Technician A says that with a properly operating air-conditioning system, the inlet to the compressor should be cold and the outlet from the compressor hot. Technician B says that the condenser should be hot and the evaporator cold. Which technician is correct?

Only technician A is correct

Explanation:

Analysis of technician A's statements

The refrigeration cycle contains four major components: the compressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporator. Refrigerant remains piped between these four components and is contained in the refrigerant loop.

The refrigerant begins as a cool vapor and heads to the first component:

1. the compressor

It forces the refrigerant through the system. In the process of being compressed the cool, gaseous refrigerant is turned to a very hot and high-pressure vapor.

Analysis of technician B's statement

The condenser’s job is to cool the refrigerant so that it turns from a gas into a liquid, or condenses. This happens when warm outdoor air is blown across the condenser coil that is filled with hot, gaseous refrigerant.

The evaporator is responsible for cooling the air going to the space by boiling (evaporating) the refrigerant flowing through it. This happens when warm air is blown across the evaporator as cold refrigerant moves through the evaporator coil. Heat transfers from the air to the refrigerant, which cools the air directly before it is vented to the space.