Compressor Facts and Troubleshooting (Don Gillis / Trevor Matthews)

Don Gillis and Trevor Matthews from Emerson do a deep dive into compressor facts and troubleshooting. They primarily focus on educating attendees about Emerson's Copeland compressor line and using Emerson's resources for troubleshooting.
When troubleshooting compressors, Emerson's mobile apps are some of the best tools you can have in your arsenal. Those apps include the AE Bulletins, Copeland Mobile, HVACR Fault Finder, and White-Rodgers Mobile. These apps contain information about compressors and controls, and they even have troubleshooting maps and tools to assist you with diagnosis in the field.
The Copeland Mobile Lab is a database for all Copeland compressors, and its mobile app can direct you to a wide range of facts, including weight, dimensions, oil, winding resistance, etc., based on the compressor model number and serial number. The app also comes with a calculator that allows you to enter the operating conditions and see how the capacitor, current, and discharge temperature change based on the evaporator and condenser temperatures. You can also view the part numbers for accessories.
The AE Bulletins app contains all of the Application Engineering bulletins and notifies users of updates to the bulletins over time. You can also search for bulletins with keywords and access bulletins based on the equipment type (divided into specific sections for compressors, condensers, accessories, etc.). The app also contains an FAQ page and information about retrofit procedures and appropriate refrigerants and oils for each compressor.
Semi-hermetic Copeland compressors come in two main varieties: Copelametic and Discus. Copelametic (Reed) compressors may be replaced with Discus compressors, but the opposite isn't true. Both types have accessible construction, four-pole motors, cast-iron bodies, and positive displacement oil pumps. However, the oil cup and flinger may vary by individual model. These compressors use reciprocating pistons to compress the vapor refrigerant. Valve plates differ between Copelametic and Discus compressors, with the latter being less prone to overheating. Discus compressors also have minimal reexpansion and come in digital varieties to reduce cycling, making them very efficient.
Many Copelametic (Reed) compressors are air-cooled; air passes over the compressor body to keep the compressor cool. On the other hand, water-cooled compressors use a water jacket to cool the compressor (but these can be replaced with air-cooled compressors). Refrigerant-cooled compressors rely on suction gas to prevent overheating. Compressors may come with a deep sump or a flat bottom. Discus compressors may also come in short-head or tall-head models and can be adapted for the other head size.
Copeland also manufactures scroll compressors for medium and low-temp applications. These Scroll compressors have two main parts: a fixed scroll and an orbital scroll. The orbital scroll oscillates and compresses the gas, and the compliant scroll design allows the scroll to be a bit more tolerant of liquid. These compressors also have a floating seal and motor protection. Copeland has developed a two-stage scroll and a digital scroll, which allow for modulation to match loads more accurately.
You can add VFDs to any fixed scroll or Discus compressor to achieve the capacity of variable-speed systems. Copeland also carries variable-speed scroll compressors.
Compressors generally fail more often due to mechanical reasons than electrical, though many people assume the opposite. Overheating, floodback, contamination, slugging, and flooded starts are the main mechanical causes of failure. These may result in damage to the bearings or pistons, which ultimately leads to mechanical failure. Finding the superheat and following the manufacturer's guidelines can help you prevent floodback, which washes out the oil. Check for oil foaming and other signs of wear, too. You can prevent flooded starts with crankcase heaters. Oil slugging can also happen due to severe migration, floodback, or uncontrolled oil return, and it may lead to broken wrist pins, pistons, and rods. Overheating may happen due to excessive refrigerant temperatures or oil loss, and you can prevent it by maintaining the charge and compression ratio (or using additional cooling when required). To prevent contamination, pull deep vacuums and clean the system out ENTIRELY after a burnout.
Trevor and Don also cover:
Emerson brands, divisions, and technologies
Wholesaler relationships
Oil lubrication
Valve plate configuration
Reed-to-Discus compressor replacements
Miscellaneous compressor valves
Axial vs. radial compliance
Appropriate digital compressor applications
Replacement practices
Setting low-pressure controls
Accumulators
Blow by test
CoreSense and Centronics
Demand cooling
Oil sight glasses and safeties
Copper plating
Troubleshooting questions
Read all the tech tips, take the quizzes, and find our handy calculators at www.hvacrschool.com/

[@chriscooley906]

THANKS FOR SHARING BRYAN REALLY GREAT STUFF 👍👍

[@chriscooley906]

I would like to thank you again for your willingness to share your knowledge, I wish the companies I worked for were as willing to pony up to train and bring in outside experts to hammer home the facts about the equipment we are looking at everyday, I hope your guys know how lucky they are and what a tremendous advantage this gives them moving forward. Your one in a million Bryan.

[@bricocrico9385]

@@chriscooley906😊

[@mthimkhulu8945]

9​@@chriscooley906

[@poppz-11]

Went to bed watching mechanic videos, woke up 2 hours into this, I love the yt algorithm 😂🤣

[@thealeons3179]

I am a test and service technician for a chiller manufacturer Fluid Chillers Inc. The information in this presentation was superb and extremely vital for a very complicated process. This week I will be replacing a 35-ton scroll that was a burnout with a locked rotor. This will be the 3rd compressor on this unit. It is a 410A outdoor air cooled Chiller with fan cycling switches on the condenser fan, So in low ambient conditions my pressures are all over the place. Our new Chillers have variable speed condenser fans. And I'm pushing hardcore for electronic expansion valves and vfds on the compressors.

[@tonymckay9031]

I let Trevor Matthews know that the class evolved well and I was interested. Thanks guys!

[@nycityzen]

Thanks. Really appreciate these in-depth videos.

[@RdkDhrn-do2bt]

Man... I just woke up from a deep sleep and I'm here somehow. Running at 3 hours and I just love his energy.

[@RefrigerationMentor]

Thanks @RdkDhrn-do2bt

[@VictorMunoz-hu5rz]

Super appreciate to have this to reference. It'll be reviewed for long while. Great presentation.

[@kevinrollins9653]

Sat in on this class great info !

[@maxdominate2481]

I'm in a totally different industry. I found this channel accidently. I wanted to say that I appreciate that there is a curriculum for HVAC technicians which uses searchable databases so that you can help your clients more efficiently.

[@Safi.00197]

Thank you so much Trevor 👍

[@rcinfla9017]

Good presentation. You did not mention much about system oil circulation on variable capacity compressors. I am particularly concerned about running a variable speed compressor for too long a period at low speed having a negative impact on system oil circulation.

[@resurgensix]

Señor Orr, my fine fellow Scotsman, 'pure class' you from bringing Trevor Matthews content to us! Just soaking it all in.

[@randyball7882]

Thanks I have learned a lot these videos were helpful look forward to watching more

[@tazzman2288]

Brian, Your a God send thank you for all you do for us and this trade brother

[@mrcrux213]

Thank you for this excellent opportunity to learn more . Excellent class 👏 👌 👍 🙌 😀

[@RefrigerationMentor]

Thank you @mrcrux213

[@944Ever]

New drinking game, take a shot every time he says "Uhhh".

[@ElvysTejada]

Thank you Bryan, Good info!

[@coldfinger459sub0]

If you have two or three years on the field and you’re starting to replace compressors. Will you have 20+ years and you have been replacing compressors. Highly recommend you taking Trevor Matthews compressor course. It will get you doing things you forgot you were supposed to do in the first place . Bring you up to the next level . Get you on track if you never knew how to do it right in the first place And for those who are you who are really good and kind of drifted off track and got a little lazy and overconfident . Put you back on track . . 👍

[@rahmanyalshugaa3556]

Great information thank you

[@mohamedbangura5656]

I like the lectures it's very much educative

[@jeffb8437]

Great information

[@babyboy6979]

Thanku so much sir for the nice info

[@fernandocoelho7147]

Exelente treinamento da Frigocenter , muito simples mas bem colocado os conceitos , parabnes

[@qpqp620]

went to bed watching ammunition reloadings, woke up 6 hours into this :D

[@lchillos]

exelente charla

[@abdulhvac2395]

Thank you very much . I will sign up

[@arpitadaschakraborty]

This is a very good video. So I like this video very much. Thank you for sharing this video

[@freddiesax]

Thank for the information

[@toyinorodare4072]

When is the next class for this type of training ? I want to attend in person

[@trebrehenuf]

"" you gotttathinnk" no truer words were ever spoken

[@landolorean51]

Videos like this are incredible, you are doing a real service for all us techs out here👍🏻

[@RefrigerationMentor]

We appreciate that

[@StokeKoiAdventures]

You new grow on is going look the bizz. Like the idea of two returns coming from the bakki side. , you never stop always busy. 🙏😊

[@williamswan7779]

GOOD GOOD STUFF

[@rakseen456]

Hi good day. I working on a 12k btu split today and came across something odd. The compressor hums for a second but won't start. The capacitor is new and I also hooked up a hard start kit but still won't start. I checked the windings but everything reads good . Any thoughts on this Great videos tho. I always check out your videos when I'm in a jam . I'm an independent contractor, got certified but as always there's always more to learn everyday.

[@georgekolos5255]

Get a packaged "window" unit instead

[@MrTom38ncalif]

Wow, super informative... the information is worth a ton . How can I help contribute to your channel, or perhaps can I send some $$ to a charity that helps fellow HVAC folks?

[@olegdovbush7080]

GREAT!

[@seekykhan5393]

How would you test for a faulty oil regulator? That is if its over feeding or underfeeding, stuck open or stuck closed or bleeding by.

[@danielblow7451]

replace it with a working regulator, check pressure and diagnose. sort of works like a pressure regulator on a water well.

[@HuidaPackMachinery]

Great!

[@frank7649]

hmmm, this is some pretty compelling information......

[@victoryfirst2878]

NIce fella

[@abdolkarimmehrparvar6583]

what's difference between low temp and high temp compressor?

[@danielblow7451]

different applications

[@lavishnerd]

BuffaloJeans or Abercrombie😂😂😂 That table is 🔥🔥🔥 wish I had that!

[@gwardiyaimbentortv]

Thank you idol for sharing Im watching and done subscribe

[@royhurdle1442]

Its not just about us, its about all the species we share this planet with. We need to do better. 🐢

[@justincagle7455]

The video could have been shortened by 3hrs if you took out all the ahhh's 😂.

[@seekykhan5393]

What is the impact of a faulty non return valve on a discharge pipe on one compressor on a rack of semi hermatic compressors

[@danielblow7451]

simply put, the pressure has to go somewhere...boom, or pow, bang. relief valve, pop-off valve, pressure relief valve depending on the nature of the application. pressure controlled regulator, moisture, heated moisture, vapor, chemically induced vapor/sealed leaking pressure. The pressure has to go somewhere...in contained environments, a collector, atmospherically dissipated boiler, such as in eliminating waste coolant...on and on and on. NO didn't listen to the whole presentation, couldn't get through it. i listened to 12 minutes of uh...knowledgeable presenter? maybe. couldnt tell you

[@danielblow7451]

key term, compressor

[@billywilliams6853]

Trevor each time you say uuuhhh, I am taking a shot of whiskey. One minute into this video, I am in a ambulance and being rushed to the hospital, uuuhhhh.

[@packrat76]

That's brilliant.

[@youknowwhatdaysayinhoe5646]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@peterchristiaen1748]

I'm a teacher Refrigeration in evening classes for future techs.. any possibility sharing this presentation please?

[@HVACS]

Feel free to use any of our resources to help others. Thanks!

[@MarvinFlores-bq3uf]

How can I follow you if I don’t have instagram?

[@samcanada2346]

Hi hvac red seal exam papers pls

[@Diamond-D]

I MADE A MILLION PARTS FOR YOU>

[@user-un5my5bw4j]

Couldnt take the uhhhh very long had to next it

[@joseocampo7517]

If not then I want to know how to do it come in handy when it rains

[@danielblow7451]

hazmat suit and umbrella

[@gassanali8667]

👍🏻👍🏽👍🏾

[@gmsubzeropsp]

this seems really informative to someone who's looking to get into HVAC. But can i please suggest a public speaking course? All the Uh's is distracting.

[@davec4818]

I want to watch. But I can’t.

[@thealeons3179]

If you understood how vital, and hard to obtain, the information that Trevor is providing, his little flaws of speaking wouldn't bother you in the slightest.

[@gmsubzeropsp]

I do understand all the work and understanding that goes into it. But the uhs and distractions make it really hard to get into the info and believe he's really confident in what he's saying. It speaks of nervousness which doesn't lend to credibility.

[@thealeons3179]

@@gmsubzeropsp I feel like maybe you are in the wrong trade. Maybe you should be a psychologist.

[@tuckertruckerpatriot312]

Sorry, I had to leave without learning anything but the buy annoying the hell out of me saying Uh constantly. He is probably a College graduate no doubt. Good luck with the next patron

[@buntnik]

Training by firing questions. Drill Sargent style…

[@judyyasin2164]

Can u help me?

[@joseocampo7517]

Cloud be right he blocked the key hold when windows go up

[@etng2866]

Hi there

[@michealpatrick6217]

The uhhhhh was too much, I could only take about 4 minutes of the video before moving on.

[@shelltoe_soul]

It was really bad at the beginning but he hits his stride after a few minutes and it's nowhere near as bad.

[@user-ob3xn8vr8c]

You got few really think he's going to go through the whole video uhhhhh

[@fry285]

Your fucking stupid comment got me all twisted up. Made me type a stupid comment. You suck as a tech get a new career.

[@dioncurtiscurtis3188]

Lmao I so understand where you’re coming from, but by all means if you can explain it any smoother.. there’s so much he probably wants to fit in but can’t , cuz it’ll eat up time.

[@Attest411]

Grow shall you not… the mind is weak… porn has made you so

[@danielblow7451]

Why as a higher-up supervisor they would allow a presenter to be hung up on speech impediments for such a useful topic, is simply egregious. How can we educate our up and coming students and expositors to be fluent and to the point, if we allow the instructors to exhibit such distracting deliveries...??? Counseling and awareness of the problem, will help... I taught middle school reading. This is a clear example of people spending too much time trying to decode what the presenter is saying that they miss the whole point of the presentation...

[@donnierobertson3088]

Ok

[@salvadormoreno-pantoja7605]

Patrick Star uuuuuuhhhhhhhhhh

[@codyvanhouten4658]

It was difficult watching every other word was ahhhhhhhhh I don’t know why but I could only make it to the ahhhhhh training schedules

[@GrumblesM4]

Cody Vanhouten ahhhhh well so ahhhhh and ahhhh ya know ahhhhhh!

[@shawnrender6935]

😂

[@jamescalvert908]

😅

[@tracygilkey8728]

Ban

[@moriartyvonfacesmasher3210]

I'm in the industry. I've met this guy and he's terrible. This is NOT an educational seminar....it's a sales pitch.

[@Sonex1542]

Pure marketing horse and pony show.

[@sdragger12]

uh

[@scottmuri63]

uhhhhhhhhh.....ummmmm.....uhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[@rmkdunn]

Ahh you lost me at ahh

[@user-sr6tu4ob1l]

Omg quit saying "Uhhh" UHHHH UHHHH

[@scottgyver2745]

i can't stand that guys condescending tone.

[@Sonex1542]

Digital Compressor... What a crock of marketing bullsh#t. Should have called it Quantum Compressor for other shits and giggles.

[@eddeady589]

Too many "Ums and Uhs". I'm sure you know your stuff but I just can't listen

[@juanresendiz56jr]

Ahhhhhhhh!! And mmmmm!! Work on your speech! That’s ridiculous!!!

[@HVACS]

Be nice. It’s better.

[@frankroper3274]

A little less about you and get on with the show!

[@buntnik]

Annoying! Ahh. Ahhh. Ahhh. Why are you saying ahhh so much! If youre going to be in this business you MUST get rid of the ahhh!

[@danielblow7451]

I can't keep up with, uh what he is saying, uh because he says uhhhhhhh uhhhh uhhhh every 4th word...uh...I would never spend 5 minutes uhh in a presentation or course, uhhh where the presenter, uhh cant keep a solid thought...uh what was i saying?