Reading Refrigerant Gauges, Pressure/Temperature Relationship, What Refrigerant is in the Tank!

Summary

This instructional video teaches viewers how to identify refrigerants in a recovery bottle without relying on labels or rating plates. It explains using a temperature multimeter and pressure-temperature charts to determine if the refrigerant is R410A (pink bottle, around 71 degrees Fahrenheit at 205 PSIG) or R22 (green bottle, around 72 degrees Fahrenheit at 127 PSIG). The video emphasizes the importance of not mixing refrigerants and provides practical tips for accurate readings, including adjusting for elevation changes.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Identifying Refrigerants: The video explains how to determine the type of refrigerant in a bottle or recovery tank by checking the color code and using a pressure-temperature chart.
• 🔑 Recovery Bottle Color Codes: A gray and yellow recovery bottle indicates one type of refrigerant, while a pink bottle signifies R-410A, and a green bottle signifies R-22.
• 🌡️ Temperature Measurement: Using a temperature multimeter with a probe, the video demonstrates how to read the temperature of the refrigerant for identification purposes.
• 📈 Pressure-Temperature Correlation: The script emphasizes the importance of matching the measured pressure and temperature to a chart to identify the refrigerant accurately.
• 📊 R-410A Identification: For R-410A, a constant temperature of 70.7 degrees Fahrenheit corresponds to a pressure of 205 psi, indicating the presence of this refrigerant.
• 📊 R-22 Identification: R-22 is identified by a saturated state with a pressure of 127 psi at around 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 💡 Checking Compressor Rating Plates: The video suggests checking the rating plates on the compressor and the condenser for refrigerant information, even if the rating plate is worn off.
• ❗️ Avoid Mixing Refrigerants: A strong caution against mixing different refrigerants in the recovery cylinder is highlighted, as it can be detrimental.
• 🔄 Refrigerant Expansion: The importance of allowing the refrigerant to sit and the gases to expand to ensure accurate pressure readings is mentioned.
• 🛠️ Equipment Calibration: The video touches on the need for calibrating pressure gauges and multimeters for accurate readings, especially when there's a change in elevation.
• 🔬 Practical Application: The script provides a practical guide on using the information from the pressure-temperature chart and the physical properties of refrigerants to identify them in a recovery bottle or system.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video?

The video is a tutorial on how to identify the type of refrigerant in a recovery bottle by using a temperature and pressure chart.

What are the colors of the recovery bottles mentioned in the video?

The recovery bottles mentioned are gray and yellow.

How can you determine the refrigerant type without a rating plate?

You can determine the refrigerant type by checking the pressure and temperature readings on a multimeter and comparing them to a pressure-temperature chart.

What is the significance of a constant temperature reading in identifying refrigerants?

A constant temperature reading, combined with the pressure reading, helps to correlate with the specific refrigerant's properties and identify it accurately.

What is the refrigerant type associated with a pink bottle in the video?

The pink bottle contains R410A refrigerant.

What is the refrigerant type associated with a green bottle in the video?

The green bottle contains R22 refrigerant.

What is the approximate pressure and temperature for R410A at a saturated state?

For R410A, the approximate pressure at a saturated state is 205 psi, and the corresponding temperature is around 71 degrees Fahrenheit.

What is the approximate pressure and temperature for R22 at a saturated state?

For R22, the approximate pressure at a saturated state is 127 psi, and the corresponding temperature is around 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why is it important not to mix different refrigerants in a recovery tank?

Mixing different refrigerants can lead to chemical reactions that are harmful to the system and can cause damage or inefficiency.

What should you consider when using a multimeter for refrigerant identification?

When using a multimeter, consider the potential for errors in the multimeter or gauge set, and ensure that the readings are adjusted for sea level or the current elevation.

How can you ensure accurate readings when identifying refrigerants?

Ensure the refrigerant has been at a constant temperature for at least an hour, and the system has had time to equalize pressures on both sides if it's a package unit.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Identifying Refrigerants in Recovery Bottles

This paragraph explains how to identify the type of refrigerant in a recovery bottle by observing its color and using a temperature multimeter with a probe. It describes the process of checking the temperature and pressure readings to determine if the refrigerant is R410A (pink bottle) or R22 (green bottle). The importance of not mixing refrigerants and ensuring the recovery cylinder contains only one type is emphasized. The correlation between pressure and temperature for R410A at 71 degrees Fahrenheit and 205 psi is highlighted, as well as the saturated state of R22 at 127 psi and approximately 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keywords

💡Refrigerant

Refrigerant is a substance used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems to absorb heat and provide cooling. In the video, the main theme revolves around identifying the type of refrigerant in a bottle or recovery tank, which is crucial for maintaining system efficiency and avoiding mixing incompatible refrigerants.

💡Recovery Bottle

A recovery bottle is a container used to store and recover refrigerant during maintenance or servicing of HVAC systems. The script mentions a gray and yellow recovery bottle, emphasizing the importance of correctly identifying the refrigerant type to avoid contamination.

💡Temperature Multimeter

A temperature multimeter is a device used to measure temperature. In the context of the video, it is used to read the temperature of the refrigerant, which, when combined with pressure readings, helps in identifying the type of refrigerant present.

💡Pressure Temperature Chart

A pressure-temperature chart is a graphical representation used to correlate the pressure and temperature of a refrigerant at its saturated state. The script describes using such a chart to determine the refrigerant type by comparing measured pressures and temperatures.

💡R-410A

R-410A is a type of refrigerant, identified by its pink bottle in the script. It is used in modern air conditioning systems and is distinguished by its specific pressure-temperature relationship, which is used to confirm its presence in the recovery tank.

💡R-22

R-22 is another type of refrigerant, represented by a green bottle in the video. It is an older refrigerant being phased out due to environmental concerns. The script explains how to identify R-22 through its unique pressure readings at a given temperature.

💡Constant Temperature

In the script, a constant temperature refers to the stable ambient temperature of the environment where the refrigerant bottle is placed. Knowing this temperature is essential for accurately reading the refrigerant's pressure and identifying its type.

💡PSI

PSI, or pounds per square inch, is a unit of pressure measurement. The script uses PSI to describe the pressure readings of the refrigerant, which is key to determining the refrigerant type based on the pressure-temperature correlation.

💡Saturated State

A saturated state in the context of refrigerants refers to the condition where both liquid and vapor phases coexist at the same pressure and temperature. The script explains that the vapor phase is what exerts the pressure, which is crucial for identifying the refrigerant.

💡Elevation Adjustment

Elevation adjustment is necessary when using pressure gauges at different altitudes from sea level. The script mentions that if the elevation changes, the gauges must be adjusted to ensure accurate pressure readings, which is important for correctly identifying the refrigerant.

💡AC Service

AC Service refers to the maintenance and repair of air conditioning systems. The video script provides guidance on identifying refrigerants as part of AC service to ensure proper system operation and avoid mixing incompatible refrigerants.

Highlights

The video demonstrates how to identify the refrigerant in a recovery bottle without relying on labels.

Recovery bottles are typically gray and yellow and can be used to determine the refrigerant type.

A unit's temperature can be read externally if it hasn't been running for an hour, aiding in refrigerant identification.

Refrigerant type should be indicated on the compressor and condenser rating plates.

A pink bottle contains R410A refrigerant, while a green bottle contains R22.

A temperature multimeter with a probe is used to measure the temperature of the refrigerant.

R410A refrigerant shows a constant temperature of 71 degrees at 205 psi.

Pressure-temperature charts are essential for correlating refrigerant properties.

Mixing refrigerants should be avoided as it can cause serious issues.

Constant room temperature and refrigerant bottle temperature can help determine the refrigerant type.

R22 operates at a different saturated pressure compared to R410A.

The saturated state of a refrigerant is a mix of liquid and vapor exerting constant pressure.

Pressure readings should be taken after the refrigerant has had time to stabilize.

A multimeter and gauge set may need adjustment for accurate pressure readings.

Elevation changes require adjustments to pressure gauges for accurate readings.

Pressure differences between R410A and R22 can help identify the refrigerant in a system.

The video concludes with a reminder of the importance of correctly identifying refrigerants for HVAC systems.

Transcripts

all right this video is how to tell what

refrigerant is in a bottle in a recovery

bottle recovery bottle is gray and

yellow also if you have a unit that's

all located in one specific temperature

like a package unit that's all outside

and you read the temperature outside

if the unit hasn't been running in an

hour so you can actually tell what

refrigerants in it even if the rating

plate is wore off and you can't see what

refrigerated is also on your compressor

also it should say the refrigerant at

the rating plate on the outside of the

condenser is more off or heat pump you

can also look on your compressor rating

plate okay so we have a pink bottle here

it's 4:10 eye and we have a green bottle

and that's r22 so we have a temperature

multimeter with a temp probe okay right

here and what we're reading for 410 I

add a constant temperature of 70 point 7

so we'll just call that 71 71 degrees

okay we're reading 205 psi or so okay so

for tonight off you check your pressure

temperature chart at 205 should be

roughly 71 or 71 point 5 degrees so the

pressure temperature correlation of 410

a tells you that there's four today in

this bottle now obviously there is

because it's a pink bottle okay but if

we had this gauge attached to our

recovery cylinder as long as we didn't

pull any air or nitrogen or something

like that into our recovery tank then we

can check to see what refrigerants in

the recovery tank if maybe you you wrote

on the recovery tank and just

temporarily until you filled it up to

pressure but uh and somehow that got

we're off or something you can tell

refrigerants inside the recovery tank is

you do not want to mix the refrigerants

that would be really bad all right you

want to keep all one frigid inside the

recovery cylinder so once again if I

know is a constant temperature in this

room of 71 degrees and this refrigerant

bottles been

here for you know several hours I know

the refrigerants at a constant

temperature of 71 degrees and if I check

the two hot 205 psi and I check my

pressure temperature chart it'll tell me

what temperature is actually the

refrigerant actually is and that would

be roughly 71 degrees now we come over

to r22 it's completely different

pressure at is that it's saturated state

where you have liquid in the bottom of

the bottle and then you have vapor in

the top part of the bottle

alright so saturated state both exist

liquid and vapor at the same time the

vapor is what's exerting the pressure

alright and it's going to be a constant

pressure regardless of how much how many

pounds of refrigerant inside the

recovery bottle as long as it's had a

chance to sit and the the gases have

expanded if you pulled refer journey out

so I know they had a chance to expand

it's been sitting there for a couple

hours or you know at least an hour I

would take it out of a hot pan or

something like that and put it into a

cold shop and expect this to work but if

the refrigerants been in the same

location for a couple hours at least one

hour then you can kind of tell what

refrigerants inside the bottle all right

so what 125 psi have about 128 psi will

go with this on the green on the green

gauge all right on the saturated

temperature that it says it says that

127 psi g4 r22 should be roughly right

over 72 degrees okay

so there's going to be some error all

right in the multimeter maybe in the

gauge set maybe it needs a little bit of

an adjustment okay because they're they

should be adjusted normally they come

adjusted for sea level so it should be

roughly right on the zero okay when you

get them if you change elevations you

have to adjust that you cover off and

adjust that screw so that the needle is

at zero and there's no pressure on but

basically you can tell what system would

have for 10a in it and which system has

r22 in it just because of the pressure

difference 207 psi G versus 127 PSIG if

the systems been off

it's a package unit systems been off for

an hour

and it's had a chance to equalize both

sides at the same pressure then you can

tell what refrigerants in it just by the

pressure at the corresponding

temperature we've got same thing with a

recovery bottle and obviously we know

what refrigerants already in it because

pink will rose at 4:10 night and late

Green that is our 22 all right well I

hope you enjoyed yourself and see us

next time at AC service pipe