Date: Tue, 08 Jul 1997 22:13:41 -0500
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: tbill <tbill@startext.net>
Subject: Re: Freon Conversions
This it too good- I'm going post it on the list.
TBill
Carl Ponder wrote:
>
> TBill
> You recently wrote:
> > Um, the later, I think. BTW, can you mix the propane with the feon, or
> > do you have to evacuate the feon first?
>
> In support of your position, I recently came across a letter as follows:
>
> > This discussion was hashed out years ago on sci.energy. Here are some
> > of the points:
> >
> > 1. No one disputes that that hydrocarbon refrigerant is explosive when
> > mixed with air in the proper proportions.
> >
> > 2. However, it takes a gross leak in an air conditioning system to get
> > enough hydrocarbon refrigerant into the air to get to an explosive
> > mixture.
> >
> > 3. Refrigerant leaks are normally very slow on air conditioning systems.
> > These leaks are so slow that you won't build up an explosive mixture
> > either inside the passenger compartment or a closed garage.
> >
> > 4. You can get a fast leak if you are involved in an accident. But
> > even if you have a fast leak, you need to have a fairly optimum
> > mixture of fuel and air to get an explosion.
> >
> > 5. There is enought (flamable) oil in an A/C system that even
> > a system with only R-12 can have a leak which will burn like a
> > blow torch, producing chlorine gas in the process.
> >
> > 6. If you are talking about a major accident, you need to keep in mind
> > that you may have 100 lbs of flamable gasoline, 8 lbs of flamable
> > engine oil, a few pounds of flamable brake fluid, some flamable clutch
> > fluid, etc. Cars are rolling bombs, even without any A/C. A few pounds
> > of flamable refrigerant may not be a significant additional hazard.
> >
> > 7. If you do put hydrocarbon refrigerants into your A/C system, clearly
> > label the system so that someone servicing it knows that hazard which
> > may exist if the system is opened up (large leak).
> >
> > 8. The propane/iso-butane mix is a better refrigerant than R-12, and will
> > give better cooling.
> >
> > 9. If you are not comfortable with it, don't do it. But keep the the
> > scare stories in perspective.
> >
> > 10. I believe that pure hydrocarbon refrigerant substitutes are not
> > "approved" by EPA. But there is no environmental problem with them.
> > The EPA is responding to pressure from the automobile A/C servicing
> > lobby, and imposing regulations outside of their proper area of
> > concern.
> >
> > Donald Borowski WA6OMI Hewlett-Packard, Spokane Division
>
> I personally subscribe to the conspiracy theory between Dow Chemical, The EPA,
> and the Automakers.
>
> Carl
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