Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 16:14:15 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: a/c - Sorry
In-Reply-To: <20060907184424.24201.qmail@web51401.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
In reading the rules, here is my understanding of this AC thing.
You can ONLY convert to 134a directly from R12. You cannot convert
DIRECTLY to anything else. To convert to 134a requires certain steps for
safety and the simple mechanics of the process. But VERY importantly,
the inlet and outlet filler valves have to be changed from R12 type to
134a type, and a tag has to be put on the system in a visible place
saying it has been converted and has 134a in the system.
The rules don't say that you can't convert to another refrigerant at
this point. They don't exactly say you can, but they don't say you can't
either. But they do say that IF you convert to one of the approved
alternate refrigerants like Freeze 12, you must follow procedures
prescribed and also change one valve - I think it is the fill valve
connection - back to that of R12.
It's all a bit twisted, but if I've wrongly interpreted this, maybe
someone will straighten me out.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Stephen Grisanti wrote:
> I am following this thread with interest because the
> new-to-us '87 Westy with A/C was diagnosed during the
> pre-buy check with a working compressor that probably
> only needed a charge (R-12, the original system is
> unconverted).
>
> After the purchase I took it to an A/C shop I'd done
> business with and they were to charge and test. Came
> back saying that the compressor leaks, several
> fittings leak and even some hoses leak. No cool, and
> an outrageous estimate for repair/conversion. Now I'm
> wondering how much I should trust them.
>
> I'm tempted to try another shop for just an R-12
> charge to see how long that lasts, but if that is
> unsatisfactory will probably eventually convert.
>
> As I understand it from this thread, I can use Freeze
> 12 to try to get cooling. Can I actually do this or
> must I change fittings? Or must I rely solely on
> paying shops to recharge periodically with R-12 until
> the conversion?
>
> Thanks!
> Stephen
>
> --- mad madeline <mac10wv@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>
>
>> Sorry Bob.. I missed the point that you had already
>> converted it. MM
>>
>> John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET> wrote: trooz wrote:
>>
>>> I was told that one cannot simply add 134-A to a
>>>
>> cooling system that's only
>>
>>> blowing about 57 degrees. They said the system had
>>>
>> to be totally evacuated
>>
>>> and then filled with a precise amount. Anyone know
>>>
>> about that? I've always
>>
>>> had Freon added in the past (it's been R-12 until
>>>
>> a few months ago when I
>>
>>> had the system converted to 134-A). Is this
>>>
>> something peculiar to 134-A or
>>
>>> just peculiar to this shop? They're talking close
>>>
>> to a couple hundred
>>
>>> dollars to do it.
>>>
>>> Bob Trousdale
>>> '90 Westy
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> I think you are getting a snow job from the shop. If
>> they have the
>> proper guages they can determine exactly how much
>> needs to be added
>> without going through all that.
>>
>> Now that you have already converted to 134a, you can
>> legally step up and
>> convert to a blended refrigerant like Freeze-12,
>> which will give you
>> performance within a gnats whisker of the original
>> R-12, and is a lot
>> cheaper. The rules regarding all this are an
>> abfuscation in my opinion,
>> but if you really dig into it, you discover that
>> legally you can't go
>> directly from R-12 to a blended refrigerant like
>> Freeze-12, but by
>> regulation you must first convert - using all the
>> proper steps - to
>> 134a, then from there you may convert again - using
>> all the proper steps
>> - over to the blended refrigerant. I think the legal
>> beagles were trying
>> to avoid some kind of problems if they said it was
>> OK to convert
>> straight across. No mechanical reason you can't,
>> just legal reasons -
>> it's the rules.
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> John Rodgers
>> 88 GL driver
>>
>>
>>
>> ---------------------------------
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>
>
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