
A Futuristic Litter Box, & Is My Line Size Too Small, Or Do I Have Too Much Load ?? Episode 534KE2 Chaos, Glycol Lockouts, and Coolselector Pipe Sizing (Plus the Fancy Litter Box Debate)Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast joking about an “automatic litter box” before jumping into a hectic week of glycol case startups and ongoing frustration with KE2 controllers reverting settings, freezing in defrost, and causing temperature control issues even after firmware updates that wipe settings. They discuss glycol skids hard-locking out from small pressure losses and the need to overcharge to prevent random shutdowns, then shift into a practical walkthrough of Danfoss Coolselector for transcritical CO2 piping and electronic expansion valve sizing. Using examples, they show how capacity, line length, pressure drop, and velocity change with pipe size, why winter load matters for oil return, and how oversized or over-open valves can drive excessive mass flow and pressure drop; they also cover limiting max valve opening percentage and briefly reference AKV pulse valve duty cycle behavior.
Aug 24
47 min

A Futuristic Litter Box, & Is My Line Size Too Small, Or Do I Have Too Much Load ?? Episode 534KE2 Chaos, Glycol Lockouts, and Coolselector Pipe Sizing (Plus the Fancy Litter Box Debate)Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast joking about an “automatic litter box” before jumping into a hectic week of glycol case startups and ongoing frustration with KE2 controllers reverting settings, freezing in defrost, and causing temperature control issues even after firmware updates that wipe settings. They discuss glycol skids hard-locking out from small pressure losses and the need to overcharge to prevent random shutdowns, then shift into a practical walkthrough of Danfoss Coolselector for transcritical CO2 piping and electronic expansion valve sizing. Using examples, they show how capacity, line length, pressure drop, and velocity change with pipe size, why winter load matters for oil return, and how oversized or over-open valves can drive excessive mass flow and pressure drop; they also cover limiting max valve opening percentage and briefly reference AKV pulse valve duty cycle behavior.
Aug 24
47 min

We Tried Talking About Subcoolers, And Nozzles, Vermont Is Beautiful Episode 533Storms, CO2 Chaos & Subcooler Shenanigans | Advanced Refrigeration PodcastHosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast with stories from a week derailed by severe storms, power outages, and traffic caused by downed lines. Brett describes a startup nightmare at a new CO2 store: a Danfoss controller pressure-reading issue drives a rack into high-head cycling, a backup condensing unit is disabled by a tripped breaker traced to an earwig in a contactor, and the site loses charge and power while relief-valve issues persist and generator startup is delayed. They then discuss building a transcritical water-cooled condenser skid for a high-rise and criticize building condenser-water BTU billing in winter when grocery racks effectively replace boilers. The conversation shifts to basic refrigeration, focusing on mechanical subcooling benefits, TXV sizing realities, nozzle color codes, and common control mistakes involving sensors, gauge vs absolute settings, wiring errors, and strategies to prevent floodback.
Aug 17
52 min

We Tried Talking About Subcoolers, And Nozzles, Vermont Is Beautiful Episode 533Storms, CO2 Chaos & Subcooler Shenanigans | Advanced Refrigeration PodcastHosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass open the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast with stories from a week derailed by severe storms, power outages, and traffic caused by downed lines. Brett describes a startup nightmare at a new CO2 store: a Danfoss controller pressure-reading issue drives a rack into high-head cycling, a backup condensing unit is disabled by a tripped breaker traced to an earwig in a contactor, and the site loses charge and power while relief-valve issues persist and generator startup is delayed. They then discuss building a transcritical water-cooled condenser skid for a high-rise and criticize building condenser-water BTU billing in winter when grocery racks effectively replace boilers. The conversation shifts to basic refrigeration, focusing on mechanical subcooling benefits, TXV sizing realities, nozzle color codes, and common control mistakes involving sensors, gauge vs absolute settings, wiring errors, and strategies to prevent floodback.
Aug 17
52 min

High Pressure Valves Diagnosing ICMTS ICAD 600A And 600d B Episode 532 ICAD 600A vs 600B Deep Dive: Calibration Alarms, O-Ring Chaos, and CO₂ Rack Relief Valve Nightmares. In this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass swap war stories from the field, including a CO₂ startup derailed by the manufacturer installing low-temp reliefs everywhere, causing charging chaos and a panicked GC threatening to call the fire department. They then dive into Danfoss ICM/ICAD troubleshooting—breaking down ICMTSC B vs C differences, how magnets help verify valve position, and how debris, missing strainers, incorrect or double O-ring setups, and moisture/rust can trigger calibration alarms. Brett demonstrates ICAD 600A wiring, analog signal setup, and feedback scaling issues, then shows ICAD 600B features like Bluetooth configuration, passwords, event logs, manual mode behavior, and Modbus options, emphasizing proper setup, alarm contacts, and disconnecting the app.
Aug 10
47 min

High Pressure Valves Diagnosing ICMTS ICAD 600A And 600d B Episode 532 ICAD 600A vs 600B Deep Dive: Calibration Alarms, O-Ring Chaos, and CO₂ Rack Relief Valve Nightmares. In this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass swap war stories from the field, including a CO₂ startup derailed by the manufacturer installing low-temp reliefs everywhere, causing charging chaos and a panicked GC threatening to call the fire department. They then dive into Danfoss ICM/ICAD troubleshooting—breaking down ICMTSC B vs C differences, how magnets help verify valve position, and how debris, missing strainers, incorrect or double O-ring setups, and moisture/rust can trigger calibration alarms. Brett demonstrates ICAD 600A wiring, analog signal setup, and feedback scaling issues, then shows ICAD 600B features like Bluetooth configuration, passwords, event logs, manual mode behavior, and Modbus options, emphasizing proper setup, alarm contacts, and disconnecting the app.
Aug 10
46 min

Danfoss Communication Issues And A West Virginia Baby Momma Episode 531CO₂ Store Startup Chaos: Danfoss Comms Troubleshooting, 880 Ethernet Headaches & Miswired TransducersIn this comedic episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass jump from off-the-rails banter into the real pain of starting up a major Chicago retailer’s first CO₂ store packed with Danfoss case controllers and mixed equipment. They swap war stories about botched case wiring, backward check valves, and why scanning huge Modbus networks can be painfully slow even with limits set. Kevin shares a faster comm-troubleshooting method using resistors to quickly spot crossed loops, breaks, and hidden voltage issues, plus common headaches like case controller addresses not “taking,” app-based setup tips, and what upload vs. download means on the 880. They also cover recurring 880 Ethernet/IP glitches, DHCP reinitialize workarounds, chronic miswired Danfoss transducers and plugs, and the questionable choice of running multiple walk-in coils on a single case controller.
Aug 3
43 min

Danfoss Communication Issues And A West Virginia Baby Momma Episode 531CO₂ Store Startup Chaos: Danfoss Comms Troubleshooting, 880 Ethernet Headaches & Miswired TransducersIn this comedic episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetzel and Kevin Compass jump from off-the-rails banter into the real pain of starting up a major Chicago retailer’s first CO₂ store packed with Danfoss case controllers and mixed equipment. They swap war stories about botched case wiring, backward check valves, and why scanning huge Modbus networks can be painfully slow even with limits set. Kevin shares a faster comm-troubleshooting method using resistors to quickly spot crossed loops, breaks, and hidden voltage issues, plus common headaches like case controller addresses not “taking,” app-based setup tips, and what upload vs. download means on the 880. They also cover recurring 880 Ethernet/IP glitches, DHCP reinitialize workarounds, chronic miswired Danfoss transducers and plugs, and the questionable choice of running multiple walk-in coils on a single case controller.
Aug 3
43 min

Carel HecU and RHEC Manager I Have No Idea But Let's Go Through IT Together Episode 529Carel HECO/pRack Simulator Chaos: CO₂ Store Startup, Firmware Headaches & High-Pressure Valve SettingsIn this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetsel and Kevin Kompus roast the brutal heat and then jump into a messy CO₂ startup at a Jewel-Osco—made worse by electricians missing neutrals on case circuits. From there, they wander into hands-on “FAFO” mode using Carel’s RHEC Manager to simulate HECO/pRack controllers, repeatedly running into freezes, blank screens, and the key gotcha: you can’t open or simulate a program unless the firmware version and required binary/CT-CD files match, and the firmware isn’t visible inside the downloaded variable list. They poke through CO₂ transcritical menus (HPV/receiver/flash tank pressures, valve behaviors, safeties), discuss tuning KP/KI on a pulse-width valve to stop it from slamming shut, and complain about proprietary MultiMAX/Pico programming, limited support, and confusing compressor staging logic, teasing a follow-up on laptop connections and navigation.
Jul 27
42 min

Carel HECO/pRack Simulator Chaos: CO₂ Store Startup, Firmware Headaches & High-Pressure Valve SettingsIn this episode of the Advanced Refrigeration Podcast, hosts Brett Wetsel and Kevin Kompus roast the brutal heat and then jump into a messy CO₂ startup at a Jewel-Osco—made worse by electricians missing neutrals on case circuits. From there, they wander into hands-on “FAFO” mode using Carel’s RHEC Manager to simulate HECO/pRack controllers, repeatedly running into freezes, blank screens, and the key gotcha: you can’t open or simulate a program unless the firmware version and required binary/CT-CD files match, and the firmware isn’t visible inside the downloaded variable list. They poke through CO₂ transcritical menus (HPV/receiver/flash tank pressures, valve behaviors, safeties), discuss tuning KP/KI on a pulse-width valve to stop it from slamming shut, and complain about proprietary MultiMAX/Pico programming, limited support, and confusing compressor staging logic, teasing a follow-up on laptop connections and navigation.
Jul 27
42 min
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