TIF MINIMAX-KT User Manual

MINIMAX

REFRIGERANT RECOVERY SYSTEM

USER’S OPERATING MANUAL

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ADVANCED TEST PRODUCTS. INC • Miramar, FL

www.amprobe.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 4
OPERATING GUIDELINES 5-6

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR MINIMAX 6
ADDITIONAL RECOVERY TANK INFORMATION 7

PURGING NON-CONDENSABLE GASES 8

HELPFUL HINTS FOR REFRIGERANT RECOVERY 9-10

OPERATING YOUR MINIMAX 11

DIAGRAM FOR REFRIGERANT RECOVERY 11
SELF PURGING YOUR MINIMAX 12
SELF PURGE/AUTO EVACUATE 12
DIAGRAM FOR “PUSH/PULL” METHOD 13

SET-UP DIAGRAM FOR TANK PRE OR SUB COOLING PROCEDURE 13
OPTIONAL RECOVERY / TANK PRE OR SUB 14

COOLING FOR FIXED HOSE SET-UP
REFRIGERANT FLOW DIAGRAM 15

MINIMAX PARTS DIAGRAM/PARTS AND ACCESSORIES LIST 16
MINIMAX AND MINIMAX-KT WIRING DIAGRAMS 17

INSTALLATION OF OPTIONAL80% TANK 18
CAPACITYSENSING COMPONENTS (KIT KT-5001)

MINIMAX-KT MODEL 18
TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR MINIMAX 19
FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY 20
ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) INSTRUCTIONS 21

EPA REGIONAL OFFICES 22

3

m IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION m

SAFETY COMES FIRST! Read all safety, operating
guidelines and instructions before operating your
Minimax.

1. CAUTION: ONLY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN
SHOULD OPERATE THIS RECOVERY UNIT.

The operator must be familiar with air conditioning

and refrigeration systems, refrigerants and the
dangers of pressurized components.

2. Always think before acting, familiarity breeds care-

lessness and carelessness can be harmful to your

health or, worse, result in death.

3. m WARNING Always wear safety goggles and
protective gloves when working with refrigerants.
Contact with refrigerant may cause injury.
Disconnect hoses with extreme caution! All hoses
may contain liquid refrigerant under pressure.

4. m PRESSURIZED TANK CONTAINS LIQUID
REFRIGERANT. NEVER OVERFILLSTORAGE
TANKS. OVERFILLING OF THE TANK MAY

CAUSE AVIOLENT EXPLOSIONAND POSSIBLE
INJURY OR DEATH.DO NOT: Exceed theworking

pressure of Recovery Tank cylinder.

5.m Warning: DO NOT: Exceed the working pres-

sure of each cylinder. Recovery cylinders are
designed for different pressures. Your MINIMAX is
not supplied with a recovery tank, it requires the
use of tanks with a minimum of 350 psi working
pressure and PROMAX strongly recommends the
use of 400 psi tanks.

NOTE: The use of a 400 psi tank is mandatory
when recovering R-410A.
See PROMAX Recovery Tanks under Parts and
Accessories section on Page 16.

5. m A scale must be used to avoid overfilling the
storage tank. DO NOT OVERFILL. Tank is full at

80% volume. Tank may explode if filled more than

80% due to liquid expansion.

7.Read all safety information regarding the safe
handling of refrigerant and refrigerant oil, includ-
ing the Material Safety Data Sheet. MSDS
sheets can be obtained from your refrigerant
supplier.

8. If you expect temperatures in excess of 135° F,
contact the refrigerant supplier.

9. Be sure that any room where you are working is
thoroughly ventilated, especially if a leak is sus
pected. Refrigerant vapor is hazardous to your
health and can cause death.

10. m Avoid breathingA/C refrigerant and lubrica-

tion vapor or mist. Exposure may irritate eyes,
nose and throat. If accidental system discharge
occurs,ventilateworkareabefore resumingserv­ice.

11. iWARNING:TOREDUCE THE RISKOFFIRE:

• Never operate unit in an explosiveenvironment!

Do not use this equipment in the vicinity of

spilled or open containers of gasoline or any

other flammable liquid.

• When using an extension cord it should be a

3-wire, 14 AWG minimum and no longer than 25

feet.

• Use this equipment in locations with mechani-

cal ventilation that provides at least four air

changes per hour or locate the equipment at

least 18 inches above the floor.

• Never use oxygen when testing for leaks. Any

oil in contact with oxygen under pressure will

form an explosive mixture.

12. c High voltage electricity inside panels.
Risk of electrical shock. Be sure to disconnect

theunitfrom thepowersourcebeforeservicing it.

13. To reduce the risk of injury, care should be
taken when moving this equipment.

6. Use ONLY authorized refillable refrigerant tanks.
NEVER use a standard disposable 30lb. tank (the

type of container in which virgin refrigerant is
sold) to recover refrigerant.

4

OPERATING GUIDELINES

m Before operating the Minimax recovery unit, read

the following m

1. MINIMAX IS APPROVED FOR USE WITH THE

FOLLOWING CATEGORY III, IV and V REFRIG­ERANTS (Per ARI 740):

R-12, R-22, R-134A, R-401A, R-401B, R-401C,
R-402A,R-402-B,R-404A,R-406A,R-407A,R-407-B,
R-407C, R-407D, R-408A, R-409A, R-410A,R-411A,
R-411B, R-412A, R-500, R-502, R-507 and R-509

2. A FILTER must always be used and should

replaced frequently. We recommend that a clean
filter be used for every service job.
Failure to use a filter will invalidate your warranty.

The use of a filter will greatly reduce the risk of
damage to your Minimax, by preventing foreign
material from entering the unit.

2. Each filter should be labeled and used exclusively

for one type of refrigerant only.

3. Always open service and cylinder valves slowly.

This allows rapid control of the flow of gases if
there is any danger. Once it is determined that
there is no danger, the valves can be opened
fully.

NEVER use a standarddisposable30lb.tank
(the typeofcontainer in which virgin refrigerant is
sold) to recover refrigerant.

9. m A scale must be used to avoid overfilling the
storage tank. DO NOT OVERFILL. Tank is full at

80% volume. Tank may explode if filled more than
80%duetoliquid expansion. Below is a represen-

tative sample for R-22 refrigerant:

TANK SIZE MAX NET WEIGHT

30 lb. Tank 24 lbs.
50 lb. Tank 40 lbs.

Note: Promax strongly recommends the use of the
ADS-100 Refrigerant Scale for monitoring tank

capacity.

10. Your Minimax has an Internal Pressure Shut Off

Switch. If the pressure inside the system should
go above 550 psi, the system will automatically

shut itself off. Theshutoffswitch will automatically

reset itself again after the pressure drops below
300 psi.

4. Always isolate large amounts of refrigerant and
close off valves after use, so if a leak should
develop anywhere in the system, the refrigerant
will not escape.

5. Always isolate large amounts of refrigerant and
close off valves after use, so if a leak should
develop anywhere in the system, the refrigerant
will not escape.

6. Keep all connections to the refrigeration system
thoroughly dry and clean. If moisture enters the
refrigeration system, it is likely to cause consider­able damage.

7. Promax strongly recommends the use of the
optional 80% Capacity Shutoff Kit (p/n KT-5001).
When installed and used with a recovery tank that
has an internal float switch, the Minimax will shut

down automatically when the tank is 80% full. Your

Minimax is pre-wired from the factory for this kit.

N o t e : The Minimax is also available in model
Minimax-KT, with the 80% Shutoff Kit installed direct
from the factory.

8. m CAUTION: Use only authorized refillable
refrigerant recovery tanks. Federal regulations
require refrigerant to be transported only in con­tainers meeting DOT spec. 4BA or 4BW.

m WARNING: The Internal Pressure Shut Off

Switch does not prevent tank overfill. If your system
shuts off on high pressure and is connected to your
tank, you may have overfilled your tank and created
a very dangerous situation! Take immediate meas­ures to relieve any high pressure and/or tank overfill.

11. When recovering large amounts of liquid, use the
"Push/Pull method (see diagram on page 13).

m CAUTION: When using the "Push/Pull" method,

once the "Push/Pull" siphon is started, it can contin­ue and overfill the storage tank even if the tank is
equipped with a "shut off" float sensor. The siphon
can continue even after the machine is turned off.
You must manually close the valves on the tank and
the unit to prevent overfilling of the recovery tank.

12. Always operate the unit on a flat level surface

13. To achieve the deepest final vacuum, use the
tank cooling method to lower the head pressure
on the recovery tank. (See Pages 13 &14).
Repeat as necessary to achieve the desired vac­uum level.

5

OPERATING GUIDELINES - cont.

NOTE: If there is no liquid in the recovery tank, then
the cooling method will not work. In this case, use an
empty tank that has been fully evacuated to achieve
the final vacuum level required.

14. If the tank pressure exceeds 300 psi, use the tank
cooling procedure to reduce the tank pressure.
(See Pages 13 & 14)

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF YOUR MINIMAX

1. USE of a filter/dryer at the inlet is mandatory. A fil-

ter/dryer must always be used between the recov­ery machine and the inlet hose.

2. Special care should be taken when recovering

from a "burned-out" system. Use two high acid
capacity filters, in series. (Alco type EK-162-F or
Sporlan type C-162-F are recommended )When
you have finished recovering from the system,
flush your Minimax with a small amount of clean
refrigerant and refrigerant oil to purge off any for­eign substances left in the unit.

3. Always empty refrigerant from the MINIMAX into a

storage tank; see Self-Purge/Auto Evacuate pro-

15.To maximize recovery rates, use the shortest
possible length of 3/8" or larger hose. Ahose no
longer than 3 feet is recommended.

16.For maximum throughput, always remove all
unnecessary hose core depressors and the
Schrader valves from port connections.

17.Deformed rubber seals and core depressors in
hoses and faulty or unnecessary Schrader
valves can restrict flow up to 90%.

cedure on Page 12. Liquid refrigerant left in the
MINIMAX’s condenser may expand, causing dam­age to components.

4. c Warning! Whenever you perform any type of

maintenance work on your Minimax, insure that it
is disconnected from the power supply before
you begin.

5. If the unit is to be stored or not used for any
length of time, we recommend that it be com­pletely evacuated of any residual refrigerant and
purged with dry nitrogen.

6

ADDITIONAL RECOVERY TANK INFORMATION

m Warning: Also read the information pertain-

ing to recovery tanks, previously listed under
Safety Information and Operating Guidelines.

1. CAUTION: NEVER use a standard disposable
30lb. tank (the type of container in which virgin
refrigerant is sold) to recover refrigerant. Use
ONLY authorized refillable refrigerant tanks.
Federal regulations require refrigerant to be trans
ported only in containers meeting DOT specs.
4BW or 4BA.

2.m Warning: DO NOT: Exceed the working pres-

sure of each cylinder. Recovery cylinders are
designed for different pressures. Your MINIMAX is
not supplied with a recovery tank, it requires the
use of tanks with a minimum of 350 psi working
pressure and PROMAX strongly recommends the

use of 400 psi tanks.
NOTE: The use of a 400 psi tank is mandatory
when recovering R-410A.
See PROMAX Recovery Tanks under Parts and
Accessories section on Page 16.

3. Tanks and filters should be designated for one

refrigerant only. Before using a tank previously

used for another refrigerant, completely empty the

tank, evacuate it and purge the tank using dry
nitrogen, and then re-evacuate it.

3. Always store refrigerant containers in a cool dry
place.

5. Do not mix refrigerants in a system, a tank or any
where else. Each type of refrigerant must have its
own tank, filter, etc.

6. Storage cylinders sometimes have valves that are
not properly seated when manufactured. Keeping
caps on these valves will guard against refrigerant
leakage.

7. Do not exceed 80% of tank capacity. PROMAX
strongly recommends the use of the Promax ADS­100 Refrigerant Scale for monitoring tank capacity.
Safety codes recommend that closed tanks not be
filled over 80% of volume with liquid. The remain­ing 20% is called head pressure room.

8. If you expect temperatures in excess of 135° F,
contact the refrigerant supplier.

m NEVER TRANSPORT AN OVERFILLED CYLINDER m

Refrigerant expands when it gets warm and may cause a tank to explode if overfilled.

CYLINDER TEMPERATURE 60°F 70°F 100°F 130°F 150°F

STARTING WITH CYLINDER

80% BY VOLUME

SPACE OCCUPIED BY LIQUID 80% 81% 83% 90% 94%

STARTING WITH CYLINDER

90% BY VOLUME

SPACE OCCUPIED BY LIQUID 90% 92% 96% 100%

7

PURGING NON-CONDENSABLE GASES

FROM REFRIGERANT TANK

1. Allow the tank to sit undisturbed for 24 hours. This
allows the air to rise to the top.

2. Connect a manifold to the tank and read the
amount of pressure in the tank by looking at the
output pressure gauge.

3. Determine the ambient temperature in the room.

4. Refer to a Refrigerant pressure/temperature chart.
Find the temperature on the chart and look across
to the corresponding pressure for the type of
refrigerant in the tank. Determine how that

5. If the pressure reading is higher than the pressure
shown on the chart, very slowly (so as not to
cause turbulence inside the tank) crack open the
vapor port valve. Watch the pressure on the
gauge decrease. To prevent venting, add 4-5 psi
to the pressure shown on the chart. when the
gauge corresponds to that pressure, close the
vapor port valve.

6. Allow the tank to sit for 10 minutes and check the
pressure again.

7. Repeat the process again if necessary.

8

HELPFUL HINTS FOR

REFRIGERANT RECOVERY

Refrigerant recovery has come a long way in a few short years. On the surface it's simply the process of taking refriger­ant out of a system and putting it into a tank. However, this simple process can quickly become problematic if a few
items are overlooked. The following are some tips and pointers we've accumulated over the last few years that can save
you time and make the process go smoother.

First you need to identify the refrigerant type and quantity in the system you are servicing. If you determine it"s a
burnout, you need a special tank (a tank that's identified as containing burnout or other unidentified gases), and you
need to use extra filtration prior to recovery. (See item #2 on page 6)

If, on the other hand, you know the gas in the system is relatively clean or new, then a new tank should be used. If
you're planning on putting the refrigerant back into the same system after you have finished the service or if the refrig­erant is going to be reclaimed, then use a tank that has the same refrigerant in it. A word of caution about the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): If you use a variety of refrigerant gasses in your service work - as evidenced by
your refrigerant purchases - and you only own one tank, you are asking for trouble. You would be well advised to own at
least one tank for every refrigerant type serviced, plus an extra for burnouts and other unknowns.

Results of Liquid Refrigerant

PLANNING AHEAD

Knowing the quantity of refrigerant is important for plan­ning storage requirements, as well as planning for the
actual recovery. For instance, any system with more than
5lbs. of refrigerant is likely to have areas where the liquid
can get trapped.

The key to a quick recovery procedure is to get the liquid
out first, and then get the remaining vapor out. However
most systems are not "recovery friendly." That is they
don't have access ports at their lowest points. If some
units you're servicing are on maintenance contracts, you
would save significant time by installing access ports at all
of the lowest points in the system, where liquid is likely to
accumulate.

Since most systems don't have these ports you need to be
prepared to boil off the trapped liquid with a heat gun,
when ever it's found. An indicator of trapped liquid in a
system is frost or condensation forming on the plumbing
or components where the liquid is trapped. The trapped
liquid may be in an area that is not visible. In all cases
trapped liquid in a system during recovery causes the
recovery process to slow down, regardless of the size or
type of machine (see diagram).

If you are unable to locate the trapped liquid, but you
know it'sthere,becausetherecoveryjobistaking "forever".
Turn on the system compressor (if it's operable) for a few
seconds, this will get the refrigerant moving to another
part of the system and in the process pick up enough heat
to boil off.

Pstart

Pe

10” Hg

HOSES AND VALVES

Hoses and Schraeder valves have a large impact on recov­ery speed. In general, the larger the hose, the less friction
on the flow of refrigerant, the quicker the recovery time.
Many contractors are now using 3/8' lines for the input to
the recovery machine, even those lines originating out of
1/4" fittings.

Schraeder valves must be removed from the connection
prior to an expedient recovery. Most wholesalers sell a tool
for removing these cores, while keeping the connection
sealed. The core depressor, in the end of the hose, should
also be removed. These two items can turn a 20 minute
job into one that goes on for hours. So, be sure to remove
the Schraeder valves and core depressors before every
recovery job.

Another hose consideration is the little rubber grommet at
the end of the hose that makes a seal with the flare fitting.
We've seen these seals so worn and deformed that when
the hose is connected to the flare fitting the grommet vir­tually seals off the connection.

Trapped in a System

Forever

0

Tstart Time Tfinish

9

HELPFUL HINTS FOR

REFRIGERANT RECOVERY - cont.

This is probably never noticed in charging, because the
pressure opens the grommet, but during recovery (or with
suction) the deformed grommet severely restricts the flow
of refrigerant.

REFRIGERANT RECYCLING

Current regulations state that used refrigerant shall not be
sold, or used in a different owner's equipment, unless the
refrigerant has been laboratory analyzed and found to
meet the requirements of ARI 700 (latest edition). As a
result, recycling and verifying ARI 700 conformance isn't
economically justified in most cases. It's still a great idea
to do as much cleaning of refrigerant going back into the
same system (or owners system) as possible. We recom­mend using the largest, high-acid capacity filter, that are
economically feasible. Put these filters on the suction or
inlet side of the recovery unit. Change filters often.

The recovery of large amounts of liquid refrigerant can
sometimes carry with it large quantities of oil, if the sys­tem being serviced doesn't have an adequate oil separator
installed. If this recovered refrigerant isn't going to be liq­uid charged back into the same system, you might want to
separate the refrigerant from the oil in order to measure
the oil (to know how much oil to charge back into the sys­tem). Refrigerant sent back for reclaim does not need to
have the oil removed. One of the simplest and most cost
effective ways to achieve this is to use a 30 or 50 lb. tank
in line with your recovery machine. Connect the system to
the liquid port of the tank, then from the vapor port of the
tank connect to the input of your recovery machine. A sec­ond tank, for storing refrigerant, should then be connected
to the output of the recovery machine. If you encounter
large amounts of liquid you will need to put a band heater
around the first tank. When the recovery job is complete
the oil can be removed, from the first tank, by applying a
small amount of pressure, using nitrogen, to one of the
ports and extracting the oil from the other. If you are going
to remove the oil from the vapor port you will need to turn
the tank upside down. Always wear safety glasses when
performing this operation as the oil may be acidic and
could cause severe burning.

KEEPING THE DIRT OUT

During the recovery process your recovery machine can
be exposed to debris that can, potentially, damage it. This
includes brazing spatter and copper/ brass slithers. Further
contamination can be introduced from the refrigerant stor­age tanks. To prolong the life of your recovery machine,

always use an inline filter at the inlet Port.

Whenever you are charging a system from a recovery
cylinder it is a good idea to use an in-line filter to protect
the system from contamination. Again, change your in-line
filters often.

GETTING THE LIQUID OUT

See diagram on page 13 of this manual
Push/pull is a method of removing bulk liquid from a sys-

tem using the pressure differential created by the recovery
machine. Push-pull will generally not work on smaller sys­tems because there is no bulk liquid reservoir to create a
siphon from.

Push-pull is mostly used on systems with a receiver tank
or those with greater than 20 lbs. of refrigerant, or when
transferring from one tank to another. The rate of liquid
transfer is very much dependent on hose size, with larger
hoses providing much better throughput.

Another trick is to cool the tank, if it's partially filled, prior
to or during recovery. This operation will lower the pres­sure in the storage tank and therefore speed up recovery.
There must be a minimum of 5 lbs of liquid refrigerant in
the tank you wish to chill. This operation can be performed
prior to or during the recovery. See the two set up dia­grams and procedures on page 13-14 of this manual.

There is nothing magic here, you are simply using your
recovery machine to make a refrigerator where the tank is
the evaporator. By throttling the output valve, you're effec­tively creating a capillary tube or an expansion device, but
you need to adjust the back pressure to suit the conditions
and the refrigerant. Five to ten minutes of chilling can pro­duce some very dramatic tank cooling, depending on the
conditions. If there are any non condensables in the tank
this process will not work. The greater the quantity of
refrigerant in the tank the longer the process will take.

10

OPERATING YOUR MINIMAX

PROCEDURE FOR NORMAL SYSTEM RECOVERY

1. Inspect the Minimax thoroughly to insure that it is
in good operating condition.

2. Make sure all connections are correct and tight
(see set-up diagram below).

3. Open the liquid port of the recovery cylinder
(always open valves slowly to check hoses and
connections for leaks).

4. Make sure the Recover/Purge valve is set on
Recover.

5. Open the output port of the Minimax

6. Open the liquid port on your manifold gauge set;
opening the liquid port will remove the liquid from
the system first, greatly reducing the recovery
time. (after the liquid has been removed, open the
manifold vapor port to finish evacuating the
system).

7. Connect your Minimax to a 115V outlet.

a. Switch the main power switch to the ON position.

You should hear the fan running.

b. Press the compressor start switch. This “momen-

tary” switch will start the compressor. It may be

necessary, under certain circumstances, to press
this switch more than once to start the compres­sor.

8. Slowly open the input port on the Minimax.
a. If the compressor starts to knock, slowly throttle

back the input valve until the knocking stops.

b. If the input valve was throttled back, it should be

fully opened once the liquid has been removed
from the system (the manifold gauge set vapor
port should also be opened at this time).

9. Run until desired vacuum is achieved.
a. Close the manifold gauge sets vapor and liquid

ports.
b. Close the Minimax input port.
c. Shut off and proceed with the Self Purge

procedure on the next page.
Note: Always purge the Minimax after each use (see

Self Purge procedure on page 12). Failure to purge
the remaining refrigerant from the Minimax could
result in the acidic degradation of internal compo­nents, ultimately causing premature failure of the unit.

DIAGRAM FOR REFRIGERATION RECOVER Y

THIS IS THE FASTEST METHOD FOR RECOVERING VAPOR REFRIGERANT

OPTIONALMOISTURE

SIGHTGLASS

MANIFOLD

GAUGE

SET

SYSTEM BEING

SERVICED

LIQUID

A SCALE MUST BE USED TO AVOID
OVER FILLING THE STORAGE TANK

m

INPUT

OUTPUT

VAPOR LIQUID

11

First turn knob to liquid
port. When liquid is
removed, move to full
open for vapor

SELF PURGING YOUR MINIMAX

PROCEDURE FOR PURGING REMAINING REFRIGERANT FROM THE MINIMAX

1. Close the ports of the system being serviced that
are connected to the input port of the Minimax.

2. Close the input port on the Minimax.

3. Turn off the Minimax.

4. Turn the Recover/Purge valve to the Purge posi­tion.

5. Restart the Minimax.

6. Run until desired vacuum is achieved.

SELF PURGE/ AUTO EVACUATE

To change from Recovery mode to Purge follow the steps below:

1. Close the Input port

7. Close the ports on the recovery tank and the
Minimax.

8. Turn the Minimax off.

9. Return the Recover/Purge valve to the Recover
position.

10.Disconnect and store all hoses.

11.Replace the in-line filter on your Minimax after
every job.

2. Turn the unit off (to prevent high pressure shutoff).

3. Switch to Purge position.

4. Restart the unit.

12

DIAGRAM FOR “PUSH/PULL” METHOD

Push/pull method only works with large systems where the liquid is readily accessible. Do not use this
method on systems that contain less than 15 lbs. as it may not work.

The sight glass is used to provide a method of determining the moisture content and quality of a system’s
refrigerant.

m CAUTION: When using the “Push/Pull” method, once the siphon is started, it can continue and overfill

the storage tank even if the tank is equipped with a float level sensor. The siphon can continue even when
the machine is turned off. You must manually close the valves on the tank and the unit to prevent overfill­ing of the recovery tank.

VAPOR

SYSTEM BEING

S E RV I C E D

LIQUID

m A scale must be used to avoid over filling

the storage tank.

OPTIONAL MOISTURE

SIGHT GLASS

INPUT

OUTPUT

LIQUID

SET-UP DIAGRAM FOR TANK

PRE OR SUB COOLING PROCEDURE

See page 10 of this manual for more information.

INPUT

1. To start you must have a minimum of 5 lbs. of liquid
refrigerant in the tank.

VAPOR

OUTPUT

LIQUID

2. Throttle the output valve so that the output pres­sure is 100 psi greater than the input pressure,
but never more than 300psi.

3. Run until the tank is cold.

13

OPTIONAL RECOVERY/TANK PRE OR SUB

COOLING FOR FIXED HOSE SET-UP

m A scale must be used to avoid over filling the storage tank.

NORMAL RECOVERY:

Tank Vapor valve is closed

TANK PRE OR SUB COOLING:

Tank Vapor valve is open and both manifold gauge set valves are closed.

14

REFRIGERANT FLOW DIAGRAM

15

MINIMAX PARTS DIAGRAM

29

26

25

2

3

4

5

6

27

1

13

14

15

23

28

12

7

22

8

9

10

11

30

16

17

18

19

20

21

24

MINIMAX PARTS LIST

ITEM DESCRIPTION PA RT #

1 PLASTIC CASE ( 1 0 0 11 8 )

2 FAN GRILL, OUTLET ( 1 0 0 1 7 9 )
3 A X I A LFAN ( 1 0 0 11 9 )
4 C O N D E N S E R ( 1 0 0 1 3 9 )
5 C O M P R E S S O R ( C P 1 3 2 0 )
6 COMPRESSOR BRACKET ( 1 0 0 2 0 7 )
7 C O U P L E R ( C P 1 3 1 5 )
8 B E L LHOUSING ( C P 1 0 0 1 )
9 M O TOR BRACKET ( 1 0 0 2 0 9 )

1 0 M O TOR ( E L 1 8 2 1 )

*OPTIONAL COMPONENTS FOR 80% CAPACITY TANK SENSING KIT

11 FRONTPA N E L ( 1 0 0 1 2 1 )
12 MANIFOLD ( 7 0 0 0 0 9 )

13 I N P U TGAUGE ( G A 1 5 0 0 )
14 O U T P U T GAUGE ( G A 0 8 0 0 )

1 5 GAUGE LENS ( G A 1 0 0 0 )

16 ON/OFF SWITCH ( E L 1 3 1 0 )

1 7 S TA RTSWITCH ( E L 1 3 0 9 )
1 8 RED KNOB ( 1 0 0 1 2 4 )
19 BLACK KNOB ( 1 0 0 1 2 2 )
2 0 BLUE KNOB ( 1 0 0 1 2 3 )
2 1 FLARE CAP ( N B 6 5 0 1 )

2 2 F I LT E R ( 1 0 0 3 4 3 )
2 3 * R E L AY ( E L 1 5 0 0 )
2 4 *SENSOR CORD ( E L 1 4 2 0 )
2 5 C A PA C I TOR ( E L 1 4 1 2 )
2 6 REAR PA N E L ( 1 0 0 2 2 1 )

2 7 CORD SET ( 1 0 0 1 6 2 )
28 PRESSURE SWITCH( E L 2 8 0 2 )
29 FA NGRILL, INLET ( 1 0 0 1 8 0 )

30 H O S EA S S Y ( 1 0 0 3 4 5 )

REPLACEMENT KITS & ACCESSORIES

PART# DESCRIPTION

KT3302 PISTON SEAL REPLACEMENT (middle section of compressor)
KT3303 VALVE REPLACEMENT KIT (top section of compressor)
KT3307 COMPRESSOR REPAIR KIT (all three sections of compressor)
KT3308 SHAFT REPLACEMENT KIT (bottom section of compressor)
KT5001 80% CAPACITY TANK SENSING KIT
RGT30 30 LB RECOVERY TANK (350 psi working pressure) with capacity sensor
RGT30NS SAME AS RGT30, WITHOUT SENSOR
RGT50 50 LB RECOVERY TANK (350 psi working pressure) with capacity sensor
RGT50NS SAME AS RGT50, WITHOUT SENSOR
RGT50HP 50 LB RECOVERY TANK, HIGH PRESSURE(400 psi working pressure) with capacity sensor
ADS-100 REFRIGERANT SCALE, 200LB CAPACITY, WITH REMOVABLE PLATFORM

16

MINIMAX WIRING DIAGRAM

MINIMAX-KT WIRING DIAGRAM

INCLUDING OPTIONAL TANK CAPACITY SENSING CIRCUITRY (KIT:KT5001)

17

INSTALLATION OF OPTIONAL 80% TANK

CAPACITY SENSING COMPONENTS (KIT:KT5001)

Note: PROMAX also offers the model, Minimax-KT,
with the 80% Capacity Shut Off Kit installed at the
factory.

c Warning: Prior to performing any type of mainte-

nance work on your Minimax, insure that it is discon­nected from the power supply before you begin.

NOTE: Refer to the wiring diagram at the bottom of
page 17 during installation of your kit.

1. Disconnect your Minimax from the power source

2. Remove the fasteners from each side of the
Minimax and separate both halves of the plastic
case.

Note: You may find it more convenient to disconnect
the two wires to the fan, if so remember to reconnect
them prior to re-installing the case.

3. Place the metal frame of the Minimax in the
upright position

4. Remove the "pry out plug" from the hole located
at the lower right of the front panel, and pass the
tank sensor cord (p/n EL1420) through it.

5. Visually identify the two studs located on the
base, directly behind the lower front panel. (this
will be the location for the relay, p/n EL1500,
all your electrical connections are made.)

6. Disconnect a red wire from the high-pressure
switch (located under the start switch) Note:
There are two red wires on the high-pressure
switch, disconnect the one that originates from the
Power Switch.

7. Ensure that the terminal multiplier (p/n EL1221) is
placed on terminal #4 of the relay and then place
the red wire removed from the high pressure
switch on that terminal.

8. Place the black wire from the sensor cord on the
other side of the terminal multiplier, on the same
terminal #4 of the relay.

after

10. Connect the white wire from the male side of the
3 pin connector (p/n EL1215) to terminal #1 of
the relay.

Note: Ensure that the green wire from the sensor
cord is connected to the center of the 3-pin connec­tor. (Note: only two wires are used in this connector).

11. Connect the 3-pin connector to its female coun-

terpart, already pre wired on your Minimax.

Note: make sure the two wires, (1) green and (1)
white, are in the proper position (directly across)
from their mating wires.

12. Connect one end of the red wire (p/n WR1403),
supplied with your kit, to terminal #2 of the relay
and the other end to the high pressure switch.

13. Secure the relay onto the two studs mentioned in

Step 5, using the hardware already installed on

the studs.

14. Secure the tank sensor into the hole in the front

panel with the strain relief grommet provided.

15. Replace the fan wires, if removed in step # 2.

16. Secure any loose wiring with the wire ties pro-

vided.

17. Replace the plastic case halves and fasteners.

18. Test the installation by momentarily attempting

to start the Minimax without the sensor cord con-
nected to a tank sensor. The unit’s compressor
should not start up. Turn the Minimax off and re­attempt to start the unit with the sensor cord con
nected to a tank with a tank capacity sensor. The
unit should function normally. Disconnecting the
sensor cord while the unit is running should
cause the unit to shut down.

19. If your unit does not function per above, DIS-

CONNECT the Minimax from the Power Supply,
and re-check your connections per the above
steps and the wiring diagram at the bottom of
page 17.

9. Place the white wire from the sensor cord on
terminal #0 of the relay.

MINIMAX-KT MODEL

PROMAX offers the model, Minimax-KT, with the 80% Capacity Shut Off Kit (p/n KT-5001) installed
at the factory. On this model, when used with a recovery tank that has an internal float switch, the
recovery unit will automatically shut off when the recovery tank is 80% full.

18

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR MINIMAX

Read and understand all safety information contained

CONNECT UNIT TO

115V OUTLET

SAFETY FIRST

in this manual before servicing the unit.

FAN IS RUNNING

WHEN POWER SWITCH

IS IN “ON” POSITION

YES

COMPRESSOR STARTS

WHEN START SWITCH

IS PRESSED

YES

UNIT PUMPS INTO

HIGH PRESSURE SHUT

OFF

YES YES YES

NO NO

NO NO

NO NO NO

CHECK POWER

SUPPLY

YES

IS UNIT IN HIGH

PRESSURE
SHUT OFF?

YES

ARE VALVES OPEN?

CHECK

FOR SCHRADER

VALVES

DO YOU HAVE
115V SUPPLY?

YES

IS THE TANK

CORD ATTACHED

TO THE TANK

YES

DOES TANK FLOAT

SWITCH WORK

PROPERLY?

UNIT PULLS

INTO A VACUUM

YES

ARE YOUR HOSES

TIGHT? DO YOU

HAVE LEAKS?

DOES UNIT PULL A

VACUUM WHEN INPUT

VALVE IS CLOSED?

TROUBLESHOOTING ENDS

19

NONONO

FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY

MFG #

Promax products are warranted to be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one
year from date of purchase.

THE FOLLOWING RESTRICTIONS APPLY:

1. The warranty applies to products in normal use only, as described in the operating manual. The product
must also be serviced and maintained as described therein.

2. If the product fails, it will be replaced at the option of Advanced Test Products, Inc. (ATP)

3. Warranty service claims are subject to factory inspection for product defect(s). If during the warranty eval­uation it is determined that a filter has not been used or that the filter was not properly maintained or that
the machine has been used in any way other than the purpose for which it was designed, ATP, reserves
the right to void the warranty.

4. All warranty claims must be made within the warranty period. Proof of purchase must be supplied .
This warranty is non-transferable.

5. Please note that the warranty does not apply if the product or product part is damaged by accident, mis­use, tampered with or modified in any way.

6. Normal wear items (seals, filters, etc.) are specifically excluded from warranty, unless found by Promax
to be defective.

WARRANTY SERVICE

This warranty is given by ADVANCED TEST PRODUCTS, INC.
Service under this warranty must be obtained by the following steps:

1. Outside the U.S.A. contact your local Promax Distributor.

2. Inside the U.S.A. call 1.800.327.5060 or 954-499-5400
for a return material authorization (RMA) number.

20

THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY (EPA) REFRIGERANT RECOVERY AND RECYCLING DEVICE

ACQUISITION CERTIFICATION FORM

EPAregulations have required establishments that service or dispose of refrigerant or air conditioning
equipment to certify that they have acquired recovery and recycling devices that meet the EPA standards
for such devices since August 12. 1993. To certify that you have acquired equipment, please complete this
form according to the instructions and mail it to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. BOTH THE
INSTRUCTIONS AND MAILING ADDRESS CAN BE FOUND ON THE NEXT PAGE OF THIS MANUAL.

Part 1: ESTABLISHMENT INFORMATION

Name of Establishment

Street

City

Zip Code

State County

(Area Code)

Telephone Number

Name of Establishment

Street

City

Zip Code

UNIT STORAGE ADDRESS

NUMBER OF SERVICE VEHICLES BASED ATESTABLISHMENT

Part 2: REGULATORY CLASSIFICATION

Identify the type of work performed at your establishment. Check all boxes that apply.

Type A - Service small appliances.
Type B - Service refrigeration or air conditioning equipment other than small appliances.
Type C - Dispose of small appliances
Type D - Dispose of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment other than small appliances.

Part 3: DEVICE IDENTIFICATION

Name of Device Manufacturer

Model #

Month/Year

Mfg# (if any)

State County

(Area Code)

Telephone Number

Self Contained

Part 4: SIGNATURE

I certify that the establishment named in part 1. has acquired the refrigerant recovery or recycling
devices listed in part 3. and that this equipment will be properly used in service (and/or) disposing
of appliances. I also certify that the information supplied herein is correct and true.

Signature of owner / Responsible Officer

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to vary from 20-60 minutes per response with an average of 40
minutes per response including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data
needed and completing the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collec­tion of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden to: Chief information Policy Branch EPA, 401 M St. S.W. (PM223Y),
Washington, DC 20460 and to the Office of information and Regulatory A ffairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC
20503 marked Attention, Desk Officer for EP A .

DO NOT SEND THIS FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESSES. ONLY SEND COMMENTS TO THESE ADDRESSES

Date Name (please print) Title

21

INSTRUCTIONS EPA REGIONAL OFFICES

Part 1. Please provide the name, address and telephone
number of the establishment where the refrigerant recov­ery or recycling device(s) is (are) located. Please com­plete one form for each location. State the number of
vehicles based at this location that are used to transport
technicians and equipment to and from service sites.

Part 2. Check the appropriate box for the type of work
performed by technicians who are employees of the
establishment. The term "small appliance" refers to any of
the following products that are fully manufactured,
charged and hermetically sealed in a factory with five or
less pounds of refrigerant:

Refrigerators or freezers designed for home use, room air
conditioners (including window air conditioners and pack­aged thermal air conditioners), packaged thermal heat
pumps, dehumidifiers, under-the-counter ice makers,
vending machines and drinking water coolers.

Part 3. For each recovery or recycling device acquired,
please list the name of the manufacturer of the device
and (if applicable) its model number and manufacturer
number. If more than 8 devices have been acquired
please fill out an additional form and attach it to the first
one.

Recovery devices that are self-contained should be listed
first and should be identified by checking the box in the
last column on the right. Aself-contained device is one
that uses it's own pump or compressor to remove refriger­ant from refrigeration or air conditioning equipment. On
the other hand, system dependent recovery devices rely
solely upon the compressor in the refrigeration or air con­ditioning equipment and/or upon the pressure of the
refrigerant inside the equipment to remove the refrigerant.

If the establishment has been listed as Type B and/or
Type D in Part 2, then the first device listed in Part 3 must
be a self-contained device and identified as such by
checking the box in the last column on the right.

If any of the devices are homemade, they should be iden­tified by writing "homemade" in the column provided for
listing the name of the device manufacturer. Homemade
devices can be certified for establishments that are listed
as Type A or Type B in Part 2 until (six months after prom­ulgation of the rule). If a Type C or Type D establishment
is certifying equipment after (six months after promulga­tion of the rule), then it must not use these devices for
service jobs classified as Type A or Type B.

Part 4. This form must be signed by either the owner of
the establishment or another responsible officer. The per­son who signs is certifying that the establishment has
acquired the equipment, that the establishment is comply­ing with Section 608 regulations and that the information
provided is true and correct.

Send your form to the EPA office listed under the state or
territory in which your establishment is located.

CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW
HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND,VERMONT

CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region 1.
Mail Code APC, One Congress Street, John F. Kennedy
Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203-0001
Phone: [phone]

NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PUERTO RICO,VIRGIN
ISLANDS CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region 2.

290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007-1866
Phone: [phone]

DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLOMBIA, MARYLAND,
PENNSYLVANIA,VIRGINIA,WEST VIRGINIA

CAA 608Enforcement Contact: EPARegion 3. Mail Code
3AT21, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA19103-2029
Phone: [phone]

ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA,KENTUCKY, MISSIS­SIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA,TEN­NESSEE

CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region 4. Mail Code
APT-AE, 100 Alabama Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: [phone]

ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO,
WISCONSIN

CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region 5. Mail Code
AT18J, 77 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL60604-3507
Phone: [phone]

ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA,
TEXAS

CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region 6. Mail Code
6T-EC, Fountain Place, 12th Floor, Suite 1200
1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733
Phone: [phone]

IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA

CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region 7. Mail Code
ARTX/ARBR, 901 N. 5th Street, Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: [phone]

COLORADO, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH
DAKOTA, UTAH,WYOMING

CAA 608Enforcement Contact: EPARegion 8. Mail Code
8AT-AP, 999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2466
Phone: [phone]

AMERICA SAMOA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, GUAM,
HAWAII, NEVADA

CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region 9. Mail Code
A-3, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: [phone]

ALASKA, IDAHO, OREGON, WASHINGTON

CAA 608Enforcement contact: EPA Region 10.
Mail Code AT-082, 1200 Sixth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: [phone]

22

ADVANCED TEST PRODUCTS. INC • Miramar, FL

Telephone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]

Toll Free: [phone]

www.PromaxRecovery.com

Designed & Engineered in the USA

Manufactured in China

PN/ 100116 Rev.B