<VV> A/C Adventures Continue

[shortle]

Bill, You should not be charging your A/C system if you don't know the difference between the high and low sides of the system. People can get badly hurt or even killed by doing what you did. You allowed high side pressure to enter the small can of refrigerant which can become a bomb spewing shrapnel. With that being said, you ALWAYS charge thru the low side if you are running the system. The low side (also called the suction side) is low pressure and the compressor actually will suck the refrigerant out of the can. I certainly hope you wear eye protection when working with refrigerants. I know people have been blinded by allowing the refrigerant to come into contact with their eyes. Also, the '66 Corvair shop manual shows the service hoses (going to your gauges) running thru a hole at the right rear of the car. The reason the manual says to remove a reverse lite assembly and then lower the deck lid is so all the cooling air is forced to go thru the condensor instead of bypassing it. This is so the high pressure side does not build too much pressure which can damage the compressor, cause (weak) components/hoses to explode, as well as put too much of a load on the compressor. There are a few simple procedures to follow which will keep you safe as well as not damage your car. I'll list them sort of in order of importance.
1. Always wear eye protection when working with refrigerants. (No ifs, ands, or buts).
2. Always charge thru the low side (suction side). The low side ALWAYS is the bigger hose. The high side ALWAYS goes from the compressor to the condensor. The muffler is used to help reduce noise of the system.
3. Never overcharge the system. Only use the correct quantity the manufacturer calls for. 
Following these simple rules you have a much better chance of being safe and cool when drivng your car.
Oh by the way, these 3 basics apply to just about every car ever made. I look forward to meeting you and seeing your (cool) car in Sturbridge in a couple of months.
Timothy Shortle in Durango Colorado 81301
Liscenced A/C service technician, recertified ASE Master Automobile Technician 


-----Original Message-----
>From: "Bill H." <gojoe283 at yahoo.com>
>Sent: May 21, 2012 7:27 PM
>To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Subject: <VV> A/C Adventures Continue
>
>                                                                 B"H
>The Corvair chassis shop manual shows the low side of the A/C compressor as the one that does NOT have the muffler on it, nor does it go directly to the condenser.  That's the high side.
>So I hooked up the charging hose to that port, let 'er rip again, and this time she took the refrigerant without a problem.
>So now the system blows nice and cold, I still don't know what the heck that explosion was the shook the neighborhood, but the system seems to work fine, so I'll run it for the time being and see if there are any leaks or residual damage (G-d forbid!).
>Best regards from rain-soaked (again)  New York...Bill Hershkowitz
>
> _______________________________________________
>This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are the property
>of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
>This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, http://www.corvair.org/
>Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
>Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs 
> _______________________________________________