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Post by ChrisJ on Mar 17, 2015 16:22:06 GMT
I'm planning on bringing the soup can home in July and think it will finally happen this time.
What run times has everyone been seeing with proper running CA-2 machines?
I recall mine being around 5 minutes on and 10-12 minutes off to do low 30s in the cabinet.
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Post by cablehack on Mar 17, 2015 22:14:36 GMT
You have good cycling times there. Cycling time for my CA-2 with its relatively unworn needle and seat was around 3.5 mins on and 13 mins off in a room temp of about 20C and cabinet 32-34F. Since installing the correct capillary tube, run time is about 4.5 mins on and 14 mins off under the same conditions. Note that I recalibrated the temperature differential of the thermostat soon after the cap tube was installed. Either way, the actual run time and off time per hour is not changed by doing that - just that the amount of start/stop cycles is reduced. The off times are very dependent on room temperature - eg. 25C, off time is about 10 min, for 15C it might be 16 mins.
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Post by ChrisJ on Mar 17, 2015 23:14:00 GMT
My main concern was all the talk about leaky check valves. I don't want to get this thing home and then find out it's not working up to par.
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Post by cablehack on Mar 18, 2015 1:44:52 GMT
My main concern was all the talk about leaky check valves. I don't want to get this thing home and then find out it's not working up to par. A quick test for a leaky check valve is to see that the low side tube is cool all the way into the cabinet top plate. If it should be leaking, hot vapour will come back through it instead of only out the high side. But given the performance you have, there is nothing to worry about. BTW, is your form B with the crimped high side tube still working?
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Post by ChrisJ on Mar 18, 2015 1:58:21 GMT
My main concern was all the talk about leaky check valves. I don't want to get this thing home and then find out it's not working up to par. A quick test for a leaky check valve is to see that the low side tube is cool all the way into the cabinet top plate. If it should be leaking, hot vapour will come back through it instead of only out the high side. But given the performance you have, there is nothing to worry about. BTW, is your form B with the crimped high side tube still working? My form B crimped tube never really was working. I went too far and then never touched it again. Too much going on with the baby and all. The good news is, he still loves to stare at the top of the broken form B machine that's in our kitchen. I hope I'm not getting my hopes up, but I have a feeling he may end up helping the old man out in the future! Actually, doesn't a leaky check valve cause a whistle while running that continues after the machine shuts down for a bit?
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Post by cablehack on Mar 18, 2015 2:52:34 GMT
Actually, doesn't a leaky check valve cause a whistle while running that continues after the machine shuts down for a bit? If the machine has a float valve in it that could happen because the pressure inside the dome is looking for an exit. As the float valve is shut when the compressor is off, it will exit via the check valve if it's leaky. Cap tubes allow continuous equalisation so I don't think the effect would be as obvious, if present at all. That reminds me, the CA compressor that Allan had with the broken unloader could have been put back into service because with a cap tube the unloader is no longer required.
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Post by allan on Mar 18, 2015 3:33:48 GMT
Actually, doesn't a leaky check valve cause a whistle while running that continues after the machine shuts down for a bit? If the machine has a float valve in it that could happen because the pressure inside the dome is looking for an exit. As the float valve is shut when the compressor is off, it will exit via the check valve if it's leaky. Cap tubes allow continuous equalisation so I don't think the effect would be as obvious, if present at all. That reminds me, the CA compressor that Allan had with the broken unloader could have been put back into service because with a cap tube the unloader is no longer required. My memory isn't the best. But I don't remember having a CA with a broken unloader. The only ones I have retired, that I remember, have been a few with stuck compressors. One of which I opened up and freed by hand and it started right up. Disassembly revealed a very badly worn lower bearing with heavy copper plating. I did break the unloader casting on teardown.
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Post by ChrisJ on Mar 18, 2015 3:41:30 GMT
If the machine has a float valve in it that could happen because the pressure inside the dome is looking for an exit. As the float valve is shut when the compressor is off, it will exit via the check valve if it's leaky. Cap tubes allow continuous equalisation so I don't think the effect would be as obvious, if present at all. That reminds me, the CA compressor that Allan had with the broken unloader could have been put back into service because with a cap tube the unloader is no longer required. My memory isn't the best. But I don't remember having a CA with a broken unloader. The only ones I have retired, that I remember, have been a few with stuck compressors. One of which I opened up and freed by hand and it started right up. Disassembly revealed a very badly worn lower bearing with heavy copper plating. I did break the unloader casting on teardown. That's the one he means, the one you broke while tearing it apart. Allan, what times have you seen on your CA machines?
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Post by allan on Mar 18, 2015 3:50:29 GMT
4-5 minutes on and 12-15 off. Always about 75 degree room and about 31 degree box temp
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Post by ChrisJ on Mar 18, 2015 23:19:23 GMT
4-5 minutes on and 12-15 off. Always about 75 degree room and about 31 degree box temp So basically, It sounds like you and cablehack are saying bring the machine home and put food in it?
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Post by cablehack on Mar 19, 2015 0:55:33 GMT
So basically, It sounds like you and cablehack are saying bring the machine home and put food in it? Yes, now is the time I retired my modern R12 fridge around October last year and haven't missed it one bit. The CA-2 is my primary fridge in my kitchen and the CA-1 lives in my computer room filled with things I shouldn't really eat too much of. In my situation I really do need a back up for the CA-2, due to it's 'special properties' shall we say, so it's great to have another monitor top to fulfill that role. Once you get it home and it settles down, it will behave slightly differently to when you've only been running it for short periods. Don't panic if the condenser is not warm, or evenly warm, likewise the float chamber. Once the fridge doesn't have much work to do, these parts run cool. The frost line will also fluctuate slightly depending on load and room temperature; higher on hot days and with frequent door opening.
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Post by ChrisJ on Mar 19, 2015 1:16:40 GMT
I've never seen the float chamber warm, ever. Depending on what's going on the condenser will get slightly warm but due to the chilly basement it's been in the box top stays cold so by the time the liquid gets to the float it's probably room temperature.
I'm actually really excited to see what it does in a 70-75F room where it belongs.
The only real test I did on it was John Higdon's load it up with hot water and see if the evaporator defrosts.
Even with two icecube trays full of hot water (130+F) and a huge tray in the bottom full of hot water it didn't defrost at all.
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Post by ChrisJ on Jul 10, 2015 21:08:12 GMT
Run times as of this afternoon. The off times are still improving, just under 10 minutes now. Attachments:
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Post by vintageguy on Jul 11, 2015 4:23:47 GMT
Run times as of this afternoon. The off times are still improving, just under 10 minutes now. Chris, How do you collect run time data? I sit in the kitchen with a stop watch and figure there must be a better way. Thomas
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Post by allan on Jul 11, 2015 19:57:31 GMT
Here are the run times for my CA1 form A, serial 6003376 (rebuilt tag). Cabinet Temp 30 degrees Room Temp 76 degrees On @ 14 degrees evaporator Off @ -2 degrees evaporator (measured at thermostat capillary clamp, this is the actual temp the control senses) On Time is 14 minutes Off time is 15 minutes Times are always better with a heavily frosted evap like this one!!
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