Folks,

I'm mocking up my A/C condenser mount on top of the v-mount radiator that I recently purchased. Believe it or not, I'm not sure 'which end is up'. My thought is that the larger tube/orifice from the condenser should be at the bottom while the smaller diameter (high pressure?) connector should be at the top? Can someone study the photo and confirm (in the photo, the radiator is oriented such that the top is at the top of the page).

Thanks in advance,


Aaron

 

The condenser is all high pressure. The big tube is vapor in, the little tube is liquid out.

 

A condensor condenses.... which is a process aided by gravity, and therefore orientation does matter. The compressor outlet, which is a high pressure vapor (usually the larger line), feeds into the the TOP side. Condensed liquid refrigerant is taken from the bottom, usually a smaller line, that will feed the sight glass and receiver-dryer unit.

If you reverse these lines (as is sometimes done for v-mounts), you will lose substantial system capacity as a result of uncondensed refrigerant and loss of expansion valve capacity.

 

Thanks for the info guys - good call on the condenser being high pressure across...If it wasn't, then how could the fluid be expected to evaporate and cool in the evaporator?