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cooler stuck at 64 degree

2K views 15 replies 6 participants last post by  biggles 
#1 ·
hey everyone,

I am back with another cooler issue.

My cooler goes down to 65 degree than it has a hard time going any lower or does not go any lower.

the suction line is cold except when it is close to the compressor.
the line between the compressor and condenser is a do not touch.
the line after the condenser is warm to the touch

I had a hvac guy look at the pressure and says it is fine even though he mentioned that he never heard of R 401 A freon??

I looked at the sight glass. There is no air bubble but i can see the flow going thru it.

Does anyone know what could avoid the cooler to go down lower than 64 or 65??


The ranco is set to 45 and every time i start the compressor, it cycles a few times than goes for it

I am also missing 3 fans on the evaporator so maybe it has a hard time cooling the volume with these 3 fans down. It has 2 evaporator with 4 fans on one and 3 on the other ( normally 5 on each )

I am open to any suggestion here or help here

What should i be looking into?

P.S: the hvac guy said i should switch the freon with R 12 and that he could do it for $ 1500 plus 300 for the freon. Does this sound right? it seems expensive to me.

thank you
 
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#2 ·
A. Replace the non working fans before doing anything else.
B. Don't go back to R12.
C. R401A is an HCFC, and will become more expensive down the road. R134A would be a good choice.

Without all of the fans working, hard to check the charge, or find out if anything else is wrong.
 
#5 ·
alright. I cleaned the evap and condenser and install 3 brand new fan but i am still having the same issue.

The cooler cools down fine at the begining then it slows down in cooling power. It gets really hot in the room where the cooler is because it is a small space.

all windows opened, i get a 90 degree temp inside the room at the time the cooler get stuck. When i turn the cooler on, it is like 75 in the room then the compressor assembly heat warms up the room and it doesn t not cool down anymore.

Is there something like if a cooler doesn t get enough cool air, it won t cool down the cooler??

I am thinking that it gets stuck because the room temperature where it is at is to high and it is not getting enough air?

could that be possible?
 
#10 ·
90 shouldn't be too hot for the condenser or box. As above, now need suction and liquid line pressures and temps.

This box did cool down at one time, right?
 
#13 ·
90 shouldn't be too hot for the condenser or box. As above, now need suction and liquid line pressures and temps.

This box did cool down at one time, right?

i cannot get a reading on pressure because the manifold gauge set i have is for R134A and i don t think it will work on R 401A.

Do you know a brand or type of manifold guage set that would work on R 401A ?

Could you recommend one please? ( not to expensive )
 
#11 ·
Let me ask a question, is this cooler in a back room of a little store with other equipment in it, and is the other equipment coolers also? If so you got a problem and need inlet air fans and exhaust fans in the room where these units are. Not only that you need a Refrigeration mechanic on call if this is a commercial business.
 
#12 ·
Let me ask a question, is this cooler in a back room of a little store with other equipment in it, and is the other equipment coolers also? If so you got a problem and need inlet air fans and exhaust fans in the room where these units are. Not only that you need a Refrigeration mechanic on call if this is a commercial business.
The cooler is located in a 300 sq/ft room right in one of the corner. the compressor unit is between the top of cooler and the ceiling and has about 3 inch of clearance on the top. The compressor is not in a box and it is fully except that the condenser facing the wall and is about 12 inch from the wall on the front and 8 inch on the side. there is no other equipment besides computer and lights.
 
#15 ·
A couple of tidbits..

Never ever let that tech back in your store. If he has never heard of 401a, then he could not have assessed the refrigerant charge. Based on your other thread, and this one the charge is low, or you have a flooded evaporator due to lack of fans. Its probably low on charge though. If you can't get fans in there quickly, take the fan guards off and tape cardboard over the holes.

What you really need is to find a competant service tech to go through this thing one time and be done with it. If your not sure whom to call, go to a restaurant that has been in business a while and find out which company they use.

If you let a pro do what they should. You wont need gauges or anything else. If you don't go with the refrigeration professional, you will be buying a new compressor and lots of expensive refrigerant.
 
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