The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Toolbox Manual describes the installation, troubleshooting and repair of hermetic, semihermetic, and open refrigeration systems using the vapor-compression or absorption cycle. The manual is intended to help apprentice and journeyman cooling-system technicians work safely and efficiently.

The manual covers central comfort-cooling systems for residences and larger buildings, and refrigeration systems used in commercial and small industrial settings. Although the installation and repair of auto air conditioners and domestic refrigerators and freezers is not described, the operating principles and many repair techniques described here would apply to these smaller systems.

Features include:

• Essentials of cooling system maintenance and repair, including equipment and materials, controls, motors and recycling.
• Detailed diagrams of internal systems.
• The latest safety tips, standards, and pressure-temperature tables.
• Step-by-step instructions for technical procedures
• Definitions of important terms
• Proven troubleshooting tips

• Chapter 1: Tools, Equipment and Materials. Describes the trade's tools, equipment, and materials, with a focus on choosing the best device for the task and using it safely.
• Chapter 2: Energy, Electricity and Cooling Cycles. Explains the scientific principles of heat, electricity, and magnetism that every cooling-systems technician must understand. The absorption and vapor-compression cooling cycles are described in detail, in terms of both mechanical and physical principles.
• Chapter 3: Compressors. Describes the various types of compressors - centrifugal, helical, rotary, scroll, and reciprocating - that a technician will encounter.
• Chapter 4: Controls. Explains the principles of controls and the operation and servicing of capacity, operating, refrigerant, and safety controls, with a specialized emphasis on metering devices.
• Chapter 5: Components. Covers other essential components - condensers, evaporators, fans, filters, and pumps, along with suggestions for troubleshooting motors.
• Chapter 6: Motors. Details the various types of motors and drives that power compressors, fans and pumps, along with suggestions for troubleshooting motors.
• Chapter 7: Pipe, Tube, Fittings, and Valves. Covers tubing and fittings and the numerous valves used in cooling systems, such as the condenser pressure regulator, evaporator, pressure regulator, and heat-pump four-way valve.
• Chapter 8: Whole Systems. Describes various complete comfort-cooling, refrigeration, and defrost systems, using the absorption and vapor-compression cycles. Suggestions are given for choosing and installing complete systems.
• Chapter 9: Refrigerants. Describes refrigerants and the requirements for handling and recovering refrigerants to preserve the stratospheric ozone layer. Also discussed are pressure-temperature charts for many common azeotropic and zeotropic refrigerants, including the ozone-friendly refrigerants.
• Chapter 10: Troubleshooting. Provides troubleshooting information on compressors, condensers, metering devices, oil-control systems, absorption systems, motors, and pumps.
• Chapter 11: Standard ACR Procedures. Covers the basic procedures of comfort-cooling and refrigeration maintenance, using the gauge manifold, removing and adding oil, checking the charge, charging with refrigerant, servicing drive systems, and performing periodic maintenance.
• Appendix A: Apprenticeship Program.
• Appendix B: Mathematics and Measurements.
• Appendix C: Charts and Tables.
• Appendix D: Abbreviations.
• Appendix F: Glossary.
• Index.