ICON Deep Rotary Vane 2-Stage Vacuum Pump

[turner66]

https://www.harborfreight.com/deep-rotary-vane-2-stage-vacuum-pump-58141.html

This is a new vacuum pump offering from HF/Icon. It has 2 features that i'm not specifically familiar with other than Google search results...

- Isolation Valve
- Gas Ballast Valve

Maybe i'm just stupid... Anybody familiar with these features? Anything I should know?
The specs on this pump look pretty good so I'll likely get one to test it's claimed higher flow rate, better evac times, and better draw down compared to the other unit i have now. Will these 2 features give any additional real world benefits?
This pump is so new, their support couldn't tell me anything because it hadn't been documented yet beyond what is in the manual, and as of yesterday it didn't even have a review published yet.

 

[cgrutt]

Robinair makes pumps with those features I think the valve is just a normal shutoff valve which cuts off the connection between pump and the ac unit. The ballast allows (according to Robinair) moist air to pass through pump and combine with dry air to reduce condensation.

See model 15600 for example here https://www.robinair.com/products/6-cfm-vacuum-pump

 

[turner66]

Thanks, much appreciated!
I should have known to compare it to a good unit with better and more advanced features like a Robinair. It's making more sense now but I now have something I can read more about to gain some additional info as well.

 

[cgrutt]

For what it's worth I bought a vac pump from HF last year and immediately returned it. It was spraying a cloud of oil in the house like a very fine mist. It wasn't the ICON unit though. I bought a 2 stage robinair instead. Not the one with the valve just a straight 2 stage 5 CFM model. It seems to be a much nicer build than HF but I'm not a pro so really don't have much to compare to.

 

[dogdog]

For what it's worth I bought a vac pump from HF last year and immediately returned it. It was spraying a cloud of oil in the house like a very fine mist. It wasn't the ICON unit though. I bought a 2 stage robinair instead. Not the one with the valve just a straight 2 stage 5 CFM model. It seems to be a much nicer build than HF but I'm not a pro so really don't have much to compare to.

I have their 3CFM and 2.5CFM ones those used to be sub $100, they work fine for vacuum chamber or on the VW. There is a fill line on the glass sight gauge I usually don't over fill it.. its been 10 years. I think the new oil cost more than the unit it self now lol.

 

[engineer2]

A nice accessory for AC work is a micron gauge.

 

[turner66]

I have the 2.5 and 3.0 cfm Harbor Freight vac pumps as well. I'm mainly using those now as loaner pumps to friends that know what their doing They have done an ok job for a number of years, but i do change the oil regularly and i agree with you, the stuff is too expensive . I also have the CPS VG200 vac micron gauge and, as you mention, it's a nice to have accessory for getting very accurate vac measurements (especially when i need to test my whole vac pump/fittings/hoses system for leaks independent of the vehicle components). This Icon pump (I just went and picked one up) is intended to further refine/improve the speed/volume/efficiency of my setup over the 3.0 pump. it will get a good test in the next few days as I flush system and replace compressor, drier/accumulator, and orifice tube, add appropriate volume of Pag oil and recharge a diesel truck.