FI Interchiller Install w/Aftermarket front bumper

[HVACog]

According to the chart , around 65 ambient

30 lowside by 140 hs

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

Looks like standing pressure. Is the compressor on ?

What #s are you paying attention to? Which ring of #s matters considering they are being hooked to a R-1234 system with R-1234 refrigerant

Both gauges were hooked up while the truck was running and the AC compressor on full blast (low temp and max fan and Recirc). Of note, however, it is 57° outside and the engine fan and secondary condenser fan were both running keeping the engine bay very cool.

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

According to the chart , around 65 ambient

30 lowside by 140 hs

Ambient: 57. What #s are u seeing on my gauges?

 

[916Ghost]

Ambient: 57. What #s are u seeing on my gauges?

So it’s the outside number you want to look at which is the psi. Then need to use a pt chart for the refrigerant and will tell you saturation temps. But low is 15 psi and high is 50 psi on the first set of gauges. So 10 degrees low side and about 53 degrees high side temperature

 

[HVACog]

So it’s the outside number you want to look at which is the psi. Then need to use a pt chart for the refrigerant and will tell you saturation temps. But low is 15 psi and high is 50 psi. So 10 degrees low side and about 53 degrees high side temperature View attachment 117989

I didn’t see the first gauge. Reads more clearly. Looks like his charge is pretty much on point

 

[916Ghost]

The second set looks more stabilized and a lil higher pressures. I think you are pretty close might be just a lil low but hard to say with no load on the system. Also not sure how long it was running to stabilize. But guessing it was running longer with the second set as the pressure is slightly higher. The chart I attached is the conversion for your refrigerant. So take the psi and convert it to the temps. Hope this helps!

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

The second set looks more stabilized and a lil higher pressures. I think you are pretty close might be just a lil low but hard to say with no load on the system. Also not sure how long it was running to stabilize. But guessing it was running longer with the second set as the pressure is slightly higher. The chart I attached is the conversion for your refrigerant. So take the psi and convert it to the temps. Hope this helps!

A few follow-ups b/c I'm an AC noob:

• So i dont see a high and low pressure in your chart. Can you dumb it down for me? What range should my low and high pressures be when ambient is approx. 55-57deg ambient?
• By no load on the system what do you mean? I had the truck running, AC button on, max fan speed, Recirc mode, coldest temp setting. Is that not a full load on the system?
• When is the best time to check the AC pressures, e.g., after truck at operating temps/etc? In this instance, my truck had been running for a few minutes but was nowhere near operating temps. I did see the low pressure side drop down quite a bit and then remain constant before I snapped the photos (so maybe the pressures had stabilized?)

Thanks again for all your help

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

I didn’t see the first gauge. Reads more clearly. Looks like his charge is pretty much on point

My low and high pressures look good for the truck running with AC on full blast?

I guess I'm confused b/c ive been using this chart which makes my high side compression look WAY UNDER.

 

[916Ghost]

Ok so yeah I was thinking you low side which is the blue gauge should be around 25-30 psi. So the chart I listed shows the the psi conversion. So take the psi of either the low or high side and it will give you the saturated temps. But I mean no load because you are cooling air that is already cold. So that means you will have no heat transferred in the system which in turn will not increase pressures. Also with the added intercooler you added another evaporator basically which is gonna make the numbers off even more especially since it’s not hot out. I would suggest leaving the intercooler off and heating the cabin as much as possible then turning the ac on and the pressure should go up on both gauges to get you closer to what it should be. Hole that makes sense? If not I can dm you and you can call me.

 

[HVACog]

Ok so yeah I was thinking you low side which is the blue gauge should be around 25-30 psi. So the chart I listed shows the the psi conversion. So take the psi of either the low or high side and it will give you the saturated temps. But I mean no load because you are cooling air that is already cold. So that means you will have no heat transferred in the system which in turn will not increase pressures. Also with the added intercooler you added another evaporator basically which is gonna make the numbers off even more especially since it’s not hot out. I would suggest leaving the intercooler off and heating the cabin as much as possible then turning the ac on and the pressure should go up on both gauges to get you closer to what it should be. Hole that makes sense? If not I can dm you and you can call me.

Hey Ghost,

He said his ambient temp outside is 57. Low low load. According to your chart he should be around 55 psig on liquid pressure.

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

Ok so yeah I was thinking you low side which is the blue gauge should be around 25-30 psi. So the chart I listed shows the the psi conversion. So take the psi of either the low or high side and it will give you the saturated temps. But I mean no load because you are cooling air that is already cold. So that means you will have no heat transferred in the system which in turn will not increase pressures. Also with the added intercooler you added another evaporator basically which is gonna make the numbers off even more especially since it’s not hot out. I would suggest leaving the intercooler off and heating the cabin as much as possible then turning the ac on and the pressure should go up on both gauges to get you closer to what it should be. Hole that makes sense? If not I can dm you and you can call me.

Ok im undersatnding the load concept now. Agreed 25-30psi on the low would be good but what should my high side be at that ambient? I was speculating it should be around 100 based on the chart i uploaded but that's just a layman's guess. Is my high side pressure of 75-80psi within acceptable range for a 55-57deg ambient and no load on the system? Are you still thinking i may be a bit low on refrigerant?

I'm going to check AC pressures again on the hottest day of this week, after my truck gets to operating temp, hood closed, 2ndary condenser fan off, heat all the way up, etc., and see what they pressures look like when I flip it back to max AC and report back. Should i block my engine fan too? I've cut a piece of yoga mat for that purpose.

 

[916Ghost]

Ok im undersatnding the load concept now. Agreed 25-30psi on the low would be good but what should my high side be at that ambient? I was speculating it should be around 100 based on the chart i uploaded but that's just a layman's guess. Is my high side pressure of 75-80psi within acceptable range for a 55-57deg ambient and no load on the system? Are you still thinking i may be a bit low on refrigerant?

I'm going to check AC pressures again on the hottest day of this week, after my truck gets to operating temp, hood closed, 2ndary condenser fan off, heat all the way up, etc., and see what they pressures look like when I flip it back to max AC and report back. Should i block my engine fan too? I've cut a piece of yoga mat for that purpose.

I think you are pretty close and not much you can do tell it gets hotter tbh. It might be a lil low but no way to really tell given the temps. Also if it has been raining and wet that’s gonna lower everything as well.

 

[916Ghost]

I would leave the charge alone until it gets hotter in the spring tbh

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

I would leave the charge alone until it gets hotter in the spring tbh

OK see you guys don’t think that if I’m running a little low or a little heavy on refrigerant that I’m going to damage anything while the outside temps are low?

 

[916Ghost]

There are safety’s to protect your system. But I would leave it as it is tbh. Better to be a lil low then to much charge tbh.

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

There are safety’s to protect your system. But I would leave it as it is tbh. Better to be a lil low then to much charge tbh.

Ok so ur leaning towards possibly (or more likely) undercharged?. Im good with that for the time being. Really dont wanna wait 3+ months but would rather get it right the next time then Fubar a 2nd time.

 

[916Ghost]

You don’t even have to wait that long. But I would say you good given the conditions.

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

You don’t even have to wait that long. But I would say you good given the conditions.

U da man, thx! Will recheck pressures next time i see mid 70s or higher

 

[FULLTHROTTLERICK]

Hey guys is this sound normal when activating AC via cabin and chiller mode?

 

[916Ghost]

Hey guys is this sound normal when activating AC via cabin and chiller mode?

View attachment 118077

That sound is just the solenoid and the pressure from the refrigerant being switched. Nothing to worry about