TAC-110 Condensers

[EngiDent]

I meant to put this in my other post, but forgot. My TAC-110-1 has some bad corrosion in the condenser fins. Is there a suitable replacement in 2020, or do I need to be looking into finding another unit for parts?
I want to maintain this unit as long as possible, as I do not want to cut the roof.
I am planning to remove the upper unit either this winter or the next and rebuild it-- new condensers, modern compressor (though the original works fine, and only because it will be down for service), and heat pump conversion.
Thanks
Dave

[TomW]

All the new refrigerants operate at much higher pressures than R-22 did. Your Bay Breeze unit's evaporator & condenser coils probably cannot tolerate the pressure. But I do not speak from experience.

On a different note, to be upfront I am not a fan of heat pumps for home or RV use. While I have a list of reasons why a heat pump is not part of our life, my focused concern in an RV is I do not want "ceiling heat" in my American Classic. Heat needs to start low and then rise for maximum comfort.

Tom

[EngiDent]

I have two large canisters of R22 from when a relative retired from HVAC 25 years ago. I think I have about 30 lbs total, so that would be what gets put back in. It's running R22 now. It was serviced with R22 in 1990 when something broke and leaked (drying unit? Something like that.) Then nothing but the occasional capacitor until I had the R22 topped off 2 months ago, but it didn't take much if any. When the fan is working correctly, it doesn't cool particularly well, but I attribute that to poor heat exchange on those corroded / crumbling condenser fins. Evap coils are clean as a whistle.

[TomW]

I do not believe in "topping off" a unit by most people. No one knows how much refrigerant is in a system unless they drain & recharge it with a scale and then most people overfill because they do not know how to interpret gauges wrt to ambient temperature.

Your original unit, according to the spec sheet on my unit, holds 2 lb 2-1/2 oz of refrigerant. That is all I have ever added the three times the system has been open. It cools just fine.

In my opinion, you would be best off by emptying the system (into an approved container of course) and charging it with the above amount before continuing your troubleshooting.

Tom