How many of you guys actually weigh in Refrigerant?

[mfry]

This would be in fractional hp reach-ins

Just curious?

If you do............... It's time to learn not to, and figure the amount that's needed on your own.

But, that's me.

[local553]

i'm a/c guy but i do refrig work also and yes i weigh it in. how do u know how much to charge customer if u don't. our shop keeps records of refrig used and reclaim.

[mfry]

i'm a/c guy but i do refrig work also and yes i weigh it in. how do u know how much to charge customer if u don't. our shop keeps records of refrig used and reclaim.

Minimum charge per unit.

[bwalley]

Minimum charge per unit.

so you just guess at it and crank the customer instead of using a scale?

[mfry]

so you just guess at it and crank the customer instead of using a scale?

If you really want to excel in the refrigeration field, don't you think you should now how to do it? And, if you do know how, why wouldn't you?

You don't need to guess, if you know what you're doing. And, no I don't crank the customer.

I have only used the scale 2 times in my whole career of 24 years.

It's like looking at a map when you already know where your going...

[bwalley]

If you really want to excel in the refrigeration field, don't you think you should now how to do it? And, if you do know how, why wouldn't you?

You don't need to guess, if you know what you're doing. And, no I don't crank the customer.

I have only used the scale 2 times in my whole career of 24 years.

It's like looking at a map when you already know where your going...

There is no way you can know how much refrigerant you put in a system without weighing it or using a dial a charge.

There is new technology that comes out evry year, just because you never used it doesn't mean it isn't a good idea to do it.

[calloushands]

If you really want to excel in the refrigeration field, don't you think you should now how to do it? And, if you do know how, why wouldn't you?

You don't need to guess, if you know what you're doing. And, no I don't crank the customer.

I have only used the scale 2 times in my whole career of 24 years.

It's like looking at a map when you already know where your going...

Working in a company that services several fractional refrigeration systems daily, it has become very important to use a scale. A tech in 1 hour can diagnosis between a low charge (leak), restricted cap tube, or a weak compressor.
The first thing he does is add nitro to the system, if it holds, no leak, step 2, evacuate and weight in charge. If unit still shows signs of low charge there is a restricted cap tube. Especially when you almost double the weighed in amount just to get your suction pressure up.

[jeremyhall.tech.sc]

If you really want to excel in the refrigeration field, don't you think you should now how to do it? And, if you do know how, why wouldn't you?

You don't need to guess, if you know what you're doing. And, no I don't crank the customer.

I have only used the scale 2 times in my whole career of 24 years.

It's like looking at a map when you already know where your going...

thats a weird way to look at it but i weigh my reclaims and my charges .

if you have a contained unit and it is functioning properly then you should not have to guess or play with the charge . i have NEVER went wrong charging by weigh in.

[ZeroTolerance]

I weigh it in to know what to charge the customer. Also, why would I spend time tweaking a system to perfection when the factory specifies on the nameplate what they charged in the system, so why wouldn't I?

[mfry]

I weigh it in to know what to charge the customer. Also, why would I spend time tweaking a system to perfection when the factory specifies on the nameplate what they charged in the system, so why wouldn't I?

Many variables change with each changed or altered system. If you weigh it in........ Better make sure everything is factory. Change to a larger drier? longer run? Remote?
If any of the variable change........ What ya gonna do? Call the factory?

[Phase Loss]

This would be in fractional hp reach-ins

Just curious?

If you do............... It's time to learn not to, and figure the amount that's needed on your own.

But, that's me.

I think you are confusing people because of the way you worded your question...

"how many of you guys actually weigh in refrigerant?"

I think you meant...

How many of you guys actually weigh in refrigerant per the data plate?

regardless if you choose to weigh in the charge per the data plate, or use your refrigeration skills...either way you should be weighing it in so you know how much you used for proper billing.

[coolwhip]

I use a 40 year old fish scale.

[lynn comstock]

I use a 40 year old fish scale.

Not so funny. Back in the good old days, that was about the best thing going.
Dial a Charge came next for 10 or 20 years.
Finally we got electronic scales.

When I started, service vacuum pumps did not exist.
I could go on, and on, and on.
It has been a real trip.

[dijit]

Not so funny. Back in the good old days, that was about the best thing going.
Dial a Charge came next for 10 or 20 years.
Finally we got electronic scales.

When I started, service vacuum pumps did not exist.
I could go on, and on, and on.
It has been a real trip.

what did you do in lieu of vacuum pumps?

[lynn comstock]

what did you do in lieu of vacuum pumps?

• The HVAC compressors were all semihermetic with suction and discharge service valves. (No cans.)
• With the system at atomspheric pressure, and the dicharge service access port on the compressor side of the valve open to the atmosphere
  and the discharge valve nearly closed
• then we would bump the compressor a couple of times and finish closing the dicharge SOV.
• Finally, we would run the compressor for a minute or so to get 28" of vacuum on a compound low pressure gauge. (Microns were unknown at the time.)
• Later when we got canned compressors we used a funcitoning 1/2 hp Copelemetic medium temp compressor for years and years. Change the oil? Never.

System cleanup after a burnout.

• Unknown. We would dump the gas if it smelled nasty, install a new compressor and go.
• We used to blow nasty systems using R-12 as a flush gas. ($0.39 per pound)
• Then we used R-11 for years to flush out systems.
• Suction line driers for system cleanup came along in 1970's. Novel idea.
• Not much change since then except that the arrival of internal compressor motor protection greatly reduced burnouts and nearly eliminated nasty burnouts.

[jman1168]

what did you do in lieu of vacuum pumps?

PURGE!!!

[rayr]

Not so funny. Back in the good old days, that was about the best thing going.
Dial a Charge came next for 10 or 20 years.
Finally we got electronic scales.

When I started, service vacuum pumps did not exist.
I could go on, and on, and on.
It has been a real trip.

Back in the day (that was 59 for me), we had vacuum pumps. They were not good, B&G pumps with carbon rings in them. Were good for about 27" of vacuum. Triple evac and then purge. Only critical charge units were cap tubes, and the units came with correlation charts with them. We survived.

[marvin]

I have only used the scale 2 times in my whole career of 24 years.

& ive probably worn out 24 scales & charging cylinders in my career.
the mfg. doesnt put that info on the nameplate
just because they need to fill up the space on the tag.
i have done many jobs without using a scale but if the
vac. pmp goes on the scale comes out of the truck.

[drjfjr]

I guess you are fortunate since we have to keep a record of all refrigerant used and recovered by pound. They even check our records on occasion. Hope the EPA in your area do not do spot check on independents.

[mfry]

I guess you are fortunate since we have to keep a record of all refrigerant used and recovered by pound. They even check our records on occasion. Hope the EPA in your area do not do spot check on independents.

I'm not breaking any EPA rules. What I have purchased is what I have used. And the customer gets an invoice.