Good work Jim, another happy customer. I miss working with this stuff, I was a Plant Mechanic for 15 years before changing jobs. And you are correct about the terminal connections, and when I replace them I use a known brand like Sta-Kon the cheapo ones don't hold up as well.
Jim, you and I apparently do things in reverse directions. I always go to the source, until I get to the problem. I check for power first, no power, correct that first, if yes?, Then, is the condensing unit running. No, then I check for what causes the condensing unit to run, at the source. Is the contactor, pulled in? No. Check the source. Does it have power? No, then it is a control problem, if yes, then it is the contactor. If the contactor is pulled in, does the compressor have all phases of power, check the compressor windings, check the starting components. There is a different lesson in compressor diagnosis, you all ready know those procedures I believe, but that could take a week to explain fully. If no power at the contactor coil then it is one of three problems; the low pressure control, the high pressure control, or the time clock. Start at the common side of the contactor, hold one lead there, then "hop-scotch all the way with the other lead back to the time clock. When you find voltage, there is your problem. If there is a problem at the low pressure control, then, you can put on your gauges and check the system for proper pressures. In that case, it is no longer an electrical problem, but a refrigeration problem, which I know you can understand and diagnose well and quickly. 80% of refrigeration problems are electrical, not refrigeration. I was taught this method in the early 1980's, and I can still diagnose a system in normally under 15 minutes. Hopefully you may as well in the future. I don't randomly check systems, I use a tried and true method.
Hey Jim, Just wanted to say thank you. Several years ago I stumbled on your videos, they motivated me to push my career further than i thought possible. I am where I am today thanks to your videos. Miss seeing new videos. Hope you are doing well. Mike
This is so much like the job in the musty basement of the Greek Restaurant. I heard you say "I think I changed this a few years ago....." The voltages you are mentioning are indicative of another underwired situation like the Greek place. And eating contactors as well. Once again I would suggest you check with a good Fluke meter for min voltage capture at the moment of compressor start up..I think the results of that test will suprise you based on the 195 volts you are readying under no load..Thanks again for the great work you are doing! I am an avid fan and really appreciate the way you let us look over your shoulder and learn from the master!
Great video. I'm a store owner, not a tech but I have my epa certification to handle refrigerants. 90% of all my equipment is refrigerated. So you videos have helped me diagnose small problems and save me on service calls.
great work Jim. been watching your videos for a month or so. I have learned alot from your videos. it is nice to see a few veteran techs that are willing to share their knowledge. I'm a young guy with only a year in the field so i need as much helpful knowledge as i can get. I do light commercial refrigeration and A/c as well in the Dallas fort worth metro plex in Texas. so our summers here are pretty crazy.
@@JamesPettinato 1:22 is there an air conditioner running in the background? Also, the fan speed is kind of confusing for that air conditioner on the condenser!
Hi Jim. Outstanding work Jim. I love to watch a veteran tech do their job. and do it correctly. I was in maintenance for a long time. Thank you for sharing and showing the correct way to do things.
Steven King Hi Steven. I really enjoy his videos. He did some really cool wood working videos as well check them out.I respect any man doing a job well. I hope you and yours are well buddy. All the best. Bobby
Jim I think you’re my brother from another mother. I lay down like you do. I have the same knee pad, etc. It was like I was watching myself on a call. The reason why I’m commenting is because you made me feel like I’m not alone in my approach to systems. I always feel like someone else is doing it better but your diagnostics and follow through was great. Great job.
Nice work Jim as always! I do the same thing with the labels of off parts boxes, lets me know what to put on the work sheet and what stock i need to get.
+heavydiesel don't you hate it when you're at a supply house and you know there is something you need and can't think of it , then you remember it when you 're in bed at night. thanks
like your videos. I have a question on the run load amps. it seems kind of high, seen nameplate of 7.5 amps. wander if a crankcase pressure regulator would lower the amp draw on the hot pull down. seems like if the condenser get badly blocked the amp draw is going to be well over the 7.5 nameplate. would that be hard on compressor running at the high amperage and possibly causing acids to form. Thanks for your videos, very educational
Great Video Jim.Thank You. I have a question and i know you have the answer. On my walkin Freezer temperature is set on -5 F but overnight temperature goes to -25 to -35 F. Any ideas?
Great Job !!! Keep them videos coming sure enjoy them, My new job keeps me away from refrigeration and haven't done any in about a year Hope I be doing some soon...
very good video Jim good to see you fix the problem and do required maintenance too. The aluminum just another way for manufactures to save on every unit. Have you every thought to use the anti -oxidant compounds on aluminum conductors to increase there longevity?
I went back at looked @20:15, I'm not sure that it is aluminum, but rather copper that has a tinning on the strands, which is more popular in electronics mfg.
I'm a student who's got like 3 weeks left to my hvac course and I love watching your videos ! great knowledge and sometimes even gives me a little advantage over my class mates !! Haha... Also Mr Pettinato if you take your Rated Load Amps (RLA ) and multiply it by 1.4 for Copeland or 1.5 for any other compressor it will give you your Full Load Amps (FLA or MCC )
Jim, should one report low line voltage at customer line to the power company so they can check if there is a problem in their supply line transformer ?
Nice Work Jim. I don't know you can answer this or not, But My walkin Freezer goes down to -30 degree, What could be the problem? If you close by, I love call you to work on this.
The low voltage can be a concern, as the lower the voltage, the greater the amp draw, thus causing breaker trips. The compressor is a 230V unit, and NEC calls for +/-10% so, the minimum volts would be 230-23= 207volts. Operating at low volts will also wear out the contactor due to arcing and pitting. NEC 430.52 sets the max breaker size= 8.5x1.15(service factor)x2.50 = 24A (20 amp breaker OK) and the wire gauge is set by the breaker (20 A) as 12ga Copper.
I love your videos Jim. I would like to know what the purpose is for the FDDT switch in these walk in freezers. I understand the defrost termination part of it, but would like your input about the fan delay, which you call a "clixon", Not sure... In Texas we call it a Fan delay/defrost termination switch. Why delay the fans? Is it to help remove as many BTU's right off the bat, or is there another reason?
Jonny Cat You delay the fans until the coil temp has dropped after defrost so you don't blow hot air over the product you blow cold air if that makes sense.
I just want to thx all the tech's that make these n other videos to learn from.......please don't stop I'm in the field myself brand new n want n need any tips u guys have to offer n watch thxs again
Jim, You used a three phase contactor right? Could you have used a single phase contactor instead? What I observed is that you only used L1, L2 and t1, t2.
The model plate shows 208-230 3 phase yet there is a single phase compressor in system . I have never seen that unless a 3 phase compressor was not in stock as a replacement ??
As your volts go down your amps will go up - so I'm gonna put the high amps on low voltage... another thing I have done in a pinch - when you find a bad contractor with three poles and one is bad - I have just moved the wires over to the unused contact ... gets the customer up till u can get back with the new contractor if you dont have one.
This one appears to have a run capacitor and a start capacitor. He said what he said carefully. He said the run capacitor helps the compressor run continuously, so he is right about that. I would say 30mF would be good for a run cap, start caps usually have weird values like 128-145mF and very ofthen are that round, brown bake-a-lite colored plastic, and will have a bleed down resistor across the terminals that you will have to cut in order to test it with your meter. Sometimes they are staked on though, so you can isolate the resistor without cutting it. Ol Sarge...
i just recently had a compressor installed by a company but i have noticed both fans are not running together one side runs only . Did he fix it right upon asking he said the other one has limit switch it runs as needed but prior i remember they both used to runs simultaneously. I need to ask you if thats right what he said?
Sir I like your video ,sir I have little confusion I worked in walk in fridge .I maintain cold room temperature 4to6 Celsius I checked suction pressure 30 psig that time cold room temperature was 5 Celsius .is it OK .this system use refrigent R22
Master Jim, i am very proud to be your student, i had watched all your videos, can you do a electric wiring video on walk-in cooler or freezer when you have time?
If you ever get bit with high power , please dont upload, I would probably jump out of my chair, and hurt myself. I dont do this kind of work, but its nice to see what yall go through everyday. Interesting
+Jeramy Reiderer oh really? You really shouldn't say stuff like that, I'm sure the OEMs would like to know about this new discovery. Thats a new one.... What does it break down into? Do you tell customers it wears out? LOL.........
no it doesn't, better say the truth to the client: you're unable to find the leak, saying stuff like freon breaks down will always get you busted eventually
I agree, sometimes you can't find the leak. When this happens, its cheaper just to gas & go, rather than spend two more hours in labor and getting the same result. Now the the high price of 22, that labor has started to become a bit more questionable. Our cost is at $24/# our cost, in bulk. I had one unit that I cut off the line set and pressure tested with Nitrogen over the weekend, this proved to me the air handler and lineset were good, and the problem was in the condensing uni.t Then I could concentrate my efforts there. Yes, the worn out gas, Ive had customers give me that crap. I don't know where they hear that from. It must be their car experiences...LOL
Why always fill on refrigerant without fixing the root cause? (LEAK) We arent allowed to do this in EU If low on gas, something has to be done about it asap. (both because of the law, and price on refigerant, ie R404a cost now 300USD per KG with tax.) i will if hard to find or out of time fill the system with spectroline when charging, then next time i come i can fix the leak.
when im doing the work....L stand for line. and T stands for To the unit. HA! i know this isnt right but it keeps my head right. ive actually wondered for a long time what T was for. and im sure its some big ole electrical word like transductance or something that i wouldnt understand anyway. .....To the unit.......
at the beginning of the cycle sometimes pressure can be 60 psi .. some freezers don't have solenoids or pressure regulators after defrost will electrical heaters wow sometimes 80 90 psi is common but when the coil freezes.. box temp is low you could work at 10-15 psi
Roughly translated: he says Hello Jim, he is asking if/when you will be doing any refrigeration videos again; he is commenting on seeing a "Siemens"-brand contactor (I guess Siemens is popular in Germany); and he signs off with Best Regards, Walter. My grasp of German is quite limited, so I used Google Translate to avoid screwing it up, lol.
