© 2009 Viking Preferred Service
17
Hot Gas Valve
The hot gas valve is used to bypass the capillary
tube and send warm vapor to the evaporator
when opened during the harvest cycle. The valve is
actuated by a solenoid that opens the valve when
energized and closes when de-energized. The valve
seats using gravity so the valve must remain vertical
to fully close.
The valve can fail by either being stuck in the open
or stuck in the closed position. When stuck fully
or partially opened, the valve will not seat and
seal causing leak-by. This will result in long ice
production cycles and higher than normal low side
pressures. A stuck closed valve will not allow the
valve to open which will keep the ice machine
in the harvest mode. A contaminated system or
damage to the valve body will cause any of these
failures.
Care in keeping the system clean, handling of the
valve, keeping the valve cool during brazing, and
evacuation of the system before charging must be
done to prevent damage and eventual failure of the
valve.
A quick way to check the valve to see that it opens
and closes freely (with the system still sealed) is to
repeatedly energize and de-energize the solenoid
and listen for the valve opening and closing. You
should be able to hear a distinct “click” of the valve
piston moving in the bore if the valve is opening
and closing. If you cannot hear this “click” then the
valve is stuck and will need to be replaced. The
solenoid coil itself can be checked by measuring
resistance across the electrical terminals. A good
solenoid coil will have a resistance reading of
380-390 ohms.
Hot gas valve
Figure 3
Service Diagnostics and Procedures
(Sealed System Components)