beer fridge project

[Dickey]

Months ago, I picked up a commercial refrigerator from a local restaurant that was tossing it out. They had paid to replace its compressor after a neglected high pressure line leak destroyed the original and when it sprung another leak in the low pressure line a few months later it was put outside. The compressor looks brand new and ran just fine. This past week, I found time to look at it and see about getting it back online. I've got a line tap on the way so I can charge it with my current r134 hoses. I intend to blow out the r22 oil before I braze in the new evaporator, new low pressure line and reoil/recharge the system. I can't imagine it is much more complicated than that but I thought I'd put my plan out here in case someone had a better idea on how to make it produce cold air.


said fridge:

 

[socapots]

That fridge is sweet man.
I had an 18CUft in a rental property that was unplugged, from there the refrigerant leaked out. Repair place said it would be to costly to find and fix the leak.
Figured **** it.. Brought it home and put a tap in it, put a little of the refrigerant replacement stuff you buy at Princess auto, and away it went.
Ran all summer in the garage without an issue. But as soon as it started getting cold it didnt work so nice. so i unplugged it.
Figured see what it does next summer. If it needs a bit of a charge again i'll try it again (i got 2 cans in the kit i bought). see where that takes me.

Although it is possible that things will break down later because i didnt find the leak (i dont know if its the high or low side. But i do know that one side is worse then the other to have the leak in). nor did i change or even test the oil for contaminants, or change anything for that matter. Worst case if i want to spend the money i can do that later.. But right now it runs as good as ever.. well not now.. but when it was summer. lol.

i say give the charge a bump and see what happens.

 

[Responder]

That is what I want in my garage, very nice!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks great.

You need a decal.


In case of emergency
BREAK GLASS

 

[jasonreck71]

Man I LOVE the glass front...nice work

 

[01ssreda4]

Very cool.

 

[xravenx]

You do not need to remove the oil from the compressor to replace the evap, and you can't just blow it out with R-22. Just remove the existing evap coil and install the new one. Hopefully you are getting the type of line tap you have to braze in rather then the type that pierce the line, the piercing type are notorious for leaking. What about a liquid line drier? Leak check everything, pull a vacuum on the system and charge with refrigerant, be carefull as it probably holds ounces of refrigerant, an electronic refrigeration scale would be nice to wheigh the charge in if you are unsure of how to charge it based on pressure, superheat, etc. Sometimes compressors will start and run but not pump due to defective internal valves.

Aren't there access fittings in place now, how did the other guy pull a vacuum and charge it without them?

 

[Dickey]

You do not need to remove the oil from the compressor to replace the evap, and you can't just blow it out with R-22. Just remove the existing evap coil and install the new one. Hopefully you are getting the type of line tap you have to braze in rather then the type that pierce the line, the piercing type are notorious for leaking. What about a liquid line drier? Leak check everything, pull a vacuum on the system and charge with refrigerant, be carefull as it probably holds ounces of refrigerant, an electronic refrigeration scale would be nice to wheigh the charge in if you are unsure of how to charge it based on pressure, superheat, etc. Sometimes compressors will start and run but not pump due to defective internal valves.

Aren't there access fittings in place now, how did the other guy pull a vacuum and charge it without them?

I wasn't going to blow anything out with r-22. I was going to blow the r-22 oil out before I replaced it with the pag oil that is compatible with r134. I want to use r134 in place of the original refrigerant because I have the equipment for that. Also, by r22 I meant R12, my bad on the typo. The 51 Frigidaire I have uses R22 and I had them crossed in my head.

The evaporator has to be replaced because whoever did the prior work messed up the original (leaked out all the refrigerant) and its also disgusting to touch.

R134 is the style line valve I'm getting so that I can use r134 a/c stuff which I already own. I don't own anything for R12 or R22 work so the existing valves are useless to me.

 

[woolybugger141]

Next fridge will be bigger but until this one pisses out, it holds enough beer! thought i would add the pic of cocunut shells bra, just wishing i was in florida watching some blond wearing them on the beach, minus 6 degrees here today.

 

[Bluewarrior7]

Do want!

 

[JordanFTW]

You need a decal.


In case of emergency
BREAK GLASS

 

[Jamesbbh]

Beer.......right next to the RAS....

Be careful in there!

 

[Dickey]

No worries, the saw is on wheels. It's usually in front of the big door when I'm using it to help manage the sawdust. After the display I saw at New Year's the dart board may need to be removed though, hehe.

"they don't stick as well in the OSB guys"

 

[Plump]

I've been looking for a glass-front fridge FOREVER! Good luck getting that thing running the way you want. Very jealous here!!!

 

[Jamesbbh]

No worries, the saw is on wheels. It's usually in front of the big door when I'm using it to help manage the sawdust. After the display I saw at New Year's the dart board may need to be removed though, hehe.

"they don't stick as well in the OSB guys"

Oh the fridge is awesome, I was just referring to the general dangerous nature of those saws haha. Don't let buddies get a little tipsy and be operating that thing

 

[phreke]

ive used adaptors on r12 fittings to fill with 134. i honestly dont remeber where i got them but it might be an option instead of piercing or brazing.

 

[anyheck]

You may want to check out homebrewtalk forums and share your great fridge there:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/

There will be some envious glances.

 

[Drew_flux]

dont forget to give the condensor a good clean. a lot of fridges suffer from lack of air flow.