HOT GAS VALVE ANALYSIS
The valve can fail in two positions:
•Valve will not open in the harvest cycle.
•Valve remains open during the freeze cycle.
Valve will not open in the harvest cycle Although the circuit board has initiated a harvest cycle, the evaporator temperature remains unchanged from the freeze cycle.
Valve remains open in the freeze cycle: Symptoms are dependent on the amount of leakage in the freeze cycle. A small amount of leakage will cause increased freeze cycle times. A large amount of leakage will result in no ice produced.
Use the following procedure and table to help determine if a hot gas valve is remaining partially open during the freeze cycle.
1.Wait five minutes into the freeze cycle.
1.Feel the inlet of the hot gas valve(s).
IMPORTANT
Feeling the hot gas valve outlet or across the hot gas valve itself will not work for this comparison. The hot gas valve outlet is on the suction side (cool refrigerant). It may be cool enough to touch even if the valve is leaking.
WARNING
The inlet of the hot gas valve and the compressor discharge line could be hot enough to burn your hand. Just touch them momentarily
2.Feel the compressor discharge line.
3.Compare the temperature of the inlet of the hot gas valves to the temperature of the compressor discharge line.
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