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Boat Forum / Building / September 2003Dehumidifier Compressor for Vacuum Bagging
I have an old dehumidifier that makes all the right noises, but does not cause either of the outgoing or ingoing tubes to get hot or cold. Perhaps the compressor is shot, or perhaps the (presumably) freon has escaped. If the latter case, I am contemplating cutting the tubes between the compressor and the radiator coils, then having the compressor available for the day I finally try a vacuum bagging. Is there a simple, environmentally responsible way to determine if the compressor is shot, or if the freon has escaped? kk You can take it to an HVAC shop and have it drained of refrigerant for a few bucks or possibly the white goods recycling shed at your city dump and have it done for free but more important, those hermetically sealed compressors rely on oil circulated with the refrigerant for lubrication. I have not had much luck with them. It may work for a few hours as a vacuum pump for a few hours but in my experience it will freze up fairly quickly. Definitely not long enough for more than one or two bags of slower set laminating resin. I did get my third one to last a bit longer by spraying some WD40 into the intake every couple of hours but it eventually froze up > I have an old dehumidifier that makes all the right noises, but does not > cause either of the outgoing or ingoing tubes to get hot or cold. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > compressor is shot, or if the freon has escaped? > kk  SignatureGlenn Ashmore I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com >those hermetically sealed > compressors rely on oil circulated with the refrigerant for lubrication. > I have not had much luck with them. It may work for a few hours as a > vacuum pump for a few hours but in my experience it will freze up fairly > quickly. I have made some experiences with recicling sealed compressors in the past. Used as vacuum pump the compressore get hot in short time, you must cool it, use a fan... Before the use let it to "drink" a glass of oil and put a small tank in at the exaust to recover the oil (else it will flood your shop...) If you cool it and mantain the oil level it will last for reasonably long time... only my two cents... Paolo >/// those hermetically sealed >compressors rely on oil circulated with the refrigerant for lubrication. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >I did get my third one to last a bit longer by spraying some WD40 into >the intake every couple of hours but it eventually froze up What he said, with knobs on.... Brian W > Is there a simple, environmentally responsible way to determine if the > compressor is shot, or if the freon has escaped? Simple and environmentally responsible are mutually exclusive for the do-it-yourselfer who lacks refrigeration tools and training. If the unit uses a small hermetic compressor odds are the compressor is worn out but the refrigerant remains. Rick To test the motor, you will need a Multimeter. There are 3 terminals on the outside of the motor. 1. check to see that none ohm out 0 to ground. 2. measure the resistance brom each terminal to the next. You will end up with 3 different readings of which the two smaller should add-up close to the value of the 3rd, if the motor is good. If the motor runs, touch your hand to the tubing both leaving & entering the compressor, one should get pretty gosh-dern warm (200 degrees +), the other should be cool. Little difference means that the coolant may have leaked away. Dennis(Gauges are handy to have around) > I have an old dehumidifier that makes all the right noises, but does not > cause either of the outgoing or ingoing tubes to get hot or cold. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > compressor is shot, or if the freon has escaped? > kk Many thanx to all who offered advice. Given that, "dehumidifier makes all the right noises", and that the Recycle guy agreed with the posting that, "loss of freon is much less likely than compressor failure", I gave up on this idea, and paid to have unit decommissioned. kk > To test the motor, you will need a Multimeter. There are 3 terminals on the > outside of the motor. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > compressor is shot, or if the freon has escaped? > > kk |
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