How high may nitrogen pressure go when leak testing the low side of an R-410A system?
Safety · EPA 608 Type II. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Hermetic compressors under vacuum and other high-pressure hazards.
The question
How high may nitrogen pressure go when leak testing the low side of an R-410A system?
- To the full nitrogen cylinder pressure
- To twice the high-side pressure seen in normal operation
- No higher than the test pressure on the nameplateCorrect answer
- To any pressure if a regulator is used
Why “No higher than the test pressure on the nameplate” is correct
The nameplate gives the design or test pressures for the system. Exceeding them can rupture components, so the regulator should be set no higher than the nameplate test pressure.
Source: EPA: Test Topics
Why the other answers are wrong
- To the full nitrogen cylinder pressure — Full cylinder pressure would far exceed what the system can take.
- To twice the high-side pressure seen in normal operation — There is no general rule of twice operating pressure.
- To any pressure if a regulator is used — A regulator only helps if it is set to a safe pressure.
Practice more of this
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