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[slimjim]

As the old saying goes ( make hay when the sun shines ) do what you got to do, we will be waiting to hear from you.

[mlappin]

As the old saying goes ( make hay when the sun shines ) do what you got to do, we will be waiting to hear from you.

Yep, finished 25 acres up Sunday, another 18 acres down now, will mow another 20 in a day or so, then another 15 after that then move from that farm into town.

[EE Farm Boy]

Finally receive all of my parts to begin my install.  After todays of work, the main section with all the necessary components are in around the manifold area.  I have to do the supply side manifold this week and a few other items but here is what I have got so far....  pics are posted http://s1319.photobucket.com/user/jackiejohnson2/library/Portage%20and%20Main%20OWB%20Installation?sort=3&page=1

[EE Farm Boy]

Finished my main loop assembly and beginning to run the secondary loops.  Question for some of you.  I have pressure tested the system and I am losing about 4lbs of pressure going from 30lbs (just before the pressure relief valve pops off) to right at 26lbs over a 24 hour period.  I have crawled all over this assembly spraying with some soapy water looking for bubbles and I can't find anywhere that it is leaking but the air has to be going somewhere.  All my secondary loops are still open as I have not run them yet, but closed off with a ball valve.  Any suggestions? 

Thanks,

[mlappin]

Slip a balloon over the open end of the ball valve and see what happens.

[slimjim]

That's a darn good idea! I would have just plugged the valves as that is more than likely where it is but Great Idea mlappin!

[mlappin]

That's a darn good idea! I would have just plugged the valves as that is more than likely where it is but Great Idea mlappin!

I've done the ballon thing to check the fill ports on tractor AC systems, sometimes a slow enough leak won't make a bubble before the solution runs off.

[slimjim]

AC on a tractor, WOW that's enough to not make me want to throw bales of Hay, I'll drive the tractor, Thanks!!!!!!

[mlappin]

AC on a tractor, WOW that's enough to not make me want to throw bales of Hay, I'll drive the tractor, Thanks!!!!!!

Well of course, done all my own AC repair for years since got tired of paying exorbitant prices to others to only have it half fixed. When I'm done with em it has to be really hot and humid before the compressor doesn't cycle even on the coolest setting.

I quit making idiot bricks years ago and only do round bales now.

[Sloppy_Snood]

I quit making idiot bricks years ago and only do round bales now.

"Idiot bricks".... that is the first time I have ever heard anyone use that term other than me (for square hay bales).  Too funny! 

[EE Farm Boy]

Thanks, well, I tried searching with a stethoscope each joint trying to hear any leaks.  I finally said to heck with it, I hooked the water line up through the backflow preventer regulator and figured at this stage, I could find a drip, cutoff and blow the water out of the lines and repair.  Connected the water, and no leaks, drips etc...anywhere.  I left the water on now for two days and everything is dry.  Now, time to start working on my secondary loops.  Another note on leaks etc... every leak I had to repair was on a threaded connection.  I only had one out of about 20 so I was pretty happy.  I used the permatex automotive high temperature thread sealant on all of my threaded connections.  It takes 24 hours to cure but I highly recommend applying the surface prep spray before and allowing to dry for 5 minutes before apply the thread sealant.  This will cut the cure time down to five minutes and it worked like a champ.  Bought both at Napa made by permatex.   Use this and torque the heck out of the threaded connections and you will not have any leaks. 

[mlappin]

I've had several plumbers and a hydraulics guy tell me most leaks are caused by over tightening threaded connections. I prefer the heavy duty thread tape myself but have never used a thread sealant like you described. Always something that eventually does dry out but never gets hard like you described.

[EE Farm Boy]

Another question:  I have plumbed the hardest loop which goes up into the attic where I have a heat exchanger placed in the forced air duct work.  Have it install and sealed with aluminum tape.  Checked out it today and there was quite a bit of condensation on exchanger and aluminum tape due to the cold air vs warm attic temperature.  Will this decrease the life of the exchanger?  I know by code you have a drain pan with a float switch under the air handler, should I try to replicate the same under the heat exchanger connections?  Just wondering what others have done as if there was ever a problem you would not know until water started coming through the ceiling. 

Thanks,

Jackie

[slimjim]

Sounds like a good idea to me, are you sure it's condensation or perhaps a leak.

[EE Farm Boy]

yes, its definitely condensation.  The AC is running quite a bit with the warm temperature we are having in NC so the heat exchanger is cold from the AC, but the parts of the heat exchanger that is exposed to the attic temps is where the condensation is forming.  Also, along the top of the part of the trunk line where I sealed the heat exchanger with aluminum tape so I am almost certain its condensation since a leak would show up as dripping below.  The condensation is present, but not enough so that water has dripped off of the exchanger on to the wood below.  It's all dry below the connections / heat exchanger.

Thanks