document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. R12 uses mineral oil, but R134a wont dissolve in mineral oil. A gentleman in Canada was very interested until he learned about the R12. Part # LX-14. The global warming potential is a factor that measures the amount of heat trapped by any gas when compared to the amount of heat trapped by the same amount of carbon dioxide. Refrigerant 12 or Freon 12 is colloquially known as R12. There are kits that convert R12 to R134a. One cant discount its drawbacks, but theres a great deal of knowledge and information available on safely using the product. The manufacture and sale of the small cans of R12 used by hobbyists to top off a system also ended, although New Old Stock (NOS) cans of R12 are still privately traded on eBay and Craigslist (Ill come back to that). Its improbable that any new installation will be built that uses this refrigerant as its use is deemed highly undesirable in many countries and international environmental treaties discourage its use. . Though you can purchase 12 or 16 ounce cans of R134a from local retailers it is very difficult to measure out the correct amount into your system. R-134a entirely dominated the automotive market by 1994. You can look up the law yourself at www.epa.gov/mvac, but basically it boils down to three things. Instead of using R12, its preferable to use R134a because it is very easy to find in the market, its sold at an affordable price, and is environmentally friendly. Their differences come mainly in their chemical make-up and environmental impact. Also, the fittings and hoses should be perfectly compatible with R410A. link to Alternator Overcharging - Causes and Fixes, link to LS Head Bolt Torque Specs and Sequence. R134a is still used in the automotive industry as a refrigerant and in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals, as a propellant. rate between the temperature range of -40 C and -10 C is R134a liquid's, while the lowest is the R1270's. Having a low mass flow rate with in the system is a parameter that reduces the cost of operating. The best oil that runs well with R134a is PAG oil or Polyalkylene Glycol. So, along with R134a came a new oil: Polyalkylene Glycolor PAG oil. If the target environment is only moderately hot, and your use of the car is light, R134a will probably be fine. Which brings us to. Over time, a credible middle ground emerged. This product is safe to use in that its not toxic, flammable, or explosive. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 21, 1439 AH. You might find that the system doesn't get as cool even after properly charging it. Your email address will not be published. Price is reasonable Consistent and accurate Instead, top off R12 with R134a refrigerant. The most significant disadvantage of this product is the damage that it can do to the environment if its vented irresponsibly. R12 is miscible with mineral oil under any operating condition. R12 has not be manufactured for a long time it was outlawed in the US. Most of all the differences gravitate to longevity, functionality, and safety. There are other refrigerants: some of which may work, some of which dont work, some of which will destroy your a/c system and some of which are dangerous. As this chemical has both chlorine and fluorine in its make-up, it belongs to the group of chemicals known as CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons. My name is Bob Wells and I am a retired HVAC tech from Washington state. Lichamp HVAC R410A Manifold Gauge Set AC R134A, Freon R22 R32 410A 134A Diagnostic Manifold Gauge with Hose Kit Air Conditioner Refrigerant Recharge Kit Visit the Lichamp Store 403 ratings | 10 answered questions -27% $7999 List Price: $109.99 FREE Returns Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping. Skin contact: If the R134a (liquid) comes in contact with your skin, it could cause a burn. You do not however need to replace all the o-rings or seals for a simple conversion, it is simply a logical thing to do when and if the time comes to work or replace certain components because of age issues. Inhalation of vapor: Inhaling a large amount of R134a vapor can lead to drowsiness, temporary nervous system depression, and lethargy. . R134a is the most commonly used refrigerant to convert automotive air conditioning away from the destructive R12. The ODP of a chemical is a factor that indicates the amount of degradation itll cause to the ozone layer that surrounds the earth and protects it from harmful radiation. R134a refrigerant is lighter than R12. R12 is found in all kinds of refrigeration, ice makers, air conditioners, water coolers, transport refrigeration, and chillers. Before R12 was replaced with R134a in 1995, it was mostly used in trucks and cars. 2021 Complete Guide. A vacuum pump, a refrigerant recover system, quality service gauge set with both low and high side gagues, and much more besides the lessons to learn what to do and what not to do. The best replacement for R134a is R1234yf, while R12 refrigerant replacement was R134a. While R513A is a viable option for new and existing equipment, it is not a "drop- in" replacement for R12 or R134a. If youre resurrecting the A/C in a vintage car, the vast majority of the time the refrigerant has long since leaked out, but if your car has refrigerant in it, and you need to open up the A/C system to work on it, spend a little money and take the car to an A/C shop. It only works with 134a refrigerant. This can be very very expensive. Its among the greenhouse gases and will keep adding the current problem of heat not leaving the earths atmosphere. Kuehl is a registered trademark of Griffiths Technical Inc. Griffiths Technical Inc is not associated with Porsche Cars North America. These are the major reasons that this product is now banned in many countries and replaced by other refrigerants that dont have such a serious environmental impact. There are other EPA-approved refrigerants such as Hot Shot and Freeze 12, which you can find here. It became known as R12 or Freon. Older fridges and air conditioning units that use this refrigerant will still work efficiently, and converting them to more modern refrigerants will be difficult and unrealistically expensive. Carbon dioxide is deemed to have a value of 1, so the higher the compounds factor, the greater its effect on global warming. When you add fluorescent tracer dye to with the refrigerant oil it helps to track down leaks that push oil out of the system. With R12 you use to check to see if the site glass was full, if it had bubbles it meant you had a low charge. R12s boiling point is -21.6F or -29.8C. To be absolutely clear, these refrigerants are not EPA-approved and shouldnt be used. The sticker typically has a place to note the amount of refrigerant used, the type of oil and amount of oil, the technicians sign off or name and the date of the conversion. The cost of recharging the air conditioner is between $150 to $500. Converting them is extremely expensive, and in many cases, replacement is the only option available. Get it as soon as Thursday, Apr 20. The exact amount will vary with each car. In the years following the switch to R134a, there was confusion over what was required to maintain the A/C of older cars. In many parts of the world, its now viewed as a greenhouse gas, and its use is discouraged. Converting these plants to run modern refrigerants will be extremely expensive, and in many cases, mean complete replacement; these plants will likely continue to run for many years. It is also used in automotive car conditioning and the plastic industry. R12 is highly destructive of the ozone layer, and R134a is over 1,000 times more dangerous in terms of global warming than carbon dioxide. Also, look for a blue sticker that gives the date of conversion. Its been labeled as a greenhouse gas, and its use is no longer supported. Any new installation of refrigeration or air conditioning wont use R134a as a refrigerant as the production and importation of this gas to the US has been banned. In contrast, the most likely reason youd consider recharging with an alternative refrigerant is because the refrigerant leaked out of your car and youre trying to avoid doing a full-on A/C rejuvenation which includes finding the leak and properly changing refrigerants. To prevent refrigerant loss you should consider replacing your old hose lines with barrier type hose. This is used in automotive air conditioning in older vehicles and domestic and commercial air conditioning and refrigeration. Were most familiar with water, which we see as ice when its cold, liquid when its at room temperature, and steam when we boil it. But, if your old compressor has lock-up or if your current expansion valve is not functional it would wise to replace the expansion valve with a valve designed for R134a. The biggest problem that youll have is the oil in the system. Here are the basics for converting a system that does not have a charge of R12, its empty. The major environmental impact of this refrigerant escaping into the atmosphere is its contribution to global warming. In addition to it having a low ODP, science has proven that R22 is also a strong greenhouse gas and has a GWP of 1810, indicating that its 1810 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming. Its possible to convert from R12 to R134a without replacing the systems components, so when R134a was brought out, it seems to be a good match to many automotive air conditioning issues. R134a has an ozone depletion potential of zero and a global warming potential of 1430. Ive always liked them. Some recovery machines are equipped for both R134a and R1234yf. Oil doesnt stay in the compressor, however, it dissolves in the liquid refrigerant and gets carried through the system as a fine particulate mist when the refrigerant goes through its liquid/gaseous transition. This is an electronic tool that sucks in air through a tube and across a sensor. So if you car has a large amount of rubber hose, such as a 40 feet with the 911, then you will be re-charging the system often and that is expensive no matter which refrigerant you use. The maximum value is 1. In contrast, older CFC refrigerants had an ODP of 1. R12 is extremely stable and wont deteriorate operating under the most extreme conditions. This is because the pressure temperature relationship of R-12 and R-134a is different. However, there wereand aresome challenges to using it in an automotive A/C system designed for R12. Its still one of the most efficient at cooling, but the destructive effects on the ozone layer and its very high global warming potential have made this environmentally an unwise choice. If you still find it difficult to use R134a in a home AC system, you can check out a comparison of R12 vs R134a fittings to know the refrigerant that best fits the AC system. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101. The next piece of equipment to track down leaks is a leak sniffer. Any old black o-rings should be replaced with R134a-compliant green o-rings. Buy online for free next day delivery or same day pickup at a store near you. First, it is a pernicious ozone-destroying agent, so if you are going to use it in a car, you are morally required to do everything under the sun to thoroughly leak-test the system before charging it with R12. The money you will save by will pay for the R12. Motor manufacturers in the USA used R134a in air conditioning systems for new cars from 1994. Hence, the effect of R12 on global warming is up to 10,000 times higher than carbon dioxide. By using a black light the dye will glow in areas where oil leaks are visible. Because R134a is an HFC, not a CFC (stay with me for a minute), it does not have the ozone-destroying properties of R12. In todays world, the combination of its ozone-depleting ability and its contribution to global warming makes this product a major issue for many countries. Ed. Using R134a requires that Polyolester (POE) lubricant must be used in the compressor. R134a has a smaller molecule than R12 so R134a will leak out sooner than R12. On the high side, R134a pressure runs about 10% higher pressure than R12 at equivalent temperatures. Usually, mechanics charge around $200 for conversion. I wouldnt say Im a BMW enthusiast. Swapping the components isnt a herculean task, but recharging the AC is a challenge. Refrigerant: Must be EPA-approved and cannot be intentionally released (vented) into the environment. R12 is used in several applications like low temperature, medium temperature, and high-temperature applications. Initially, an invasive recipe was proposed: the system should be flushed to remove any traces of the old R12-specific mineral oil, the compressor and expansion valve should be replaced with R134a-specific versions to perform correctly, and the old hoses should be replaced with 134a-specific barrier hoses to forestall leakage. R22, or to give it its proper chemical name, chlorodifluoromethane (CHCIF), is a colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-flammable alternative to older refrigerants. Theres no problem with using R134a in a home air conditioning system because it is a hydrofluorocarbon that doesnt cause environmental harm. There is R744, which is literally carbon dioxide (CO2). However, R134a is better than R12. After the system has been tested out it should be checked for leaks. Once you take these precautions, it would be possible to use R134A gauges R410A systems seamlessly. The effect that R134a has on global warming makes this gas an unattractive product to many technicians. This would become an expensive investment for a repair or service station to have unique dedicated equipment for every type of alternative refrigerant. Technicians must capture and recycle R134a safely, and the gas must be disposed of by following the EPA guidelines. However, leaks do occur. A comparison between R12 vs. R134a temperature will show that R12 has a higher temperature than R134a. In Stock. Further production of R12 was banned in some developed countries by the Montreal Protocol because of its harsh effect on the ozone layer. R134a isnt as efficient in cooling as R12. The major difference between these two refrigerants is their chemical composition. These guidelines are strictly enforced, and contravention of them can lead to severe penalties being imposed. R134A does not deplete the ozone layer of the earth as it is a CFC refrigerant. Problem solved, right? Also, the EPA 609 certification can be easily obtained by taking an online exam. The main difference between R12, R134a, and R1234yf is their effect on the environment. It has a lower global warming potential than R134a. Like R12, this product is non-toxic, non-flammable, and not explosive. This product is non-toxic, non-flammable, and not explosive, so its extremely safe to use for domestic refrigeration. 0,008 0,01 0,012 0,014 0,016 0,018 0,02-40 -35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 Evaporation Temperature Mass Flow Rate R600a R134a R290 R1270 R32 . There are many thousands of older air conditioning and refrigeration plants that use these refrigerants. R12 connectors were of the screw type, while R134a has push-on connectors similar to air tools. Its better that this is done by professional technicians as venting any of this gas into the atmosphere is environmentally damaging and illegal. Bottom line, R134a simply doesn't cool as well as R12. If you have a perfectly operating system using R12 you do not have to drop what you are doing and convert to R134a. In air conditioning units installed in motor vehicles, the systems increased running time results in increased fuel usage. The problem with using an approved alternative refrigerants other than R134a is that when the system is serviced it requires certain types of fittings, labels and dedicated equipment. But, if your car lacks enough condenser and you have many 100+ degree days then you may want to stick either increase air flow, add another condenser as we mentioned in The Mr. Ice Project or stick with R12. I am currently retired and no longer do much with HVAC, however, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge in the subject and I wanted to create a website where I could talk about what I've learned and help upcoming HVAC techs. They might say for instance, add 3-4 oz of oil to the compressor, 1 oz of oil for when you replace a drier, 2 oz oil for the evaporator and so on. For those of you who are considering what the cost is for R12 you can think of it this way: Dont go out to dinner this weekend. Its not that difficult but the procedures of evacuation, charging and testing should be done by a licensed a/c technician that is experienced with R134a and your particular car. Both of these refrigerants wont be used in new air conditioning or refrigeration plants, but theyll continue to be used in existing plants and the automotive industry. Note that R134a is also sometimes called Freon, even labeled as such on the can, so its best to be clear and use the names R12 and R134a. R12s GWP is 10,910. Its cylinders are colored white. No, its not possible to mix these two refrigerants. Its highest value is 1. Refrigerant Can Leak Easier For starters, R12 systems and R134a systems are designed differently to accommodate the gaseous state of each. All in all, I'm very happy with the results and see no reason why they won't last.
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