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Post by coldspaces on Jan 22, 2017 15:04:34 GMT
Wow 160 psig is up there. If you run it till the pressure is up, shut it down and then tip it so the float has to open, or use the magnet if you are sure it is lifting the float, that will tell you if the float is stuck or plugged or the propane just isn't lifting it.
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Post by cablehack on Jan 22, 2017 23:58:22 GMT
I found the pic I have of the cap tube for the hydrocarbon filled CK. The cap tube looks rather short unless there's more inside the cabinet top.  |
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Post by 100yearfridge on Jan 23, 2017 1:53:12 GMT
The propane beast is alive! I had my doubts today, but it is purring along nicely! Sounds like a water fountain in my lab.  70 degrees ambient High side: 140 psi (85 degrees saturation) Low side: 10 psi (-21 degrees saturation) 2.37 amps The dome top is pretty hot. The top half of the condenser is rather warm, and the bottom is somewhat cooler. Running it this morning produced no change. It appeared that the float was stuck. I pulled the charge, and flipped it completely upside down. Taking out the valve plug, I inserted a small screwdriver and pushed on the float ball; it moved a little bit, then it suddenly dropped and discharged a little bit of oil. Yes! ......No, it still wouldn't pass nitrogen. I decided to pull the soldered connections I installed yesterday and try pushing a small wire brush bristle. monitortop.freeforums.net/post/1018/thread I couldn't get it through, or I wasn't hitting the hole. {Insert joke here} I reluctantly cut the steel tube about 1/2" from the bottom and pulled the float valve seat out. I have to say I was a bit scared at this point that it wouldn't go back together well. I poked the orifice out with the steel wire, cleaned up the piece and put it back in. I had to tip the whole thing up again to get the valve pin to slide back in the hole. Then I soldered everything back together. I should have spun another adapter with a longer sleeve to go over the gap in the steel, but I didn't. Nitrogen seeped right through.     After pressure tests and evacuation, I charged some liquid into the float chamber. After 10 seconds, WHOOSH. Yay! I let the low side come up a bit, and started it. Once or twice, the float stopped passing gas. I fed it from the low side a bit, but nothing. I wacked the float chamber with a rubber mallet and got another WHOOSH. It has been running smoothly for a 45 minutes now. Not sure if the thermostat isn't working, as I have it at the lowest setting and it won't shut off. It's pretty warm in here, but I would still think it should shut down. Looks like I'll continue my search for isobutane. This thing is going to sit for a while as I need to work on my 100 year fridge project. I'm just glad it runs with the float.  |
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Post by coldspaces on Jan 23, 2017 2:28:22 GMT
Nice work! That darn black crud sure can plug the float seat.
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Post by cablehack on Jan 23, 2017 3:39:10 GMT
Excellent work! Nice to see HC proven in a Monitor Top. Is it just ordinary BBQ grade propane you've used?
Regarding cabinet explosion, that's less likely in a Monitor Top because the thermostat is outside and above, as is the start relay, but a flameproof light switch might be worth installing in the long term.
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Post by 100yearfridge on Jan 23, 2017 4:47:26 GMT
Excellent work! Nice to see HC proven in a Monitor Top. Is it just ordinary BBQ grade propane you've used? Regarding cabinet explosion, that's less likely in a Monitor Top because the thermostat is outside and above, as is the start relay, but a flameproof light switch might be worth installing in the long term. It is BBQ grade MD-5. This is just to see if everything works. When I'm done restoring it I will charge it with isobutane or refrigerant grade r-290. I think propane would be fine from my initial observations, but I'm curious to work with r600a, as it closer to so2, and I know many are interested in seeing how it works. Good idea on the light switch! I'll look into it. Here's a video. www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5syN06WjpY&feature=youtu.be |
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Post by elec573 on Jan 23, 2017 5:11:18 GMT
Very interesting work thanks for posting! The video explains a lot also, never thought you could use propane as a refridgeation gas ! Sense I use it on my grill to cook with !
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Post by coldspaces on Jan 23, 2017 5:21:32 GMT
Great Video, glad we got ya hook on at least one Monitor Top Refrigerating Machine lol It sure had some nice bubbling sounds in that evap.
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Post by ckfan on Jan 23, 2017 16:48:51 GMT
Fantastic, I'm glad you were able to get the seat cleared up and the machine running. Hank Hill would be so proud he would be wiping away a tear right now.
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Post by 100yearfridge on Jan 24, 2017 1:49:43 GMT
Buddy of mine helped me put the top on the cabinet, with some boards supporting it up at the sides. I'm going to leave it sit for a few weeks until I get ahead on some other projects. I had to run it in the cabinet, and it appears the thermostat is working! Looks like I have a good unit, it just needs some TLC to get it ready for another 82 years.
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Post by blackhorse on Sept 15, 2017 4:21:23 GMT
Good work, Thanks!
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Post by blackhorse on Sept 15, 2017 14:35:09 GMT
Fuel-grade propane is incredibly filthy stuff; it seems likely that some of your grief with the float could have been the stuff in the propane.
I have found gallons of foul-smelling oily muck in the bottom of propane tanks after the pressure was reduced to zero.
I have also had to modify the burners (with support from the manufacturer) on under-warranty LP furnace so it would burn anhydrous ammonia. It would have taken months to proceed legally against the propane supplier, and the customer needed heat NOW.
Another similar on a much older furnace that made a screaming sound from the burners that you could hear all over the building.
Having to pour hot water over the regulator because water in the propane froze the orifice is not so unusual.
And yes, I've seen on other boards that refrigerant grade HC gas is hard to get and stupid expensive sometimes.
I'm thinking that getting it in the little canisters meant for camping appliances might be cleaner, they have orifices smaller than the bristles on wire brushes, and you wouldn't want to freeze to death on a mountain somewhere because your stove fuel was nasty; probably better quality control there. Run it through a filter-dryer and it might be actual refrigerant.
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