Something just don't seem right!

[Rewired]

Today I saw something that made me wonder... I was at a school where they were putting big window A/C units in some of the classrooms. I noticed that the contractor had 2 of these units sitting in the hallway waiting for installation sitting on its front (condensor DOWN!) Therefore the compressor MUST be on its side right??? I was always told that you are NEVER to flip a compressor on its side or upside down as some of the referigerant oil used to lube the compressor could find its way into the referigerant lines or certan parts of the compressor where it could do damage...

Is this correct or not? I am just trying to cover our butts because if these next pair of units don't start or scatter a compressor they will be saying "the electricians did it"!!!


A.D

[imeduc]

Your right for sure.That is how it should be . But if you let them set for a day are two right sideup as they should be it works out ok they have been ok for us.

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

[HayZee518]

The refrigerant oil actually travels with the gaseous freon through its entire circuit within the tubing. As mentioned above, letting the unit stand upright the way the compressor is orientated, it will settle back into the oil sump in the compressor.

[LazyPup]

You were correct when you stated that HVAC or refrigeration equipment should never be laid down. The problem is that some of the compressor oil may spill over into the condenser and ultimately end up in the capillary tubes. This is not quite as critical on AC because they have fairly large diameter capillary tubes, but Refrigerators use extremely fine diameter capillary tubes and often once oil gets into the tube there is not enough refrigerant pressure to overcome wall resistance and push the oil through. The end result is a clogged capillary tube which is a very expensive repair.

[Rewired]

Thank you all for the information!!!
Hopefully the contractor installing the units didn't try and fire them up right away after installing them, Well at least if he did nothing happened.... I didn't have a trouble call today to that school for "Breaker on the new A/C keeps tripping"....."Unit runs, not cooling, check it out." or "Funny noise from A/C, smoke, flame and molten lava out the vents of the A/C, bring coffee for the firemen if they are still on scene"

A.D