What does an overcharged refrigeration system typically show in pressure readings?

An overcharged refrigeration system is characterized by an excess of refrigerant, which leads to increased pressure readings. When this occurs, the high-side or head pressure will be elevated due to the increased volume of refrigerant. In contrast, the low-side or suction pressure can be misleading; it typically may appear low because the additional refrigerant reduces the effective evaporator capacity, causing a back pressure that can restrict the flow of refrigerant vapor into the compressor. Consequently, you will see high head pressure corresponding with low suction pressure due to the imbalance created by the overcharge.

In normal situations, a properly charged system would typically exhibit balanced pressure readings, while fluctuating pressure readings might indicate other issues, such as a malfunctioning component or restrictions in the refrigerant line. Thus, high head pressure paired with low suction pressure effectively signals that the system is overcharged.