Best Recovery Machines

[softtail]

We need to purchase several new recovery machines for general every day use for commericial HVAC service.

Can anyone make a good recommendation for a machine for a service van?

Looking for a portable machine which is dependable and has a high capacity recovery rate. Tried several different types of machines the wholesalers are pushing, but they turn out to be junk w/ low recovery capacities and generate too many compliants from the service mechanics.

We might be looking for something that isn't made, any ideas?

[emcoasthvacr]

Appion G5 seems to be the rage on this site, but you might need something bigger for commercial.

I'm going to buy one.

[kpaul]

Are company uses the Thermaflo Recovery Machine . It is a pretty good machine and has a two year warranty. It can take a lot of abuse .:cool:



/http://www.koolit.net/new_page_3.htm

Thermaflo Recovery Machine
Only 23 lbs.
1 Horsepower Wizard Compressor with High Start-Up Torque
Recovers High Pressure
Patented Sub-Cool & Self Evacuation Feature
Simple to use and lightweight
• Recovers all high-pressure refrigerants and blends, including R410A
• Subcool for pulling deep vacuums in high ambient temperatures
• Recovers both liquid and vapor without changing hoses
• Oil-less 1 HP compressor
• Switchable 80% tank overfill protection
• Strong, ergonomically designed case
• Simple two-hose hookup
• Two-year warranty


Availoable also through johnstone supply model #H85-326
http://www.johnstonesupply.com/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/login.htm?store=Corp&browse=yes&category=4

[chiller mekanik]

Here are a few things to consider about recovery equip in general.

1) You need a dedicated set of hoses that have no schrader depressers in them.
Never recover through your manifold.

2) You should have a TEE on the recovery unit so you can hook two hoses to it, you can also have a TEE on the outlet if you want to fill more than one drum at a time.

3) Always have two valve core removers on hand that allow you to remove the schrader without recovering the charge, therefore you can use your hoses without depressers, that way everything is full flow.

4) Have a complete understanding of what push/pull is & how it works.
So many people do not understand this & they try to use push/pull & conclude that it does not work.
It does work, you just can't push/pull through metering devices, compressors, check valves or a LLSV.
Most of the time, the vapor recovery method will work best on unitary products as long as you have a recovery machine that can handle some liquid when you adjust the restrictor valve down around 50 - 60 psi.

5) Last but not least, never under estimate ice or water for the recovery tank.
Ice is better, if you can't get ice, atleast use water.
Its worth the hassle everytime.

[refrtech]

By far the fastest I have used !!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/mrchill76/b3579bbf.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/mrchill76/8ddf8396.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/mrchill76/18460cc5.jpg

I have had it for about 1 year now . I was the first tech in our shop to buy one and now the boss has bought them for everyone . I have probobally pumped 5,000lbs of liquid refrigerant through it , charging and recovering and I have never had a problem with it . I have clocked it @ just over 7 lbs per minute while charging or recovering liquid .

Before this one I had the CPS liquid pump and it sucked !! Biggest POS recovery unit I have ever used .

Stick with the Appion , you will not be let down .

[emcoasthvacr]

Do you know anyone that has used the modular recycling unit that can be purchased for it? I'm interested since that would be an attractive option.

I think that's the company that offers one.



Are company uses the Thermaflo Recovery Machine . It is a pretty good machine and has a two year warranty. It can take a lot of abuse .:cool:



/http://www.koolit.net/new_page_3.htm

Thermaflo Recovery Machine
Only 23 lbs.
1 Horsepower Wizard Compressor with High Start-Up Torque
Recovers High Pressure
Patented Sub-Cool & Self Evacuation Feature
Simple to use and lightweight
• Recovers all high-pressure refrigerants and blends, including R410A
• Subcool for pulling deep vacuums in high ambient temperatures
• Recovers both liquid and vapor without changing hoses
• Oil-less 1 HP compressor
• Switchable 80% tank overfill protection
• Strong, ergonomically designed case
• Simple two-hose hookup
• Two-year warranty


Availoable also through johnstone supply model #H85-326
http://www.johnstonesupply.com/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=wsbroker1/login.htm?store=Corp&browse=yes&category=4

[rscamaro]

Like others that have posted I use the Appion G5 Twin. I have also run #1000's of pounds of refrigerant through it and it kicks a$$ everytime. One time it took about 45 seconds to pull 1 pound or R-11 out of an old Carrier 19C machine into a sample bottle. The machine was setting at 10" of vacuum. Another time I let a co-worker use it to pull #150 lbs. of R-134a out of a Carrier 30hxa used to make ice at an ice rink, his RG5410a machine was only making 1 lb every 8-10 minutes... Refrigerant temps were right around 0-5 degrees.

The direct suction is what makes it the best for our use. The oil doesn't wiped from the crank bearings with the introduction of liquid.

...Ron

[scottsacavsfan]

APPION gets my vote
http://www.appioninc.com/hvac/g5features.html
easy to climb with
Before that I had a STINGER used 1 summer got stolen:mad:
before that a FLOUROMIZER lasted forever just to heavy.

Also print off chiller mekanik post any combination of those techniques will cut recovery time down drasticly.

[refrtech]

I forgot to mention that the Appion only weighs 21#'s . The thing literally is lighter than my everyday toolbag .

[esornivram]

By far the fastest I have used !!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/mrchill76/b3579bbf.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/mrchill76/8ddf8396.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/mrchill76/18460cc5.jpg

I have had it for about 1 year now . I was the first tech in our shop to buy one and now the boss has bought them for everyone . I have probobally pumped 5,000lbs of liquid refrigerant through it , charging and recovering and I have never had a problem with it . I have clocked it @ just over 7 lbs per minute while charging or recovering liquid .

Before this one I had the CPS liquid pump and it sucked !! Biggest POS recovery unit I have ever used .

Stick with the Appion , you will not be let down .
when you pull them on roof its the lighest on the market, and best one out there, i just finished two years on road warrenty work, we pumped out 1000 machines,i can supply pics, averaged 50 lbs per machine, only had two units go dwn on cracked copper lines, easy to fixthem up and keeped pumping. they r two cylinders, pump out alot of freon quick and draws down to low vacuum. great unit, i had used the promax(POS) THE CPS HEAVY AS BRICK AL BOXES THAT WEAR OUT, breaks rods and doesnt pump down

[Cowpoke]

Here are a few things to consider about recovery equip in general.

1) You need a dedicated set of hoses that have no schrader depressers in them.
Never recover through your manifold.

2) You should have a TEE on the recovery unit so you can hook two hoses to it, you can also have a TEE on the outlet if you want to fill more than one drum at a time.

3) Always have two valve core removers on hand that allow you to remove the schrader without recovering the charge, therefore you can use your hoses without depressers, that way everything is full flow.

4) Have a complete understanding of what push/pull is & how it works.
So many people do not understand this & they try to use push/pull & conclude that it does not work.
It does work, you just can't push/pull through metering devices, compressors, check valves or a LLSV.
Most of the time, the vapor recovery method will work best on unitary products as long as you have a recovery machine that can handle some liquid when you adjust the restrictor valve down around 50 - 60 psi.

5) Last but not least, never under estimate ice or water for the recovery tank.
Ice is better, if you can't get ice, atleast use water.
Its worth the hassle everytime.

Just curious as to why you say never recover using your manifold gauges. Not trying to argue, just want to know other technicians ways....I learn things that way. I never had any problem using my manifolds to recover. I have also heard people talk about taking cores out, using bigger hoses to recover...........less restriction and all but maybe I'm just a simple guy but I have recovered just fine. I, like the craze, use the Appion G5 Twin. I recently took 68 pounds out of a McQuay chiller in about 30 minutes or less I figure...didn't keep track but it was quick. I also like the thing because I can just turn it on and leave, I don't have to sit and adjust the throttle so the liquid wont hammer the dang things!

[just_opinion]

Just curious as to why you say never recover using your manifold gauges. Not trying to argue, just want to know other technicians ways....I learn things that way. I never had any problem using my manifolds to recover. I have also heard people talk about taking cores out, using bigger hoses to recover...........less restriction and all but maybe I'm just a simple guy but I have recovered just fine. I, like the craze, use the Appion G5 Twin. I recently took 68 pounds out of a McQuay chiller in about 30 minutes or less I figure...didn't keep track but it was quick. I also like the thing because I can just turn it on and leave, I don't have to sit and adjust the throttle so the liquid wont hammer the dang things!

Try to have MINIMUM number of restriction as possible when you recover/vacuum

It is like "sucking soda with small straw or large straw". Which one will require less work of your lungs?

[hearthman]

Just Opinion,
This is the Ask Our Pro's or AOP forum. In order to post responses here, you must have verified qualifications and have been approved by the AOP Committee. Please see my signature line for links to register and review the AOP Forum Rules. Thank you. Your post will now be deleted. Further infractions may result in loss of posting privileges.

Cowpoke,
Please do not dig up old threads prior to November 2011 to ask questions or respond about them. The respondents may not have been vetted so we have no control over their posts. If you find information in an old thread, you as an equipment owner should start a new thread. You can copy the URL of the old thread and paste it into your initial post as a reference. Vetted Pros with their * can then respond to your query here.

[daviddoughty1]

Oops, didn't realize where I was. Isn't this "tech to tech" ?


I run the Appions too, very fast, very pleased. Excellent customer service, they stood behind one with a fan problem that kept causing valves to melt.

[Icefixer]

I have both the appion G5 twin. Pumps fast. Has to be rebuilt every year and a half. Approx $150 kit. Small condenser. U have to cool off recovery tank to make it not run at high head. The promax is heavier, slower. But has not had to be rebuilt. I would buy another G5 after all is said.

[John Markl]

Appion G5 Twin....Hands down. As previously mentioned, you may have to cool the jug down for faster recovery.

[akelesis]

this is really good to know. i might pick up one for myself (-: interesting

[Cowpoke]

Just Opinion,
This is the Ask Our Pro's or AOP forum. In order to post responses here, you must have verified qualifications and have been approved by the AOP Committee. Please see my signature line for links to register and review the AOP Forum Rules. Thank you. Your post will now be deleted. Further infractions may result in loss of posting privileges.

Cowpoke,
Please do not dig up old threads prior to November 2011 to ask questions or respond about them. The respondents may not have been vetted so we have no control over their posts. If you find information in an old thread, you as an equipment owner should start a new thread. You can copy the URL of the old thread and paste it into your initial post as a reference. Vetted Pros with their * can then respond to your query here.

Sorry, I didn't realize where it was. I believe I might have googled something about recovery units, found this thread and replied without realizing any dates or location.

[chillerout1]

I have an appion g5 twin used to have an OZ but think they are out of business, appion does not have enough condenser for for summer rooftops I have a small watercooled condenser to cool gas down before going into tank it greatly increases speed

[Hvactech502]

The G5 Twin is the way to go. Performance packed in a light weight frame. Appion has some charts to show you performances of the G5 Twin compared to other manufactures models. Hope that helps you.

[excel]

Boss just ordered this new recovery machine. I was wondering if anybody has used it yet. It is the Pro-set TR21 Revocery machine made by CPS. It claims to be almost twice as fast as the Appion G5. Let me know if you are already using one. I currently use the G5 and am happy with it, however I am going to try this new recovery unit and compare it on Thursday.

www.cpsproducts.com

[socotech]

One more vote for Appion:grin2:

[qwerty hvac]

Boss just ordered this new recovery machine. I was wondering if anybody has used it yet. It is the Pro-set TR21 Revocery machine made by CPS. It claims to be almost twice as fast as the Appion G5. Let me know if you are already using one. I currently use the G5 and am happy with it, however I am going to try this new recovery unit and compare it on Thursday.

www.cpsproducts.com

I saw that in the NEWS. Let us know how it works. I will be in the market for a new one. I have used the appion and it works great.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[ga-hvac-tech]

Boss just ordered this new recovery machine. I was wondering if anybody has used it yet. It is the Pro-set TR21 Revocery machine made by CPS. It claims to be almost twice as fast as the Appion G5. Let me know if you are already using one. I currently use the G5 and am happy with it, however I am going to try this new recovery unit and compare it on Thursday.

www.cpsproducts.com (http://www.cpsproducts.com)

Saw one of those in a supply house a few days ago. How does it condense the gas into liquid?

Back to the OP's question (note I do resi, so I am not loading a pump as much):

I have a YJ R-60 which has been a champ (so far). One does have to carefully throttle the refrigerant coming in (keep the low gauge on the pump below 50#). I borrowed an Appion from a friend and hooked it up... just let it rip with both valves wide open. One can literally connect it up and leave for a few minutes to do something else... and the recovery will be DONE. Sure beats standing there watching it so it does not slug and pop its circuit breaker.

I am shopping for 'best price' on a purchase of both a G-5 Twin and a TEZ-8. The latter is the Appion vacuum pump; another Appion tuff product. Anyone know of a good online source?

[cyro]

Just bought a G5 twin from United, they invoiced me $649.00

[excel]

Just used the new recovery machine. I was very impressed with the machine. I did however make a "subcooler" out of 1/4" copper that I put in a bucket of ice to increase the recovery time. I understand this would benefit all recovery machines. I had to recover 225 pounds of 134A from a Liebert unit in a data center. With the help of the subcooler I was pulling out 1 pound of liquid every 15 seconds. The vapor recovery was slower, however I did not get a chance to clock the exact time. The factory did tell me that if you want to use this recovery machine in high ambient conditions 85 degrees or higher and especially with 410A then using a subcooler is a must. The revocery machine weighs the exact same as my G5, about 24 pounds. However it has a smaller eaiser to carry foot print. I am still sticking with my G5, however I will use this on my bigger jobs as I believe with the help of the subcooler I made its faster then my G5.

[Appion-ChrisP]

Just used the new recovery machine. I was very impressed with the machine. I did however make a "subcooler" out of 1/4" copper that I put in a bucket of ice to increase the recovery time. I understand this would benefit all recovery machines. I had to recover 225 pounds of 134A from a Liebert unit in a data center. With the help of the subcooler I was pulling out 1 pound of liquid every 15 seconds. The vapor recovery was slower, however I did not get a chance to clock the exact time. The factory did tell me that if you want to use this recovery machine in high ambient conditions 85 degrees or higher and especially with 410A then using a subcooler is a must. The revocery machine weighs the exact same as my G5, about 24 pounds. However it has a smaller eaiser to carry foot print. I am still sticking with my G5, however I will use this on my bigger jobs as I believe with the help of the subcooler I made its faster then my G5.

I'd be interested in learning what kind of liquid speeds you get with the G5 and this "subcooler," since chilled copper does affect speeds quite a bit.

[ga-hvac-tech]

To: Appion-ChrisP

I recently purchased a TEZ-8 vacuum pump, nice machine BTW.

I would like to purchase a gallon of your special vacuum pump oil, yet not in the form of a dozen or so cartridges. Can one purchase the oil in gallon jugs? If so, what is the Appion part #, so I can have my local folks order it for me... THX!

[cyro]

I just used my new G5 twin today and was impressed by it's speed,light weight and how quiet it was. I too have been cooling my tanks since the beginning.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I am pleased with the G-5! Former (YJ R-60) had to be carefully throttled or it would overload. This one I just set it and leave to do something else. Come back in 10 min and I am in a vacuum on the system. NICE!

Probably will get (or make) a small cooler... could bend some 1/4 CO tubing into a circle, braze on some fittings, and stick it in a bucket of water/ice.

I saw something like this in a supply house a month or so ago... did not look at it. It was around 5-6" in dia, and close to a ft tall. Anyone know of this product? THX

[cyro]

I saw the same thing at United.

[Unclepeachtree]

Company switched over from ProMax units to the Appion. Besides the overall size and weight, the Appion out performed my ProMax start to finish. Promax is my newest addition to crap in my cellar.

[JRINJAX]

We have tried just about every machine on the market and for now we are standardizing around the Appion due to the fact that the bearings are not inside the acidic refrigerant flow.
We have had almost new machines seize after recovering a really acidic burnout. Our machines each get 15 hours a week easily.

[Crazecodyk]

I bought a new yellowjacket xlt used it a few times and love it..was gonna go with a appion but got a great price on the richie since i bought a 7cfm vaccum pump at the same time

[rscamaro]

For anyone who doubts the Appion being one of the best portables out there...

Friday last, I was working on the charge of a 1,000 ton centrifugal. Brought the machine up to 30 psi. vapor and left it over the weekend. Monday I pushed somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,100 pounds (remaining charge) into the chiller. Pretty much the G5 ran for about 8hrs. strait, except for the time changing out the recovery vessels.

I had the machine set up as push/pull so it wasn't actually running all that refrigerant throught it, but it did keep the #1,000lb. recovery vessels at enough pressure to keep the liquid flowing. Normally I'd be using the pumpout unit but the electricians hadn't gotten around to powering it up yet.

Been through many recovery machines... AEG (heavy around 80lbs.), some little blue box that weighed about 8lbs. with a 1/5hpcompressor inside it, OZ saver's, ProMax's, Inficon's (different sizes), Yellow Jacket's (puuleeeze), home made units, and Appion's. The Appion unit has been the most reliable and the easiest to repair.

...Ron

[hawks88]

Been using appion for few years works great

[B1978]

I think the subcooler sits in a bucket of water? thats how complex it is. I use the G5, you can recover 50lbs in less than an hour and a half with the schraders in on a 100F day on a rooftop. That thing is rock solid, and i'm sure the subcooler saves even more time.

[stinkypinky]

The subcooler is a PROSET MT69, works good but you can make your own for less. I still find it easier to drag a hose and just cool my tanks that way. Even with that extra time, I still can pull down a stystem in less time than my CPS can. Only thing I miss is my CPS shut off automatically when it reached 10"HG.

[ga-hvac-tech]

I am pleased with the G-5! Former (YJ R-60) had to be carefully throttled or it would overload. This one I just set it and leave to do something else. Come back in 10 min and I am in a vacuum on the system. NICE!

Probably will get (or make) a small cooler... could bend some 1/4 CO tubing into a circle, braze on some fittings, and stick it in a bucket of water/ice.

I saw something like this in a supply house a month or so ago... did not look at it. It was around 5-6" in dia, and close to a ft tall. Anyone know of this product? THX

Bought the cooler, it is from CPS products, the MT-69. Run the recovered refrigerant through it before the storage cylinder... put the cooler in a bucket of water. Recovery is FAST!!!

[B1978]

http://www.centurytool.net/MT69_CPS_Recovery_Submersible_Subcooler_p/cpsmt69.htm

CPS MT 69

[supertek65]

g5 twin

[Workin4TheMan]

I think we all agree the Apion sucks the most.

[mr05tundra]

I have read a lot of good about Appion. I would Highly Recommend against buying a Yellow Jacket Recovery Machine. We go threw a good 10 per year at out shop and we are about 8 guys! The High pressure switches keep going off and then after a while, they become weak and go off for nothing.

[Matt_M]

I have the appion and love it. I also have a cps as a spare, and its the spare because I dont like it:)

[ga-hvac-tech]

I have the appion and love it. I also have a cps as a spare, and its the spare because I dont like it:)

My old YJ R-60 is the back-up... however it is NOT on the van, rather in storage. Thought about selling it... however not having a back-up seemed not wise.

Same with the TEZ-8... I have a YJ (the old one with square pump head), thought about selling it too... but kept it just in case. I also have a RobinAir vacuum... really a better pump than the YJ.

[midwesthvactech]

Appion is the only way to go

[supertek65]

how about the diablo??????????/