Condensing Unit & Heat Pump R410A Service Manual
3
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
SAFE REFRIGERANT HANDLING
While these items will not cover every conceivable situation, they should serve as a useful guide.
R
EFRIGERANTS
ARE
HEAVIER
THAN
AIR
. T
HEY
CAN
“
PUSH
OUT
”
THE
OXYGEN
IN
YOUR
LUNGS
OR
IN
ANY
ENCLOSED
SPACE
. T
O
AVOID
POSSIBLE
DIFFICULTY
IN
BREATHING
OR
DEATH
:
• N
EVER
PURGE
REFRIGERANT
INTO
AN
ENCLOSED
ROOM
OR
SPACE
. B
Y
LAW
,
ALL
REFRIGERANTS
MUST
BE
RECLAIMED
.
• I
F
AN
INDOOR
LEAK
IS
SUSPECTED
,
THOROUGHLY
VENTILATE
THE
ARA
BEFORE
BEGINNING
WORK
.
• L
IQUID
REFRIGERANT
CAN
BE
VERY
COLD
. T
O
AVOID
POSSIBLE
FROSTBITE
OR
BLINDNESS
,
AVOID
CONTACT
WITH
REFRIGERANT
AND
WAR
GLOVES
AND
GOGGLES
. I
F
LIQUID
REFRIGERANT
DOES
CONTACT
YOUR
SKIN
OR
EYES
,
SEEK
MEDICAL
HELP
IMMEDIATELY
.
• A
LWAYS
FOLLOW
EPA
REGULATIONS
. N
EVER
BURN
REFRIGERANT
,
AS
POISONOUS
GAS
WILL
BE
PRODUCED
.
TO AVOID
POSSIBLE
EXPLOSION:
• NEVER APPLY FLAME OR STEAM TO A REFRIGERANT CYLINDER. IF YOU MUST
HEAT A CYLINDER FOR FASTER CHARGING, PARTIALLY IMMERSE IT IN WARM
WATER.
• NEVER FILL A CYLINDER MORE THAN 80% FULL OF LIQUID REFRIGERANT.
• NEVER ADD ANYTHING OTHER THAN R-22 TO AN R-22 CYLINDER OR R-
410A TO AN R-410A CYLINDER. THE SERVICE EQUIPMENT USED MUST BE
LISTED OR CERTIFIED FOR THE TYPE OF REFRIGERANT USED.
• STORE CYLINDERS IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. NEVER USE A CYLINDER AS A
PLATFORM OR A ROLLER.
THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ("EPA")
HAS ISSUED VARIOUS REGULATIONS REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION AND
DISPOSAL
OF REFRIGERANTS INTRODUCED INTO THIS UNIT. FAILURE TO
FOLLOW
THESE REGULATIONS
MAY HARM
THE ENVIRONMENT AND CAN
LEAD
TO THEH IMPOSITION OF SUBSTANTIAL FINES. THESE REGULATIONS
MAY
VARY BY JURISDICTION. SHOULD QUESTIONS ARISE, CONTACT YOUR
LOCAL
EPA OFFICE.
T
O
AVOID
POSSIBLE
EXPLOSION
,
USE
ONLY
RETURNABLE
(
NOT
DISPOSABLE
)
SERVICE
CYLINDERS
WHEN
REMOVING
REFRIGERANT
FROM
A
SYSTEM
.
• E
NSURE
THE
CYLINDER
IS
FREE
OF
DAMAGE
WHICH
COULD
LEAD
TO
A
LEAK
OR
EXPLOSION
.
• E
NSURE
THE
HYDROSTATIC
TEST
DATE
DOES
NOT
EXCEED
5
YEARS
.
• E
NSURE
THE
PRESSURE
RATING
MEETS
OR
EXCEEDS
400 PSIG.
W
HEN
IN
DOUBT
,
DO
NOT
USE
CYLINDER
.
T
O
AVOID
POSSIBLE
INJURY
,
EXPLOSION
OR
DEATH
,
PRACTICE
SAFE
HANDLING
OF
REFRIGERANTS
.
S
YSTEM
CONTAMINANTS
,
IMPROPER
SERVICE
PROCEDURE
AND
/
OR
PHYSICAL
ABUSE
AFFECTING
HERMETIC
COMPRESSOR
ELECTRICAL
TERMINALS
MAY
CAUSE
DANGEROUS
SYSTEM
VENTING
.
The successful development of hermetically sealed
refrigeration compressors has completely sealed the
compressor's moving parts and electric motor inside a
common housing, minimizing refrigerant leaks and the
hazards sometimes associated with moving belts, pulleys
or couplings.
Fundamental to the design of hermetic compressors is
a method whereby electrical current is transmitted to the
compressor motor through terminal conductors which pass
through the compressor housing wall. These terminals are
sealed in a dielectric material which insulates them from
the housing and maintains the pressure tight integrity of
the hermetic compressor. The terminals and their dielectric
embedment are strongly constructed, but are vulnerable
to careless compressor installation or maintenance
procedures and equally vulnerable to internal electrical
short circuits caused by excessive system contaminants.
In either of these instances, an electrical short between
the terminal and the compressor housing may result in
the loss of integrity between the terminal and its dielectric
embedment. This loss may cause the terminals to be
expelled, thereby venting the vaporous and liquid contents
of the compressor housing and system.
A venting compressor terminal normally presents no
danger to anyone, providing the terminal protective cover is
properly in place.
If, however, the terminal protective cover is not properly in
place, a venting terminal may discharge a combination of
(a) hot lubricating oil and refrigerant
(b) ammable mixture (if system is
contamnated with air)
in a stream of spray which may be dangerous to anyone in
the vicinity. Death or serious bodily injury could occur.
Under no circumstances is a hermetic compressor to be
electrically energized and/or operated without having the
terminal protective cover properly in place.
See Service Section S-17 for proper servicing.