Condensing Unit & Heat Pump R410A Service Manual
118
SERVICING
necessary.
1. Purge gauge lines. Connect service gauge manifold to base-
valve service ports. Run the system in low stage at least 10
minutes to allow pressure to stabilize.
2. Temporarily install a thermometer on the liquid line at the
liquid line service valve and 4-6” from the compressor on
the sucon line. Ensure the thermometer makes adequate
contact and is insulated for best possible readings. Use liquid
line temperature to determine subcooling and vapor tem-
perature to determine superheat.
3. Check subcooling and superheat. Systems with TXV applica-
on should have a subcooling of 5 to 7°F and superheat of 7
to 9 °F.
a. If subcooling and superheat are low, adjust TXV to 7 to
9 ºF superheat, and then check subcooling.
NOTE: To adjust superheat, turn the valve stem clockwise to
increase and counter clockwise to decrease.
b. If subcooling is low and superheat is high, add charge to
raise subcooling to 5 to 7 °F then check superheat.
c. If subcooling and superheat are high, adjust TXV valve
to 7 to 9 ºF superheat, then check subcooling.
d. If subcooling is high and superheat is low, adjust TXV
valve to 7 to 9 ºF superheat and remove charge to
lower the subcooling to 5 to 7 ºF.
NOTE: Do NOT adjust the charge based on sucon pressure
unless there is a gross undercharge.
4. Disconnect manifold set, installaon is complete.
SUBCOOLING FORMULA = SATURATED LIQUID TEMP. - LIQUID
LINE TEMP.
NOTE: Check the Schrader ports for leaks and ghten valve cores
if necessary. Install caps nger-ght.
HEAT PUMP - HEATING CYCLE
The proper method of charging a heat pump in the heat mode
is by weight with the addional charge adjustments for line size,
line length, and other system components. For best results on
outdoor units with TXVs, superheat should be 2-5°F at 4-6” from
the compressor. Make nal charge adjustments in the cooling
cycle.
S-104 CHECKING COMPRESSOR EFFiCIENCY
The reason for compressor ineciency is broken or damaged
scroll anks on Scroll compressors, reducing the ability of the
compressor to pump refrigerant vapor.
The condion of the scroll anks is checked in the following
manner.
1. Aach gauges to the high and low side of the system.
2. Start the system and run a “Cooling Performance Test.
If the test shows:
a. Below normal high side pressure.
b. Above normal low side pressure.
c. Low temperature dierence across coil.
d. Low amp draw at compressor.
And the charge is correct. The compressor is faulty - replace the
compressor.
S-106 OVERFEEDING
Overfeeding by the expansion valve results in high sucon
pressure, cold sucon line, and possible liquid slugging of the
compressor.
If these symptoms are observed:
1. Check for an overcharged unit by referring to the cooling
performance charts in the servicing secon.
2. Check the operaon of the power element in the valve as
explained in S-110 Checking Expansion Valve Operaon.
3. Check for restricted or plugged equalizer tube.
S-107 UNDERFEEDING
Underfeeding by the expansion valve results in low system
capacity and low sucon pressures.
If these symptoms are observed:
1. Check for a restricted liquid line or drier. A restricon will be
indicated by a temperature drop across the drier.
2. Check the operaon of the power element of the valve as
described in S-110 Checking Expansion Valve Operaon.
S-108 SUPERHEAT
The expansion valves are factory adjusted to maintain 7 to 9
degrees superheat of the sucon gas. Before checking the
superheat or replacing the valve, perform all the procedures
outlined under Air Flow, Refrigerant Charge, Expansion Valve -
Overfeeding, Underfeeding. These are the most common causes
for evaporator malfuncon.
CHECKING SUPERHEAT
Refrigerant gas is considered superheated when its temperature
is higher than the saturaon temperature corresponding to
its pressure. The degree of superheat equals the degrees
of temperature increase above the saturaon temperature
at exisng pressure. See Temperature - Pressure Chart on
following pages.