ac condenser pressure test ??

i want to test a condenser prior to ordering a new one.

been all over the net--found some good sites and info, but not the answer

the question is how many psi to hit a condenser with for a leak check??


i am sure above 90 and i did see as high as 150 mentioned--i can't generate over 120 with my compressor


trying to cheep cheep here and no need to throw money at it

They used to test the r22 coils at 500# The new 410a coils will be more. I bet a r12 coil will take 300 just fine

Sounds like something you need to take it to an ac shop for.

yep--that is indeedie what it sounds like---probably cost more to get it checked than to spring for a new one--drat

JD, we fill the system with nitrogen at 250 psi. Dish soap and water in an old squirt bottle is our high tech leak detector. Nitrogen works best because it doesn't leave any moisture in the system and bacause it's an inert gas, won't react with any form of refridgerant.

good info Clay--thanks---do u have any ideas regarding sealing for test---fittings or hoses and clamps????

Nitrogen dehydrates what ever it is in. We used it to check new homes with the ducts and furn/ coil and ducts. Run the lineset outside thru the studs weld a shrader valve in it and charge it to 100#. Nitrogen pressure stays the same at most any temp. When the house was finished we'd come back, grill it out and set the cond. When we put the guages on it to release the nitrogen we would know if we needed to look for a leak as in a f----- sheet rock nail

Admin wrote:good info Clay--thanks---do u have any ideas regarding sealing for test---fittings or hoses and clamps????

JD I've never tried to test components seperately. Call a couple shops and see what they would charge you to pressurize the system then you can do the squirt bottle routine yourself.

thanks Clay----it figures that i would come up with a "never been done b4"--i called the radiator places--no can do--best advice on that was--look for oily leaks on said condenser--so i will and then see what happens--thanks again--i have the goodies to pressurize system, being stingy with the freon--i already know that the compressor,orifice tube and accumulator need replaced and was/are trying to save a tear down--lazy, right???