Advanced Refrigeration Podcast

Flexible Combiners, CO2, SH, Liquid Injection, & Hotgas.. Anti Relief, and Oil Control Episode 542

CO2 Rack Chaos: Superheat Mitigation, Anti-Relief Headaches & Flex Combiner Fails

Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass catch up on a hectic pre-Thanksgiving workload, including MicroThermal programming surges, Walmart K2 case startups with inconsistent wiring, and struggles accessing newer Novar controllers due to password and tech support issues. They then walk through CO2 rack control logic using E3 flexible combiners, focusing on hot gas injection superheat mitigation, debating appropriate superheat cut-in/cut-out and how low superheat worsens oil carryover. They critique an anti-relief strategy near the flash tank for causing flat racks via dry ice sticking valves, and discuss a receiver hot gas injection scheme meant to maintain winter receiver pressure and oil differential, noting an apparent incomplete implementation. They also review overly complex oil separator pulsing logic, relay wear concerns, and argue standardized CO2 suction group control could eliminate much custom programming confusion

Flexible Combiners, CO2, SH, Liquid Injection, & Hotgas.. Anti Relief, and Oil Control Episode 542

CO2 Rack Chaos: Superheat Mitigation, Anti-Relief Headaches & Flex Combiner Fails

Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass catch up on a hectic pre-Thanksgiving workload, including MicroThermal programming surges, Walmart K2 case startups with inconsistent wiring, and struggles accessing newer Novar controllers due to password and tech support issues. They then walk through CO2 rack control logic using E3 flexible combiners, focusing on hot gas injection superheat mitigation, debating appropriate superheat cut-in/cut-out and how low superheat worsens oil carryover. They critique an anti-relief strategy near the flash tank for causing flat racks via dry ice sticking valves, and discuss a receiver hot gas injection scheme meant to maintain winter receiver pressure and oil differential, noting an apparent incomplete implementation. They also review overly complex oil separator pulsing logic, relay wear concerns, and argue standardized CO2 suction group control could eliminate much custom programming confusion

Flexible Combiners In E3, What Are They, And Some Rae Corp Shenanigans Episode 541

Flexible Combiner 101 (E2/E3): Stop Blaming the Flexie for Everything

On the Advanced Refrigeration podcast, Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass start by troubleshooting a Raycorp CO2 skid startup where one pump won’t make differential despite drive and check-valve checks, concluding the pump is likely bad and difficult to replace due to skid framing and serviceability constraints. They then shift to a practical walkthrough of programming Copeland E2/E3/Site Supervisor “flexible combiners,” emphasizing that flexies are open applications and many tasks should use simpler sensor controls instead. They stress labeling inputs/outputs, using E3 tools like duplicate tabs for troubleshooting, lowering update time for testing, and avoiding common syntax/type errors. They demonstrate building a timer, a cut-in/cut-out fan control (including averaging sensors), and a leak-detector shutdown using if statements and network variable targets, recommending the flexible combiner programming supplement as a reference.

Flexible Combiners In E3, What Are They, And Some Rae Corp Shenanigans Episode 541

Flexible Combiner 101 (E2/E3): Stop Blaming the Flexie for Everything

On the Advanced Refrigeration podcast, Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass start by troubleshooting a Raycorp CO2 skid startup where one pump won’t make differential despite drive and check-valve checks, concluding the pump is likely bad and difficult to replace due to skid framing and serviceability constraints. They then shift to a practical walkthrough of programming Copeland E2/E3/Site Supervisor “flexible combiners,” emphasizing that flexies are open applications and many tasks should use simpler sensor controls instead. They stress labeling inputs/outputs, using E3 tools like duplicate tabs for troubleshooting, lowering update time for testing, and avoiding common syntax/type errors. They demonstrate building a timer, a cut-in/cut-out fan control (including averaging sensors), and a leak-detector shutdown using if statements and network variable targets, recommending the flexible combiner programming supplement as a reference.

What Do You Want To Do Tonight Brain, Play With Carel And A Power Outage Episode 540

Target Box Misery, Flooding Charge Math, and CO₂ Controller Menus That Hate You | Advanced Refrigeration Podcast

Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast by venting about end-of-life Target “boxes,” including finding multiple units with low-pressure switches installed on the wrong side of service valves, creating dangerous no-cutout scenarios. Brett describes building and testing a custom flooding-charge calculator using condenser data and discusses oversized condensing units and winter operation while running some quick Bitzer/Copeland-style math for a low-temp R449A freezer. The conversation shifts to CO₂ systems and a Corel compressor controller walkthrough, covering passwords, “mask number” navigation used by tech support, alarm configuration, compressor enable/disable, start types (direct, part-winding, star-delta), equalization valves, device rotation logic, VFD/inverter settings, and transcritical controls for the high-pressure valve and receiver/BGV parameters, including pre-positioning, proportional/integral behavior, and safety limits.

What Do You Want To Do Tonight Brain, Play With Carel And A Power Outage Episode 540

Target Box Misery, Flooding Charge Math, and CO₂ Controller Menus That Hate You | Advanced Refrigeration Podcast

Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast by venting about end-of-life Target “boxes,” including finding multiple units with low-pressure switches installed on the wrong side of service valves, creating dangerous no-cutout scenarios. Brett describes building and testing a custom flooding-charge calculator using condenser data and discusses oversized condensing units and winter operation while running some quick Bitzer/Copeland-style math for a low-temp R449A freezer. The conversation shifts to CO₂ systems and a Corel compressor controller walkthrough, covering passwords, “mask number” navigation used by tech support, alarm configuration, compressor enable/disable, start types (direct, part-winding, star-delta), equalization valves, device rotation logic, VFD/inverter settings, and transcritical controls for the high-pressure valve and receiver/BGV parameters, including pre-positioning, proportional/integral behavior, and safety limits.

Cold Ambient Flooded Condenser, & It's Not Time For Xmas Stuff, Brett's In Nashville Episode 539

Low Ambient Chaos: Headmasters, Flooded Condensers, and Why Your Receiver’s Screaming

On the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compas rant about stores pushing Christmas displays too early, then dive into low-ambient season nuisance calls: low receivers, liquid feed problems, and winter headaches caused by tight holdbacks, bad summer startups, and improperly set ORI/headmaster valves. They discuss standalone case-controller frustrations where settings won’t save and firmware quirks break lights and fans unless defrost times fall between midnight and 3:00 AM. The episode covers troubleshooting smoking-hot receivers and cool condensers from headmaster bypassing, proper flooded-condenser charging using Sporlan charts (and tools like an Excel calculator), and why blindly adding refrigerant can backfire—especially when condenser split/pump-out issues trap liquid. They also warn about fan-splitting controls, uneven condenser piping, rooftop suction lines condensing liquid, and Chicago “fireman’s dump” lines causing additional cold-weather problems.

Cold Ambient Flooded Condenser, & It's Not Time For Xmas Stuff, Brett's In Nashville Episode 539

Low Ambient Chaos: Headmasters, Flooded Condensers, and Why Your Receiver’s Screaming

On the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compas rant about stores pushing Christmas displays too early, then dive into low-ambient season nuisance calls: low receivers, liquid feed problems, and winter headaches caused by tight holdbacks, bad summer startups, and improperly set ORI/headmaster valves. They discuss standalone case-controller frustrations where settings won’t save and firmware quirks break lights and fans unless defrost times fall between midnight and 3:00 AM. The episode covers troubleshooting smoking-hot receivers and cool condensers from headmaster bypassing, proper flooded-condenser charging using Sporlan charts (and tools like an Excel calculator), and why blindly adding refrigerant can backfire—especially when condenser split/pump-out issues trap liquid. They also warn about fan-splitting controls, uneven condenser piping, rooftop suction lines condensing liquid, and Chicago “fireman’s dump” lines causing additional cold-weather problems.

CO₂ Single Condensing Units: Relief Valves, pRack Pain, and Dorin Two‑Stage DiagnosticsBrett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast joking about “pop” in the Midwest before diving into CO₂ single condensing units as Brett teaches in Minnesota and discusses an SCM Frigo unit. They compare common controllers (Carel pRack/mini PAC, Danfoss, and Copeland possibilities), complain about limited tech-friendly navigation and lack of onboard trending, and discuss pulling data via Modbus/BACnet and supervisory options like Boss Mini. Brett reviews relief valve piping after seeing popped reliefs, critiques tight packaging and reliability, and notes issues like overcharging and mismatched evaporator/valve capacity that can empty a sight glass. They walk through SCM Frigo medium-temp piping, internal heat exchange, Carel E2V-C valves, BGV function, and oil system designs, then cover a Dorin two-stage low-temp unit with floating flash tank pressure and shared plenum cooling. Brett demonstrates using Dorin software to estimate expected interstage/flash tank pressure, amperage, and temperatures to diagnose performance without relying on pump-down tests, and points to the web-based version of the tool.

CO₂ Single Condensing Units: Relief Valves, pRack Pain, and Dorin Two‑Stage DiagnosticsBrett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast joking about “pop” in the Midwest before diving into CO₂ single condensing units as Brett teaches in Minnesota and discusses an SCM Frigo unit. They compare common controllers (Carel pRack/mini PAC, Danfoss, and Copeland possibilities), complain about limited tech-friendly navigation and lack of onboard trending, and discuss pulling data via Modbus/BACnet and supervisory options like Boss Mini. Brett reviews relief valve piping after seeing popped reliefs, critiques tight packaging and reliability, and notes issues like overcharging and mismatched evaporator/valve capacity that can empty a sight glass. They walk through SCM Frigo medium-temp piping, internal heat exchange, Carel E2V-C valves, BGV function, and oil system designs, then cover a Dorin two-stage low-temp unit with floating flash tank pressure and shared plenum cooling. Brett demonstrates using Dorin software to estimate expected interstage/flash tank pressure, amperage, and temperatures to diagnose performance without relying on pump-down tests, and points to the web-based version of the tool.