What is the largest full charge on which system-dependent recovery equipment may be used, unless it is a permanently attached pump-out unit?
It is against the rule on any appliance with a full charge of more than 15 pounds, unless the equipment is permanently attached to the appliance as a pump-out unit.
- 5 pounds
- 50 pounds
- 200 pounds
- 15 poundsCorrect answer
Why “15 pounds” is correct
System-dependent equipment relies on the appliance's own compressor or pressure. It may not be used on appliances with a full charge of more than 15 pounds unless it is permanently attached as a pump-out unit.
Source: 40 CFR 82.156(e)
Why the other answers are wrong
- 5 pounds — 5 pounds is the small-appliance limit, not the system-dependent limit.
- 50 pounds — 50 pounds is the leak repair threshold under Part 82.
- 200 pounds — 200 pounds splits rows of Table 1; it is not the system-dependent limit.
The source, word for word
System-dependent equipment may not be used with appliances with a full charge of more than 15 pounds of refrigerant, unless the system-dependent equipment is permanently attached to the appliance as a pump-out unit.
System-dependent recovery equipment means refrigerant recovery equipment that requires the assistance of components contained in an appliance to remove the refrigerant from the appliance.
How the limit plays out
System-dependent equipment relies on the appliance itself, usually its compressor or internal pressure. Self-contained equipment does not: it removes refrigerant without help from components in the appliance (40 CFR 82.152).
| Appliance | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Small appliance, 5 pounds or less | Yes, it is under the 15-pound limit |
| Full charge of 15 pounds or less | Yes |
| Full charge over 15 pounds | No |
| Full charge over 15 pounds, with a permanently attached pump-out unit | Yes |
Certification still applies
Being allowed to use system-dependent equipment does not change the other duties. It still has to be certified for the refrigerant and appliance type (40 CFR 82.154(b)(2)), and the technician still has to reach the required recovery level. The recovery rules guide lists those levels.
Keep practicing
- EPA refrigerant recovery rules
- Who certifies recovery equipment
- The standard for small-appliance recovery equipment
- EPA 608 Type 2 practice test
- EPA 608 Type 2 mock exam
Unofficial, not affiliated with the EPA or any EPA-approved certifying organization. Questions are original practice written from public EPA material, not real exam questions.