difference between r12 and r134a gauges

If it splashes inside the eye, it could lead to a serious eye problem. 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. Meanwhile, the R-134a gas has a COP of 4.62, which is lower than the other two gases. Many existing fridges and air conditioning units still use this refrigerant and work very efficiently. Theres one type of oil that will work with both refrigerants. This means that it has a high potential of causing depletion to the ozone layer. R134a is an HFC or tetrafluoroethane, and its chemical formula is CH2FCF3. Both of these compounds have similar cooling properties. Sold by e7tools and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. BTW Im sorta tempted to buy one of your BMW 2002 cars. Nevertheless, repeat after me: It is illegal to vent refrigerant. On a long-dormant system, the odds are very high that its dead because it has no refrigerant in it, which means it has leaked out which means theres a leak that must be located and fixed. Lets take you through the advantages, disadvantages, and differences of these two refrigerants a detailed comparison including R12 vs R134a performance. At this time you can still find R12, but, because it is no longer produced, availability is limited to current inventories and the price per pound is greater than R134a. This allows the refrigerant in the condenser to be void of oil particles. The major difference between these two refrigerants is their chemical composition. Find more info about me and HVAC Training 101. The air conditioning system in your car uses a combination of evaporation and condensation to cool the interior. Many older automotive systems still use R12, and as youre still able to purchase individual small cans of this refrigerant via on-line marketplaces, its use in many classic motor vehicles will likely continue. When the temperature is reduced to-7C or below, the plants ability to cool the airdrops significantly. As R134a was touted as the replacement for R12, and the conversion of the refrigeration system to run R134a was relatively painless, many commercial installations use this refrigerant. R134a has a smaller molecule than R12 so R134a will leak out sooner than R12. Nevertheless, if your application is configured only for R12, then you can use it or consider replacing the applications engine. Most countries frown on the use of these gasses due to their environmental impact. On this website we are addressing only R134a and not other suggested drop in replacements. But some types of PAG do not mix well with the old residual R12 mineral oil left in the system components whereas ester does mix very well. But once youre on that path, you can improve the system with a new compressor and parallel-flow condenser which, in most cases, will allow you to get good results with R134a. Typically 5 to 6 ounces of a/c oil is adequate but this may vary depending upon the car. A comparison between R12 vs. R134a temperature will show that R12 has a higher temperature than R134a. 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. The compressors used by refrigeration plants to compress gas require oil to help lubricate its moving parts. This gas is then cooled via environmental means, and the gas slowly loses heat and reverts to a liquid state. The alternator, sometimes called a generator, generates electricity to charge the battery and power all the electric auxiliaries while driving. Its been used in the refrigeration industry for a long time, so theres a large body of knowledge established around the product. Its among the greenhouse gases and will keep adding the current problem of heat not leaving the earths atmosphere. Its chemical symbol is CH2FCF3. And that brings us to, I continue to use R12 in two of my carsmy 1972 BMW 2002tii and 1973 Bavaria. To ensure the right charge, you must fill the new system with between 75 and 85% of the factory-set capacity for optimal cooling. https://www.wiseautotools.com/mountain-quick-connect-r12-ac-gauge-conversion-to-134a/ A/C gauge conversion kits from R12 to R134A. All these industries still have old plants that use these refrigerants. 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). Refrigerant Can Leak Easier For starters, R12 systems and R134a systems are designed differently to accommodate the gaseous state of each. You can then add ester oil thatll work with either R12 or R134a. Hand in hand with this is the global warming potential (GWP), which measures the gass potential as a greenhouse gas. The safe high side pressures are determined with a PT (pressures and temperatures) chart. Pound for pound R134a is a more efficient refrigerant than R12, however it runs at higher pressures in some aspects and therefore requires more effective condensing. SureBilt R-134a High and Low Side Service Port Repair Kit $ 5. If the oil didnt dissolve into the refrigerant, it would reduce the refrigerants ability to transfer heat. The major difference between these two refrigerants is their chemical composition. If your car was produced after 1994, it likely has R134a used as the refrigerant. The problem in all of this is the sentence As long as the system is functioning correctly and not leaking. Who in their right mind would take a tight, cold, R12-based system and convert it to less-efficient R134a? Part # LX-14. This is not to say that one of these small retro-fit kits cant be used, however to be used wisely. Its better that this is done by professional technicians as venting any of this gas into the atmosphere is environmentally damaging and illegal. Below are the major differences between R134a and R12: The chemical composition of R12 and R134a differ. The ozone depletion potential of a chemical is a factor that shows the level of degradation itll cause to the ozone layer that surrounds and secures the earth from harmful radiation. 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. R134a Expansion valve different from R12? Here are a few of the more common questions. This chemical is tetrafluoroethane, and its chemical formula is CH2FCF3. However, its been shown that R134a is as destructive to the environment, and newer refrigerants have been created to overcome this problem. You can look up the law yourself at www.epa.gov/mvac, but basically it boils down to three things. R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. The global warming potential of R134a is 1430. The value of carbon dioxide is 1. The maximum value is 1. In the years following the switch to R134a, there was confusion over what was required to maintain the A/C of older cars. While R513A is a viable option for new and existing equipment, it is not a "drop- in" replacement for R12 or R134a. Even if youre OK with that, if the system needs work, any refrigerant in it will need to be recovered. Plus, not releasing the chemical into the air is morally justifiable. With that said, Ill agree that the flammability issue may not be as black-and-white as it appears. It provided much needed context as I embark on re-building the AC in my sons new (to him) 1988 Toyota pickup. 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. However, you will need different recovery machines and other equipment to handle R1234yf. Refrigerant 134a, or R134a, was developed as an alternative to the CFC refrigerants known to cause environmental damage. I think that, with hindsight, many people would agree that, even given that R12 is an ozone-destroying agent, fines of this level made many hard-working A/C technicians hostile to the government, and thus were counterproductive. Legally. You can spend interesting evenings going down the rabbit hole online and reading posts from folks who vigorously defend flammable refrigerants and say, You do know that your car carries 20 gallons of flammable gasoline, dont you? Yes, but gasoline usually isnt routed through the passenger compartment, and theres a zero-tolerance policy toward gasoline leakage. The effect that R134a has on global warming makes this gas an unattractive product to many technicians. So, instead of using R12, other better options include R401b, R134a, R401a, etc. It also means that rotary, centrifugal, and reciprocating compressors can be used with R12. We have the best A/C Manifold Gauge Set and Components for the right price. All refrigeration plants use compressors to compress the gas returning from collecting heat, raise its temperature further, and compress it to facilitate cooling. His new book, Just Needs a Recharge: The Hack Mechanic Guide to Vintage Air Conditioning, is now available on Amazon. Thus, R-600a is more efficient than R-134a. Home Air Conditioners R12 vs R134a Refrigerant: What is the Difference? As this chemical has carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine but no chlorine, its not dangerous to the ozone layer. Its often said that R12 is no longer available. This ability has encouraged R12 in a wide variety of applications and over a wide range of temperature variables. This product was developed to overcome the old CFC refrigerants problems as it has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0.055. We are an automotive mechanic blog that helps mechanics and car users to find the most recent and accurate technical and repair information for their cars. Further production of R12 was banned in some developed countries by the Montreal Protocol because of its harsh effect on the ozone layer. When ever possible you should ask the technician to note the same information on your repair bill and keep a copy in your glove box for future reference. Safety: R134a is safe to use as its non-flammable and cant explode. The simple answer is you cant. This means that the mineral oil in the system wont dissolve. 29. The global warming potential of R134a is 1430. R12 uses mineral oil, but R134a wont dissolve in mineral oil. For instance at 25 F the pressure of R-12 is 24.6 PSI and the pressure of R-134a is 22.1 PSI. See your PT chart. R134a was the replacement refrigerant for R12. R134a is still used in the automotive industry as a refrigerant and in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals, as a propellant. Also, if you want to know what happens if you put R134a in an R12 system, you should first confirm if the R12 system can be replaced or if the refrigerants can be mixed. Stability: RR12 doesnt disintegrate even under extreme operating conditions. And, unfortunately a small high side pressure gauge on a short hose. Because R134a is an HFC, not a CFC (stay with me for a minute), it does not have the ozone-destroying properties of R12. This should give you a rough idea of how much youll need. R12 has a global warming potential factor of 2400. R-12 isn't just unfriendly to the ozone layer, it has a GWP value of 10,900! Note that I am not advocating taking the exam and getting the EPA 609 certification simply so you can legally buy R12; Im just stating what the law appears to be. _________________. This item: R12 R22 R134a R404a Manifold Gauge Set 3" Gauge HVAC A/C Refrigeration Charging Service. Well worth the money if your A/C system is still in good shape. The system will accumulate a type of acidic sludge that will eventually destroy the system. First things first. He passed. Chemistry. These properties make it very attractive for domestic, commercial, and automotive refrigeration and air conditioning. The issue is that you need to reach the point where the system is functional and leak-free. He started writing automotive articles to share his garage experience with car enthusiasts and armature mechanics. These factors make it a safe product for a technician to work with. The biggest difference between the two is that R1234yf is mildly flammable and does require special handling. If you use anything other than R134a, youll likely create a situation where you must be the one servicing the system. Difference Between R-134a and R-410A Refrigerants? Whether R134a performs as well as R12 in any given a/c system depends upon system components and the amount of R134a used. Providing they dont leak, theyre no risk to the environment. What is usually sniffed are all the connections in the system: hoses and compressor, condenser, drier, expansion valve and evaporator fittings. Santech R12 to R134a Coupler Conversion Kit. R134a is otherwise called 1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane, Florasol 134a, Freon 134a, Norflurane (INN) or HFC 134a. But if you live in a hot climate, want to daily-drive the car, and the car has a tiny-capacity A/C system which, even after modernization, may only perform marginally, you may want to consider sticking with R12. All in all, I'm very happy with the results and see no reason why they won't last. The cost of recharging the air conditioner is between $150 to $500. Before we mentioned that you can add approximately 5-6 ounces of ester oil to the compressor. R134a refrigerant is lighter than R12. Using the specs for the current system, multiply the R12 charge by 0.9 or 90% to determine the refrigerant capacity. To take one of these and convert it to R134a was usually a recipe for disappointment. Its been likened to trying to convert a petrol engine to run on diesel. 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. This means when lowering temperatures to -7C or below, theres a noticeable drop in the plants ability to chill the air. However, R134a is better than R12. . Because of R1234yfs mild flammability, BMW and Mercedes are now adopting R744. SKU # 532244. . However, you need calibrated gauges for R410A. In contrast, older CFC refrigerants had an ODP of 1. At this point it is time to make an appointment with the a/c shop. R134a is the most widely accepted alternative automotive refrigerant used to replace R12. The major environmental impact of this refrigerant escaping into the atmosphere is its contribution to global warming. This makes it expensive to purchase and adds to the attraction of replacing it with other greener products. Stay on the right side of the law, the environment, and your conscience, and dont vent refrigerant. Some compressor manufacturers or OEMs suggest PAG type oil for R134a. R134a systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12, which can cause compressor seals to leak. Temperature and pressure chart for refrigerants R22, R410A, R12, R134A, R401A, R409A, R502, R404A, R507A, R408A and R402A. We recently created this blog site to enable us to share our knowledge with other automotive mechanics and car owners. pdrayton on Sat July 14, 2007 2:12 PM Year: 1983 Make: Mercedes Model: 240D Engine Size: 2.4 Refrigerant Type: R12 Ambient Temp: 90 Pressure Low: 35 Pressure High: ? 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. One cant discount its drawbacks, but theres a great deal of knowledge and information available on safely using the product. R134a systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12, which can cause compressor seals to leak. R12s GWP is 10,910. R12s ODP is 1 (the highest rating). In most cases, the systems used have varied components, designs, and service ports. This can be very very expensive. Shut off your car and once again let out all the pressure. However, theyre still used in older plants, systems, and the automotive industry. I can tell you that R12 is some seriously great refrigerant; it gets both of these cars meat-locker cold almost from the instant the A/C is turned on. Generally the system will be initially charged with approximately 80% to 85% of the original amount of R12, using R134a. These two refrigerants are very similar. This would become an expensive investment for a repair or service station to have unique dedicated equipment for every type of alternative refrigerant. The R12a cans use the same taps as the R134a cans and the supplied hose has R134a compatible fittings on both ends, so R12a can be used to recharge R134a systems too. The typical scenario here is when the car owner buys an inexpensive retro-fit kit from the local auto parts store. Therefore, its most suitable for both commercial and domestic environments. R134a belongs to the family of HFCs or hydrofluorocarbons. 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. I have seen a large difference in pressures you are looking for due to temperature demand of unit. The reason is that the vehicles, for instance, manufactured currently configure the engine for R1234yf refrigerant, making no provision for replacement. ZENY 3,5CFM Single-Stage 5 Pa Rotary Vane Economy Vacuum Pump 3 CFM 1/4HP Air Conditioner Refrigerant HVAC Air Tool R410a 1/4" Flare Inlet . The major reason for the replacement of R12 with R134a was to curb future greenhouse effects. Gauges are used to read the pressure of various liquids and gases in a cooling system, as well as vacuum pressure in the process of testing or charging the device. Note that there is another kind of oil called Polyol Ester Oil (POE). I did a beer cooler with a target temp of 36 degrees, these are largely different pressures than you'll see in automotive which has a max desired temp of 60 degrees. This chemical has carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine. Piston Slap: Booting a Torino in a snap without snaps? 1. Google use cookies for serving our ads and handling visitor statistics. R12 was used mainly in domestic and commercial refrigeration, while R134a was used mainly by the automotive industry. In addition, there is a $10,000 rat-out fee your neighbor can collect if youre venting refrigerant and he tattles on you. In addition to the low boiling point, there are two other de facto requirements for refrigerant: It shouldnt be poisonous, and it shouldnt be flammable. The molecule size of R134a is smaller than that of R12, so there was concern that R134a could leak out through the hoses and flare fittings that R12 systems used. 5 foreign cars that were copied from American style. Many commercial enterprises that run large chillers or transport companies running reefer trailers or containers have used R12 as its a highly efficient refrigerant that provides excellent cooling. There are significant differences between R12, R134a, and R513A, which must be considered when handling, processing, applying, or retrofitting with these refrigerants. Because A/C compressors have moving parts, they require oil. You confirmed my decisions in one elegant post (as opposed to the 60-odd hours of blog post readings and YouTube videos). Besides R134a there are some other refrigerants that are approved to replace R12 and there is a long list of refrigerants that are not approved. R12 systems use screw-on connectors, while R134a systems use push-on connectors similar to those used in air tools. Besides, R134a refrigerant was manufactured after R12 was banned to help reduce the harshness of the old chemical (R12) on the ozone layer. R12 is found in all kinds of refrigeration, ice makers, air conditioners, water coolers, transport refrigeration, and chillers. A significant investment. R12, on the other hand, is called chlorofluorocarbon (CFC). Both of these gasses are very safe for use in all forms of refrigeration as theyre not flammable, explosive, or toxic. It is also used in automotive car conditioning and the plastic industry. R134a has a boiling point of -14.9 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas R410 boils at -61.9 degrees. Its found in domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. R134a was touted as the replacement for R12 until it too was deemed environmentally undesirable. Of course, there could be other problems such as a seized compressor or a blocked expansion valve. In the automotive world, the replacement for R12 was tetrafluoroethane, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) branded as R134a. The biggest giveaway is the air conditioning connectors. Then there are three new EPA-approved climate-friendly alternatives. There is R1234yf, which is already being used on new cars but is classified as mildly flammable. At $70 per pound, no one is using it in retrofit applications. This is because the pressure temperature relationship of R-12 and R-134a is different. As these refrigerants are slowly phased out, there are still many questions that people have about them. R134a vs R12 refrigerant? ODP = 0, Has a global warming potential (GWP) of 10900, No longer manufactured or imported into the USA, Has an ozone depletion factor (ODP) of 1 which is the highest possible, Has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1430. As for R134a and R1234yf, theres no room for conversion.

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