A method and apparatus are provided for indicating the status of the refrigerant charge in an air conditioning system based upon the degree of subcooling present in the condensed refrigerant system temperature measurements. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system is indicated in real-time on a service panel for access by a field service technician. The status of the refrigerant charge in the system on a time-average basis for a specified period of operation is presented on an indicator panel. The indicator panel includes a first indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is low, a second indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is high, and a third indicator light indicating that the refrigerant charge is correct.

The current invention relates to a system for fast and accurate filling of a two-phase cooling device, comprising a binding device (30) intended to be hermetically mounted onto the cooling device, the binding device (30) comprising a through-hole (32) able to be in fluid contact with the cooling device, said through-hole (32) being extending between a lower surface adapted to the cooling device's surface, and an essentially plane upper surface, the binding device (30) further comprising a gripping head essentially level with said upper surface, allowing for a filling tool (400) to be put in hermetic contact with said upper surface. In a preferred embodiment, the through-hole (32) can be hermetically sealed by forced insertion of a pin-shaped plug (33). The invention also relates to the filling tool (400) to be used in combination with the binding device (30), allowing gas removal from the cooling device, filling of a working fluid, and hermetic sealing of the cooling device. The invention also relates to the high accuracy of filling by using zero dead volume valves. The binding device (30) is notably particularly well adapted for use in an automated process.

A method of measuring the quantity of refrigerant in a refrigeration circuit of a transportation refrigeration unit (TRU). The refrigeration circuit comprises a compressor, a condenser, a receiver, an expansion valve and an evaporator sequentially fluidly connected in a circuit. The method comprises: running the refrigeration circuit in a recovery mode to accumulate the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit within the receiver; and measuring the quantity of the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit once it has accumulated within the receiver.

Disclosed is an improved fish tape and housing. Generally, the disclosed fish tape and housing includes: a modified and scaled fiberglass, metallic or plastic tape designed for accurately measuring the total length of round pipes; a modified tip for the tape that prevents damage to copper piping of a refrigerant piping system; and a housing containing the tape such that the tape is extractable from the housing and wherein the housing includes squeegee that wipes clean the tape as it is extracted from the housing.

A method of installing a split HVAC system includes purging and sealing new refrigerant lines using a pressurized, refrigerant-compatible fluid. A condenser having a service port and an evaporator are provided with at least two tubes configured to form a refrigerant circuit. A first tube is coupled between the condenser and the evaporator. A second tube is coupled to the evaporator while its condenser-side end remains unattached. A fluid container with a valve and a service-port fitting is connected to the condenser service port and opened to drive the pressurized fluid through the tubes. Purging is confirmed by fluid discharge from the unattached end of the second tube, after which that end is connected to the condenser, optionally while discharge continues to maintain positive pressure for leak checking. The container may be partially removed while leaving the fitting attached so residual fluid vents through the service port before final disconnection.