (1 pound) of liquid R-12 to flow into system through low-side service fitting.

8. As soon as 480 ml (1 lb.) of R-12 has been added to system, immediately engage the compressor by setting the A/C control button to NORM and blower speed on HI, to draw in the remainder of the R-12 charge.

TIP: The charging operation can be speeded up by using a large volume fan to pass air over the condenser. If condenser temperature is maintained below charging cylinder temperature, Refrigerant-12 will enter the system more rapidly.

9. Turn off R-12 source valve and run engine for 30 seconds to clear lines and gages.

10. With the engine running, remove the charging low-side hose adapter from the accumulator service fitting. Unscrew rapidly to avoid excess R-12 escape from system.

WARNING: NEVER REMOVE A GAGE LINE FROM ITS ADAPTER WHEN LINE IS CONNECTED TO A/C SYSTEM. ALWAYS REMOVE THE LINE ADAPTER FROM THE SERVICE FITTING TO DISCONNECT A LINE. DO NOT REMOVE CHARGING HOSE AT GAGE SET WHILE ATTACHED TO ACCUMULATOR. THIS WILL RESULT IN COMPLETE DISCHARGE OF SYSTEM DUE TO THE DEPRESSED SCHRADER VALVE IN SERVICE LOW-SIDE FITTING, AND MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY DUE TO ESCAPING REFRIGERANT-12.

11. Replace protective cap on accumulator fitting.

12. Turn engine off.

13. Leak check system with electronic leak detector J 29547 or equivalent.

14. Start engine.

15. With system fully charged and leak-checked, continue to monitor system performance.