Date:         Wed, 18 Jun 2003 15:10:54 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Refrigerant Regulatory Crap!! (long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

I've been following the thread on "New AC Thing" and in reading some of
the referenced urls, have come to the conclusion that there is a bunch
of regualtory crap being pushed to try and control and channel the use
of certain refrigerants to someones benefit!!

Strange that R-12 should suddenly become a "dangerous ozone depleteing
agent" and disappear from the market aobut the time it's patent ran out.

Strange that the Flamability of 134a is well above that of R-12, yet
comparable refrigerants are referred to as dangerous.

Strange that  the  Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and
Consumer Protection is warning consumers and businesses about  Duracool,
Enviro-Safe, HC 12a, OZ-12, and Maxi-Frig 12a,  Red-Tek 12a,  and others
as illegal refrigerants, when the EPA website lists them and tells you
exactly which fittings are needed for each one to be safe for use, and
what tags and marking to use to be legal.

Check this from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and
consumer Protection website.

Quote: "People are being told Red-TeK 12a and other illegal
hydrocarbon-based refrigerants are environmentally safe replacements for
R-12 and R-134a", Cardin says. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

R-12, commonly referred to as Freon, is an ozone-depleting substance no
longer manufactured in the U.S., and R-134a is the industry accepted
refrigerant replacement for use in vehicle air conditioning systems.
***********
Why is the R-134a being considered the industry standard? I suspect it
is because the others are not allowed to compete.

My suspicion is that this is all a crock of BS, and that it is a market
control manuver to eliminate the competition.

Why shouldn't there be alternate refrigerants available. How is it that
in a market place as big as America, in all the vehicles being
manufactured today, that ONLY one refrigerant is considered acceptable?

I find something majorly wrong with this.

Lets see!! Hmmm, here's my Cervel refrigerator/freezer manual -yep,
kerosene burner provides the energy, ammonia is the gas ---- yep,
calculations show it will drop the temp to "zero" derees  then a small
fan to circulate cold air over the coils, thru the ducts into the cab,
hmmm, yep I think this is going to wok really well on that desert trip
this summer........yep. And it doesn't use 5 horsepower off the engine
to keep it running, just a few btu's off the  kerosene burner.....Yep!

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver