ReplyOnly thing I can think of is someone put oxygen into the system.
Professional Member
Carrier Condenser Explodes!!!
I had never seen anything like it before. Maybe somebody else has. The thing that gets me is the system was off, customer wasn't home and the neighbors said that it sounded like a bomb had exploded causing the fire department to be dispatched. R-22 system, ambient was about 80 deg. F
Professional Member
Only thing I can think of is someone put oxygen into the system.
If everything was always done "by the book"....the book would never change.
Professional Member
Well I have never done that myself, but I hear that if you did put oxygen into a system that contains oil you would probably be found in little pieces. Instant reaction if Im not mistaken.
Regular Guest
Maybe a corrosion issue. You can see rust where it (a pressure vessel in essence) blew apart in the last photo.
Professional Member
i would have to guess oxygen too but I have never seen it first hand though i sure would like to ka-booom
Professional Member
Cool!
Sink or Swim!
A Man has to know his limitations..
To be old and wise, one must be young and dumb..
Professional Member
yes there is rust present, but in all the cases I've been so lucky to have worked on, which have been subjected to rust or salt air corrosion (or as I call it, Coastal Rot) has one blown up. That sucker blew the jacket on the compressor to shreds.Originally Posted by maximusbravehea
Professional Member
if no one was home are you sure it was off
Regular Guest
check contactor. maybe it stuck closed
Professional Member
very good point. This is what the customer is claiming though. I have thought about this already and the thing that keeps puzzling me is, what if it was running, or what if the condenser fan motor failed with a stuck closed contractor without the customer knowing the compressor was still running and left. Whatever the scenario, I would like to think that the system would have some kind of safety feature to prevent it from violently exploding.if no one was home are you sure it was off
Professional Member
the compressor has a high pressure relief that one blew up did they beat someone out of money?
Professional Member*
I see rust INSIDE the reciever, this problem was caused by improper installation...I.E. air (moisture that contains oxygen) and an arc from compressor motor windings without insulation(degraded by acid) conducted to ground. Was this a 410A system? How did it smell?
Professional Member
My 2 cents here.
It looks like heavy rusting at the bottom cap of the receiver caused the failure. I guess thats why they caution us about rusted freon or recovery tanks. Although, that receiver looks kind of skimpy on metal thickness.
It appears to be a suction line receiver, so pressure would (should) be lower if the compressor was operating.
Great post and pics !!!
Professional Member
Looks like the accumulator ruptured due to rust, and spun around. There would likely be liquid refrigerant present. The noise could be the sound of the accumulator whacking against the cabinet as it turned, like a playing card in bicycle spokes. Ask the earwitness if it was one short blast, or sustained. Never saw anything like it.
Regular Guest
it could have been a crank case heater that blew
Membership Committee*
Slick Willis, Twilli wears this when working on carriers
http://www.global-security-solutions.com/BombSuit.htm
No Heat No Cool You need Action Fast
Professional Member*
That's one you want to see AFTER it happens for sure!
Make sure if you find out any further info that you share it with the rest of us.
Use the biggest hammer you like, pounding a square peg into a round hole does not equal a proper fit.
Banned
Looks like the accumulator corroded through from the outside and let go, BIG TIME!
I had never seen anything like it before. Maybe somebody else has. The thing that gets me is the system was off, customer wasn't home and the neighbors said that it sounded like a bomb had exploded causing the fire department to be dispatched. R-22 system, ambient was about 80 deg. F
Professional Member
Twilli has one of them suits.Twilli use to defuse Bombs.
Professional Member*
I work in a coastal area also and have seen accumulators rusted way more than that one, Ive changed countless ones due to corrosion leaks, I have never seen anything remotely close to what happened there, more going on there than just rust
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