Reftec

[rb extractors]

Here was what I got from Tim at Reftec:

Any new sales of RefTec products will not carry the warranty for use on propanes or butanes. We just can't afford the liability issue.


That was in regards to an inquiry on fixing my handivac along with an inquiry on their pneumatic products. They were kind enough to refund my money and take the unit back.

I do know some, like giddyup, are oiling the bottom crank case to try and extend reliability, but I'm imagining they are using cold traps on the exhaust side to reduce the chances of oil getting back in with their butane.

 

[MEMED]

Dicks

 

[rb extractors]

It sucks, but I understand where they are coming from :/

 

[HighStateToke]

If one were to incur a unit failure due to use with butane/propane, would Reftec need to know what you were using it with necessarily??

 

[rb extractors]

well, I'd imagine they would be able to tell by looking at it or smelling it. HVAC guys rarely experience the failures we are seeing and if they asked for your EPA # and you couldn't provide it, you are kinda screwed.

I was just shocked how quickly the Handivac failed compared to the appion

 

[icdog]

Personally I care more that the unit works and doesn't die quickly then warranty, given that the units aren't designed for the our purpose.

 

[rb extractors]

I'm going to try out a yellow jacket xlt. anybody have experience with them?

 

[Weird]

yellow jacket was highly recommended by someone who uses it religiously

 

[HighStateToke]

well, I'd imagine they would be able to tell by looking at it or smelling it. HVAC guys rarely experience the failures we are seeing and if they asked for your EPA # and you couldn't provide it, you are kinda screwed.

I was just shocked how quickly the Handivac failed compared to the appion

Ah good points RB.

I've had the Yellow Jacket XLT on my mind recently..was doing some research on it last week. Yj makes damn good vacuum pumps, so I want to believe their recovery pumps ars solid as well. Athough for our use, who knows..

 

[HighStateToke]

Personally I care more that the unit works and doesn't die quickly then warranty, given that the units aren't designed for the our purpose.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[rb extractors]

Appion is being finicky about adding more distributors in my area but yellow jacket isn't, so I'm just waiting for final approval.

I'm thinking of trying one out in lieu of the g5

 

[rb extractors]

I know some are running a hot trap ahead of their appion in order to keep from running terps or worse into the g5. I'd think a cold trap would be more effective and couldn't quite grasp the rationale the way it was explained.

 

[HighStateToke]

So it looks like the yj xlt shuts off when 13" of vacuum is reached, will that be a problem?

 

[Rickys bong]

I know some are running a hot trap ahead of their appion

What do you mean by hot trap? A filter dryer?

 

[rb extractors]

they show the schematics so bypassing it wouldn't be hard at all I'd imagine.

The guy at Airclean was talking about it and I guess some people up in GW's next of the woods are doing it. So basically you use something similar to an mt-69 but put it in hot water... like 120 degrees. This would go between the closed loop and your appion/recovery pump.

The rationale for doing this is currently missed on me, but someone else might want to explain what it might acomplish

 

[C'Ya]

rb by hot trap I'd think it would be something like the 38080 or 38087 Ritchie Yellow Jacket TRAP which "removes sealant, dye, lubricant, and other contaminants from refrigerant prior to entering the recovery unit." The mt69 doesn't have a filtering device that I'm aware.
If you can find out more details regarding this hot trap that would be great. I am waiting on a 38080 to arrive and will keep posted on debris & fluid it does catch when I drain it

 

[rb extractors]

that is certainly a cool product, but definitely not what was being told to me. Think an mt-69 run in really hot water before the appion

 

[RegisPhilburn1]

that looks exactly like the oil separator on the inlet side of the caresaver. maybe it could be useful on the outlet side of the caresaver? i wonder what the filter media is, 3a moleseive/activated alumina?

 

[C'Ya]

Here is a picture of replacement element from picture I'd guess activated alumina

 

[OSC401]

From what i gather….

From what i gather….

they show the schematics so bypassing it wouldn't be hard at all I'd imagine.

The guy at Airclean was talking about it and I guess some people up in GW's next of the woods are doing it. So basically you use something similar to an mt-69 but put it in hot water... like 120 degrees. This would go between the closed loop and your appion/recovery pump.

The rationale for doing this is currently missed on me, but someone else might want to explain what it might acomplish

I also spoke with Alan at air clean about this exact same issue after blowing through an appion G5 in about 2 weeks with 60 hours on it . I am on my third rebuild attempt and still not holding vac . As RB said , apparently GW and Carla from skunkpharm have been using "hot traps/ cold traps" between their collection chambers ---and filter dryers for some time. from my understanding , the butane is sent through the coils of the trap, where any residual liquid can be caught and converted into vapor thoroughly , before hitting the filter dryer---pump. this will supposedly prolong the life of the pump. I was unclear on the exact functions of a cold trap though. I have reached out to GW and carla once with no reply , however i am still going to conduct my own experiments using both hot & cold traps& try again . I spoke to a friend at bhogart that claims the use of hot/cold traps will not help. plenty of room for conjecture, interested to see some results . RB have you heard of anyone using the mt-69 specifically?