Service Manual

SAFE REFRIGERANT HANDLING
While these items will not cover every conceivable situation, they should serve as a useful guide.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The successful development of hermetically sealed refrigeration
compressors has completely sealed the compressor's moving
parts and electric motor inside a common housing, minimizing
refrigerant leaks and the hazards sometimes associated with
moving belts, pulleys or couplings.
Fundamental to the design of hermetic compressors is a method
whereby electrical current is transmitted to the compressor
motor through terminal conductors which pass through the
compressor housing wall. These terminals are sealed in a
dielectric material which insulates them from the housing and
maintains the pressure tight integrity of the hermetic compres-
sor. The terminals and their dielectric embedment are strongly
constructed, but are vulnerable to careless compressor instal-
lation or maintenance procedures and equally vulnerable to
internal electrical short circuits caused by excessive system
contaminants.
In either of these instances, an electrical short between the
terminal and the compressor housing may result in the loss of
integrity between the terminal and its dielectric embedment. This
loss may cause the terminals to be expelled, thereby venting the
vaporous and liquid contents of the compressor housing and
system.
A venting compressor terminal normally presents no danger to
anyone, providing the terminal protective cover is properly in
place.
If, however, the terminal protective cover is not properly in place,
a venting terminal may discharge a combination of
(a) hot lubricating oil and refrigerant
(b) flammable mixture (if system is contaminated
with air)
in a stream of spray which may be dangerous to anyone in the
vicinity. Death or serious bodily injury could occur.
Under no circumstances is a hermetic compressor to be electri-
cally energized and/or operated without having the terminal
protective cover properly in place.
See Service Section S-17 for proper servicing.
3
T O AVOID POSSIBLE EXPLOSION :
• N
EVER APPLY FLAME OR STEAM TO A REFRIGERANT CYLINDER . I F YOU MUST
HEAT A CYLINDER FOR FASTER CHARGING , PARTIALLY IMMERSE IT IN WARM
WATER .
• N
EVER FILL A CYLINDER MORE THAN 80% FULL OF LIQUID REFRIGERANT .
• N
EVER ADD ANYTHING OTHER THAN R-22 TO AN R-22 CYLINDER OR R-
410A
TO AN R-410A CYLINDER . T HE SERVICE EQUIPMENT USED MUST BE
LISTED OR CERTIFIED FOR THE TYPE OF REFRIGERANT USED .
• S
TORE CYLINDERS IN A COOL , DRY PLACE . N EVER USE A CYLINDER AS A
PLATFORM OR A ROLLER .
R EFRIGERANTS ARE HEAVIER THAN AIR . T HEY CAN “ PUSH OUT ” THE OXYGEN IN
YOUR LUNGS OR IN ANY ENCLOSED SPACE . T O AVOID POSSIBLE DIFFICULTY IN
BREATHING OR DEATH :
• N
EVER PURGE REFRIGERANT INTO AN ENCLOSED ROOM OR SPACE . B Y LAW ,
ALL REFRIGERANTS MUST BE RECLAIMED .
• I
F AN INDOOR LEAK IS SUSPECTED , THOROUGHLY VENTILATE THE ARA
BEFORE BEGINNING WORK .
• L
IQUID REFRIGERANT CAN BE VERY COLD . T O AVOID POSSIBLE FROSTBITE OR
BLINDNESS , AVOID CONTACT WITH REFRIGERANT AND WAR GLOVES AND
GOGGLES . I F LIQUID REFRIGERANT DOES CONTACT YOUR SKIN OR EYES , SEEK
MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY .
• A
LWAYS FOLLOW EPA REGULATIONS . N EVER BURN REFRIGERANT , AS
POISONOUS GAS WILL BE PRODUCED .
T HE U NITED S TATES E NVIRONMENTAL P ROTECTION A GENCY ("EPA")
HAS ISSUED VARIOUS REGULATIONS REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION AND
DISPOSAL
OF REFRIGERANTS INTRODUCED INTO THIS UNIT . F AILURE TO
FOLLOW
THESE REGULATIONS MAY HARM THE ENVIRONMENT AND CAN
LEAD
TO THEH IMPOSITION OF SUBSTANTIAL FINES . T HESE REGULATIONS
MAY
VARY BY JURISDICTION . S HOULD QUESTIONS ARISE , CONTACT YOUR
LOCAL
EPA OFFICE .
S YSTEM CONTAMINANTS , IMPROPER SERVICE PROCEDURE AND / OR PHYSICAL
ABUSE AFFECTING HERMETIC COMPRESSOR ELECTRICAL TERMINALS MAY CAUSE
DANGEROUS SYSTEM VENTING .
T O AVOID POSSIBLE INJURY , EXPLOSION OR DEATH , PRACTICE SAFE
HANDLING
OF REFRIGERANTS .
T O AVOID POSSIBLE EXPLOSION , USE ONLY RETURNABLE ( NOT DISPOSABLE )
SERVICE CYLINDERS WHEN REMOVING REFRIGERANT FROM A SYSTEM .
• E
NSURE THE CYLINDER IS FREE OF DAMAGE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A
LEAK OR EXPLOSION .
• E
NSURE THE HYDROSTATIC TEST DATE DOES NOT EXCEED 5 YEARS .
• E
NSURE THE PRESSURE RATING MEETS OR EXCEEDS 400 PSIG.
W
HEN IN DOUBT , DO NOT USE CYLINDER .