Steve Maskery":1pzqqhrr said:
Regarding fridge compressors: Bear in mind when you take it off that you are releasing all sorts of nasties into the atmosphere. Fridges really should be decommissioned properly.
Cheers
Steve
Steve is absolutely right. The operators' laws are quite specific with this stuff.
Unless you know exactly what's in it, the refrigerants may be CFCs (illegal nowadays in any form) or HFCs (likewise in unqualified hands) or more than likely these days, a cocktail of Iospropanes which are flammable.
When not used in the fridge itself or the fridge is a dud, the gases are considered Hazardous Waste and require a license for disposal (honest!) It is an offence in the UK to release them to the atmosphere. Similarly the oils in the compressor are hazardous.
Old fridge compressors can and have been used for evavuation purposes, but as a reciprocating (piston type) compressor, in my experience, will shower the whole issue with an oil mist which is difficult to remove and is known to be carcinogenic.
Added to which the motor's windings are intended to be gas cooled (i.e. with the cold refrigerant gasses). Prolonged use pumping air and eventually nothing when you have removed the air, will probably burn it out within a short time.
Finally, the ultimate vacuum is quite poor with these machines in any case.
That's why the commercial pumps use oil-less vane compressors. No oil and a better vacuum.
I'm sure that there's sombody out there who has done it all, survived to tell the tale and will disagree, but it's an all round bad idea.
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