Cheap vacuum pump and gauges set???

[emudryj]

Hi!!
I just got a nice Everwell 18k mini split with R410 to install in a shed/work shop of mine.
Installation seems to be pretty straight forward and within my abilities, but I'm only missing the vacuum pump and gauges to do it right..

Does anybody have a good and cheap set to recommend from amazon or ebay?

 

[Jim greengo]

Craigslist

 

[LS6 Tommy]

X2 on the amazon kits, but I don't have a particular brand to recommend. You'll need a micron gauge to check for proper evacuation, too. And some way to pressure test the lines before you evacuate. You can't use compressed air. Dry nitrogen is what's normally used.

Tommy

 

[Mark_17]

Harbor freight always has vacuum pumps on sale and their gauge set is cheap

 

[Terry D]

There us nothing cheap about buying good quality equipment. Problem is, if your only using it once, its probably not worth spending alot of money. I dont know if those cheap sets are any good or not. I probably have close to 1000.00 dollars in a vac pump, micron gauge, nitrogen tank and regulator, flaring tool, torque wrench . Not to mention the gauge set.

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[glentre]

Hi!!
I just got a nice Everwell 18k mini split with R410 to install in a shed/work shop of mine.
Installation seems to be pretty straight forward and within my abilities, but I'm only missing the vacuum pump and gauges to do it right..

Does anybody have a good and cheap set to recommend from amazon or ebay?

Welcome to the forum where you'll find a bunch of guys/gals with experience willing to help on any question. On this particular question, unless you feel there will be a need for charging equipment more than a time or two in the future, I bet it would be cheaper for you to get a pro to do it. Or, maybe a tech who moonlights to charge it up and test it.

Glen

 

[engineer2]

I used a new-ish HF vacuum pump this past weekend. It was the 2.5 cfm model. Compared it to my Yamoto Scientific vacuum pump. Mine was a little faster, but both pulled down to 1000 microns without any trouble.

 

[Terry D]

I used a new-ish HF vacuum pump this past weekend. It was the 2.5 cfm model. Compared it to my Yamoto Scientific vacuum pump. Mine was a little faster, but both pulled down to 1000 microns without any trouble.

1000 microns is not all that good . 200 is good

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[fitter30]

Always use pump oil for refrigeration the difference in oils are the vapor pressure and if the pump hasn't been used in a while change oil for best performance.

Sent from my KFDOWI using Tapatalk

 

[engineer2]

1000 microns is not all that good . 200 is good

I know. I think I had a leaky charging adapter. System had held pressure before and checked out OK with my good leak checker after the compressor change. Usually I try to get below 100 and pump it down for a few hours. It was a city beater, so we didn't care. When we were done, center vent temp was 40°F with 80°F ambient, so it was good enough for now.

 

[Bretny]

I bought a $140 134a gauge set and vac pump about 5 yrs ago. It's worked well and I even used the pump on my house system when I installed it.

 

[jjrbus]

After doing tons of reading I found that most mini failures are due to faulty install. So I added a $300 Daikin mini split install kit and a $100 CPS micron gauge to my auto AC tools. Mini's with 410a are running in the 600 psi range, good enough is not good enough. Needs to be right.

A poor install may not show up instantly may take 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 years, but will come back to bite.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, I suggest you ask someone if they would like to make a little "side money".

 

[slow]

for the vacuum pump, check your local autoparts store. Many rent them, well you buy it and get your money back when you are done.

I bought a Robinair 15600 on craiglist for $100 many years ago, works well. I have loaned it to many friends over the years.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I used a new-ish HF vacuum pump this past weekend. It was the 2.5 cfm model. Compared it to my Yamoto Scientific vacuum pump. Mine was a little faster, but both pulled down to 1000 microns without any trouble.

1000 microns is not all that good . 200 is good

Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

1000 microns won't meet any HVAC factory spec I'm aware of. 750 used to be the bare "minimum". 1000 microns is flat out terrible for scientific equipment.

Tommy

 

[engineer2]

1000 microns is flat out terrible for scientific equipment.

As said in a previous post, it was a leaky fitting, not the pump. Confirmed by switching pumps. 500 microns is the bare minimum I use. Usually I get a system below 200. I wanted to fix the leak and wait, the but the owner didn't. If I get a chance, l order some fresh fittings and see how low it will go.

 

[jjrbus]

I don't know about renting pump and gauges from parts stores. After years of seeing DIY car work would be afraid of what someone may have done with gauges and pump!

 

[LS6 Tommy]

As said in a previous post, it was a leaky fitting, not the pump. Confirmed by switching pumps. 500 microns is the bare minimum I use. Usually I get a system below 200. I wanted to fix the leak and wait, the but the owner didn't. If I get a chance, l order some fresh fittings and see how low it will go.

I didn't catch that post. Sorry!

Tommy

 

[slow]

I don't know about renting pump and gauges from parts stores. After years of seeing DIY car work would be afraid of what someone may have done with gauges and pump!

fair statement, last set I a friend "rented" was a brand new set off the shelf, never been used and still wrapped in plastic, but I can certainly agree with the fear.