Are the dyes UV leak detectors good and which brandname is the best?

[xpuser357]

http://www.spectroline.com/graphics_library_logos.html
Some times The customer wants to see where leak is. I live in the show me state. found multiple leaks with bubbles and detek. when leak is in middle of coil
with dye in system you will have a scenic view for customer to see. Boss bought these new kits and ultra violet light you carry around. It used to be a big light in box you had to retrieve it from shop to use. When you have windy conditions, it is ALMOST impossible to find leaks with sniffers, you need device to hear it or see it

[cy]

got a problem R-22 unit that I'm having problems locating a leak. holds 200 psi nitrogen for hours. yet loses refrigerant after a few months.

normally soapy bubbles finds em right away. also using two different refrigerant detectors with heated diode tips.

have not tried ultra sonic leak finder yet.

besides oily spots, what else should I be looking for?

[koolkahuna]

got a problem R-22 unit that I'm having problems locating a leak. holds 200 psi nitrogen for hours. yet loses refrigerant after a few months.

normally soapy bubbles finds em right away. also using two different refrigerant detectors with heated diode tips.

have not tried ultra sonic leak finder yet.

besides oily spots, what else should I be looking for?

Aircooled condenser or watercooled?

[cy]

Aircooled condenser or watercooled?

aircooled condenser ... trace R-22 installed before pressuring up. slowly moved tip set on high Tek Mate, top to bottom. copper lines run under crawspace. that's next ..

ran out of time ... left 150 psi overnight .. really want to find this leak.

[Nytefog]

Point is, unless there is no access to the piping, the leak can be found by other means.


Dye is a lazy way out.

It may be the lazy way out but i can be more cost effective because less labor is needed which is what is the major cost in leak location is.

Now if the system is a R22, is 10 years or greater in age, the cost of location, repair, or replacement of a part, may not even be worth the time or effort. This is another story though

[mark beiser]

Great post, very informative! I still would never put dye in a system,but that's just my opinion.

So if presented with the challenge of leak searching a refrigeration system for an explosion proof HAZMAT vault where unstable VOC's are stored, how would you proceed?

In this particular situation, attempting to walk into the vault with a heated diode type leak detector would likely get you tackled by a rather large man before you even got to the door, if it didn't get confiscated at the security checkpoint, and infrared sensor type detectors are set off by stuff stored in the vault.

[cy]

not a dye but a self sealer ... A/C Leak Freeze

they claim not to hurt the system and that it stays totally inert until it gets activated by a leak. has anyone used A/C Leak Freeze?

[cy]

so is spectroline dye safe to use in an R-22 system? they claim it's compatible and has blessing of compressor mfg.

normally would not put anything but refrigerant and oil into any system. have spent too much time already looking for this leak. dye will find it, but will it also destroy the system?

[cy]

dup....

[prorefco]

I haven't had much luck with refrigerant dyes. Of course I only used dye a few times 20 years ago. Maybe they're better now, but I have the best luck with an H-10 and soap bubbles...

[cy]

I haven't had much luck with refrigerant dyes. Of course I only used dye a few times 20 years ago. Maybe they're better now, but I have the best luck with an H-10 and soap bubbles...

got an old H-10 that has not been used in years....
are you saying H-10 works better than newest heated diode detectors?

are you using Dawn soap for bubbles?

normally can find leaks with no problems... but got an old R-22 system with a leak that's eating my lunch. normally would not use dyes. but just about ready to for this one. purchased some Cal-Blue LT leak detector. willing to try out just about anything to keep from using dye.

[jpsmith1cm]

got an old H-10 that has not been used in years....
are you saying H-10 works better than newest heated diode detectors?

are you using Dawn soap for bubbles?

normally can find leaks with no problems... but got an old R-22 system with a leak that's eating my lunch. normally would not use dyes. but just about ready to for this one. purchased some Cal-Blue LT leak detector. willing to try out just about anything to keep from using dye.

H-10 and Big Blue.

Dtek and a lot of the others aren't up to the Gold Standard that the H-10 set a long time ago.

[prorefco]

The H-10 works very for me. I have three other types, the newest is a yellow jacket but the H-10 works better than the others...

I only use calgon leak detector soap bubbles... They work best for me...