What did you do at work today?

clrussell

pro-procrastinator
Sep 23, 2013
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Hey Corbin! How have you been old friend? Its good to see a few familiar faces around here. I am actually surprised to see you still on here.


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I drop in occasionally. Don’t own a diesel anymore. Barely want to see one ?
 

2004LB7

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 15, 2010
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Been working on this crusty indoor pool room dehumidifier. Hard to find anyone who knows how to do anything on them so I end up doing most repairs on them in my hotels.

This particular unit was diagnosed with a bad control module by the manufacturer's tech. After $2k in parts and it's still not working. I decided to pull the control board and probe the back side with my meter. Found no power to the controller module. Well of course a new one won't fix the issue if there is no power making it to the module. Found a bad inductor that had no continuity. Fixed that and the unit cam alive. I bet the old module wasn't bad and they had us replace it at a large expensive. 😠

The unit was also very low on refrigerant. Spend a bunch of time trying to find it. Ended up with nothing. Hopping it was a very small leak and a little dye might make it findable. Put dye in and 25lbs of R410A.

Unit was running great. Humidity came down quickly and room temperature was good. Then I get a call Saturday from the on site guy. Pretty green and doesn't know too much. Especially about HVAC. But smart and takes instructions well. States that the unit is off and the code is low suction pressure. Walk him through the use of the UV light to find the leak. He calls back a few minutes later. On of the tubes on the side of the evap coil blew a hole and was spraying refrigerant how pretty good.

Now I have the fun of patching that and refilling the unit with more refrigerant. Unfortunately I am almost out and need to purchase more R410A. This unit had given us so much trouble and it's only 4 years old.

Hopefully I can teach the new guy to properly maintain this unit and keep it running properly


This is the control module on the board that they made us pay $900 for that didn't fix the issue. These things are only about $100 new. But their custom software they preload on it is why it's so expensive. I doubt the old one was bad with the lack of power making it to the module
IMG_20260122_092601-01.jpeg


This is the control board that had the bad power line I had to fix that the manufacturer tech miss diagnosed. Look closely and you can see the module lower center
IMG_20260122_162145-01.jpeg

This is the rusting part of unit. Takes just shy of 50lbs. of R410A.
IMG_20260122_161939-01.jpeg

My time will probably be tied up with this unit for the next two weeks. As I patch, vacuum, leak test, recharge and test it all over again
 

1FastBrick

Well-known member
Dec 1, 2016
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Junkyard
Hiw does one safely patch a tube on something like that? Do you just sweet a new tube in place or do they make short patch that you cut and install?
 

2004LB7

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 15, 2010
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Since it's on the macaroni tubes on the end of the coil. I'll probably have to careful clean it up and braze the hole shut.

There is very little space to reach it. Going to be a fun repair. Looks like a bunch of ice formed around the hole. Must have leaked fast enough that it froze the moisture around it.
media-1769407245781-Jan_24_2026_9_10_AM-01.jpeg
 

2004LB7

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 15, 2010
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Brazed the hole shut this afternoon and pressurized the system. I'll check it tomorrow to see of it holds. Bubble teat was good. Then I'll pull a vacuum and hold that over night too
 

2004LB7

Super Moderator
Staff member
Dec 15, 2010
8,551
3,058
113
Norcal
Brazed the hole shut this afternoon and pressurized the system. I'll check it tomorrow to see of it holds. Bubble teat was good. Then I'll pull a vacuum and hold that over night too
Recharged the unit last night. 48lbs of R410A. Hopefully we get more than 3 days out of this one before it blows another hole. As of this morning, running good and keeping humidity and temperature in check. No codes 🤞