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difference between r12 and r134a gauges

    difference between r12 and r134a gauges

    However, theyre still used in older plants, systems, and the automotive industry. We consider the the various types alternative refrigerants that are illegal or not approved to be in two sectors: non-flammables and flammables. See your PT chart. Any old black o-rings should be replaced with R134a-compliant green o-rings. The symbol implies that R12 is a composite of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. R134a has a GWP of 1430. You can recharge your A/C system with chicken soup (lousy refrigerant, by the way) and no black helicopters will come to your house, but in a world where people usually dont hold onto their cars forever, R134a is still the best choice for retrofit applications. Some compressor manufacturers or OEMs suggest PAG type oil for R134a. Difference Between R-134a and R-410A Refrigerants? Stability: RR12 doesnt disintegrate even under extreme operating conditions. 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. No, its not possible to mix these two refrigerants. R12 is well known as a refrigerant used in many applications as its non-toxic, non-explosive, and non-flammable. R134a was touted as the replacement for R12 until it too was deemed environmentally undesirable. In addition, there is a $10,000 rat-out fee your neighbor can collect if youre venting refrigerant and he tattles on you. In the case of R134a, its the global warming potential thats an issue. When the sensor detects the refrigerant leak the sniffers lights glow and the sniffer makes a noise. Refrigerant for domestic & commercial use, Mainly used in the automotive industry but can be used as a refrigerant for domestic and commercial use, Has excellent cooling properties and performs at a similar level to R134A, Has excellent cooling properties and performs at a similar level to R12. This means that its classified as a greenhouse gas and will add to the current problems of heat not escaping the earths atmosphere. R12 and R134a are older generation refrigerants that are no longer produced nor imported into the USA. Relevant Characteristics Between R12 and R134a, R12 vs R134a Refrigerant: What is the Difference? Both of these gasses are very safe for use in all forms of refrigeration as theyre not flammable, explosive, or toxic. dye and seal. If your car was produced after 1994, it likely has R134a used as the refrigerant. After the initial charge the system is then tweeked : you determine the optimum amount of refrigerant to match your system by monitoring the a/c outlet vent temperature and the high side pressure as you add or remove refrigerant. When this happens, the chlorine in the product contributes significantly to the ozone layers depletion, leading to a lack of protection from harmful radiation. That makes it safe in terms of safety to use. We have the best A/C Manifold Gauge Set and Components for the right price. The new player in the market is HFO-1234yf (R-1234yf), which is considered ozone-friendly and has a GWP of less than 1. Ive always liked them. Using R134a requires that Polyolester (POE) lubricant must be used in the compressor. 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. R134a systems operate at higher discharge-side pressures than R12, which can cause compressor seals to leak. Its often said that buying or selling R12 is illegal. Theyre also tasteless, colorless, and odorless. Below are the major differences between R134a and R12: The chemical composition of R12 and R134a differ. R12 is extremely stable and wont deteriorate operating under the most extreme conditions. link to Alternator Overcharging - Causes and Fixes, link to LS Head Bolt Torque Specs and Sequence. 2001-2023 Griffiths Technical Inc. All Rights Reserved. It has already been clearly stated that R12 is a chemical that damages the earths ozone layer and shouldnt be released into the environment no matter the circumstance. Reattach the hose lines using new R134a compatible o-rings, lightly lubricate with compressor oil. Inasmuch as R134a has a global warming potential thats over 1000 times more threatening than carbon dioxide, its better than R12. All signatories to the Montreal Treaty stopped the production of CFC products. Anyone selling R12 is required to verify that the buyer has an EPA Section 609 certification to work with mobile vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) systems. On the other hand, R12 has a global warming potential of 10,910. Of course, the receiver/drier needs to be replaced, as it does any time an A/C system is opened. You do not need to replace the expansion valve in most cases. Nevertheless, repeat after me: It is illegal to vent refrigerant. But the problem with R12 is twofold. He started writing automotive articles to share his garage experience with car enthusiasts and armature mechanics. Osuagwu Solomon is a certified mechanic with over a decade of experience in the mechanic garage, and he has over five years of experience in the writing industry. When the temperature is reduced to-7C or below, the plants ability to cool the airdrops significantly. $34.99. If you are replacing other system components, such as condensers, driers or hoses, you may need to add more a/c refrigerant oil to the system. Because the two oils were different, R134a certainly wasnt a drop-in replacement for R12. It became known as R12 or Freon. In more serious, it could result in cardiac irregularities or death. The cylinder head gasket is one of the most over-engineered and stressed components in an internal combustion engine. Hopefully after you have read this entire page you will have enough information to determine which type of refrigerant is best for you. And don't forget the high side pressures vary with ambient temperature. Sold by e7tools and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. Technicians must capture and recycle R134a safely, and the gas must be disposed of by following the EPA guidelines. So, along with R134a came a new oil: Polyalkylene Glycolor PAG oil. BTW Im sorta tempted to buy one of your BMW 2002 cars. Energy usage: R134a is less efficient in cooling compared to R12. In addition to this, federal laws prohibit the topping up of an R12 system with R134a and vice versa. 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. R-12 isn't just unfriendly to the ozone layer, it has a GWP value of 10,900! Because A/C compressors have moving parts, they require oil. No one here will work on it, he said. The global warming potential of R134a is 1430. A gentleman in Canada was very interested until he learned about the R12. R134a has a boiling point of -14.9 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas R410 boils at -61.9 degrees. 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. There are kits that convert R12 to R134a. This should give you a rough idea of how much youll need. R134a is otherwise called 1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane, Florasol 134a, Freon 134a, Norflurane (INN) or HFC 134a. In large application systems, the vapor density of this refrigerant is usually high. As long as the compressor was working well, it could be drained, filled with R134a-compatible oil, and reused. The following bullets are verbatim from EPAs website: There is an additional requirement that the cars A/C have charging fittings that are unique to the refrigerant being used, but its the venting part thats of the most interest, as its the area where you can get fined. R134a is the most commonly used refrigerant to convert automotive air conditioning away from the destructive R12. However, R134a is better than R12. The cost of recharging the air conditioner is between $150 to $500. This item: R12 R22 R134a R404a Manifold Gauge Set 3" Gauge HVAC A/C Refrigeration Charging Service. Santech R12 to R134a Coupler . The typical scenario here is when the car owner buys an inexpensive retro-fit kit from the local auto parts store. As for R134a and R1234yf, theres no room for conversion. R134a won't provide the same level of cooling as R12, though. In the years following the switch to R134a, there was confusion over what was required to maintain the A/C of older cars. As this chemical has both chlorine and fluorine in its make-up, it belongs to the group of chemicals known as CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons. This gas is then cooled via environmental means, and the gas slowly loses heat and reverts to a liquid state. You can then add ester oil thatll work with either R12 or R134a. These efforts to balance the system can not be realized if there are problems within the a/c system, such as: poor performing compressor, dirty condenser or poor air flow through the condenser, malfunctioning expansion valve, water or air in the system, improperly operating fresh air or heat input in the climate-air mixing system. Its cylinders are colored white. Additionally, R134a was introduced as a replacement for R22 and R12 in high and medium-temperature refrigeration systems like domestic and commercial chillers. 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. A simple rule of thumb conversion would be to take the amount of R12 refrigerant your system requires, in pounds, and multiply by 0.9 (your answer should be 90% of the R12 value). The simple answer is you cant. Over time, a credible middle ground emerged. R12 systems use screw-on connectors, while R134a systems use push-on connectors similar to those used in air tools. It provided much needed context as I embark on re-building the AC in my sons new (to him) 1988 Toyota pickup. Most countries frown on the use of these gasses due to their environmental impact. 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. Refrigerant 12 or Freon 12 is colloquially known as R12. The hose length is 60 inches and comes with a 1-year warranty. 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. However, if it is taken close to a fire flame or any electrical heating element, it disintegrates into toxic products. 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. I was recently selling a beautiful 1987 BMW 325is with cold R12-based A/C. The only time this product will be unsafe for humans is if its exposed to flame, when it breaks down into toxic substances or if its discharged into the air. 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. As Ive said, R12 is a nasty ozone-destroying chemical and should never be released to the environment under any circumstances, so in addition to being illegal to vent it, you have a moral obligation not to vent it. Since you cant vent any refrigerant without breaking the law, and since youll be hard-pressed to find a shop that will recover anything other than R134a, youll have painted yourself into a corner. Unfortunately, taking the longer view of things, even if you do leak-test a car thoroughly and properly all A/C systems leak eventually, so any can of R12 you put into a car will likely wind up in the atmosphere, an eventuality that I am less and less comfortable with. Meanwhile, the R-134a gas has a COP of 4.62, which is lower than the other two gases. 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. Hence, the effect of R12 on global warming is up to 10,000 times higher than carbon dioxide. Small NOS cans of R12 are widely available on eBay and Craigslist for about $30 apiece. Bottom line, R134a simply doesnt cool as well as R12. Country of Origin: United States Hi, this is my first post, so please take it easy on the noob. R134a was developed to replace R12, so it works over the same range of applications. Legally. These factors make it a safe product for a technician to work with. Its found in domestic and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning. There is R744, which is literally carbon dioxide (CO2). In most cases, the systems used have varied components, designs, and service ports. R134a is still used in the automotive industry as a refrigerant and in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals, as a propellant. Price is reasonable Consistent and accurate Its a safe product for use in a variety of domestic and commercial environments. R12s ODP is 1 (the highest rating). 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. The major environmental impact of this refrigerant escaping into the atmosphere is its contribution to global warming. 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. The major reason for the replacement of R12 with R134a was to curb future greenhouse effects. In fact, R12 was used for many years as a propellant in a variety of aerosol products and sprayed directly into the air, and it is closely related to the halon used in fire extinguishers. To take one of these and convert it to R134a was usually a recipe for disappointment. In many parts of the world, its now viewed as a greenhouse gas, and its use is discouraged. While the use of this product is steadily increasing in many developing countries, its now banned in the USA and, since 2020, is no longer manufactured or imported to the USA. 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. The biggest problem that youll have is the oil in the system. R12 uses mineral oil, but R134a wont dissolve in mineral oil. R134a isnt as efficient in cooling as R12. To prevent refrigerant loss you should consider replacing your old hose lines with barrier type hose. 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. Its unlikely that air conditioners or refrigeration plants will be converted from R12 or R134a to R22, but it can be done if reclaimed R22 refrigerant can be located. For this reason, when a car is being sold these days, R12 is often seen as a liability, a looming conversion expense, even if the system is functional and cold. R134a isnt toxic, corrosive, explosive, or flammable, making it a good choice for air conditioning, but its cooling properties arent as good as R12. And by matching the correct amount of R134a to use in a given vehicle, correcting the superheat of the expansion valve (if necessary), you can in some manner nearly balance or match the amount of heat drawn out by the evaporator and released by the condenser. It is also used in automotive car conditioning and the plastic industry. On the high side, R134a pressure runs about 10% higher pressure than R12 at equivalent temperatures. Note that there is another kind of oil called Polyol Ester Oil (POE). R12 is known as a CFC or chlorofluorocarbon, with a chemical symbol of CCl2F2. Its called Polyol Ester Oil or POE oil. Note also that, unlike mineral oil, both PAG oil and ester oil are hygroscopicthat is, they absorb water. Ed. As these refrigerants are slowly phased out, there are still many questions that people have about them. R134a is called tetrafluoroethane (HFC). However, R12 refrigerants are still used as fire retardants in aircraft and submarines. The concern that the original R12 hoses would leak R134a like a screen door on a submarine appeared to be largely unfounded, as the insides of original hoses seemed to naturally become impregnated with a combination of refrigerant and oil that acted as a barrier. This product does contain dangerous chemicals such as methyl chloride and vinyl chloride, both of which are carcinogenic and may cause congenital disabilities. When theyre in a liquid state, theyll remove heat from air passing over the pipes theyre in and slowly evaporate to form a gas. The most common influences which effect the capability of R134a to perform well are the condenser, in some cases the the superheat setting of the expansion valve or the amount of R134a. You can find many videos and web forum posts where people retrofit R152a into cars that originally had R12 and profess excellent results, but it is not approved by the EPA for retrofit applications, only new car applications. The common problem when converting from R12 to R134a is lack of knowledge or equipment. 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. This allows the refrigerant in the condenser to be void of oil particles. R134a is NOT less efficient than R12 Actually R134a is more efficient. Both claims are demonstrably untrue. The biggest giveaway is the air conditioning connectors. Heres R12 vs. R134a pressure chart. This is because the pressure temperature relationship of R-12 and R-134a is different. These cheap kits usually have a few cans of R134a (either 12 ounce or 16 ounce), maybe an extra can of refrigerant oil, a few generic R134a charge port adapters and maybe some o-rings. R12 is CFC: Even though R12 is one of the most commonly used refrigerants, it is CFC. Important Features: Color-coded Easy to use Made of high-quality brass Specific for R-134a Pros: Easy to operate. Start the car again and add R12A to bring the low side pressure to about 32 psi. This means that this compound is made up of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. This is not to say that one of these small retro-fit kits cant be used, however to be used wisely. Besides, R134a refrigerant was manufactured after R12 was banned to help reduce the harshness of the old chemical (R12) on the ozone layer. And it was safeneither poisonous to breathe, nor flammable. Its better that this is done by professional technicians as venting any of this gas into the atmosphere is environmentally damaging and illegal. Hope this helps Reply 10-10-2020, 01:12 PM #4 Chris Stritchko 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. 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. When R12s effects on the ozone layer became known and it was superseded by R134a, EPA came down hard with large fines on both professionals and DIY-ers. Using the specs for the current system, multiply the R12 charge by 0.9 or 90% to determine the refrigerant capacity. It belongs to a class of chemicals known as HFCs, and they dont contain chlorine, so R134a doesnt damage the ozone layer. Concentration level: The R134a vapor dilutes the oxygen concentration in the air to a low level, thereby causing harm. This is measured using a factor known as ODP (ozone depletion potential). 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. With the differences between the two refrigerants in mind, it goes without saying that charging an R12 system with R134a can have some serious negative effects. 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. For instance you can evacuate FRIGC FR-12 into a refrigerant recovery bottle that has R134a in it or visa versa. Many existing fridges and air conditioning units still use this refrigerant and work very efficiently. It is usually sold under the brand name, Freon 12. The reason is that the vehicles, for instance, manufactured currently configure the engine for R1234yf refrigerant, making no provision for replacement. Its likely that these plants, which will be expensive to convert, will continue to use R12 with careful maintenance. We say generally because the vehicle manufacturer may have a formula already worked out for the R134a conversion process. We recently created this blog site to enable us to share our knowledge with other automotive mechanics and car owners. 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. Because this recipe was quite expensive, a backlash developed which gave companies an opportunity to sell conversion kits consisting of nothing but the charging port adapters and a small bottle of oil that was somehow magically supposed to make your mineral oil R134a-compatible. The system will be checked for gross leaks while under vacuum. However, leaks do occur. So the oil must be compatible with the refrigerant. R134a is safe to use as its not toxic, flammable, or explosive. The question instead is: Why is the system dead? When you add fluorescent tracer dye to with the refrigerant oil it helps to track down leaks that push oil out of the system. R134a is a pure refrigerant that is sometimes used in blends, while R410a is itself a blend. R12 was the first refrigerant created. Tiny amounts of oil will inevitably find their way into the stream of gas. However, you need calibrated gauges for R410A. Because R134a is an HFC, not a CFC (stay with me for a minute), it does not have the ozone-destroying properties of R12. Unfortunately, converting existing air conditioners that use R22 to use new refrigerants isnt easy. Sign up for the latest automotive news and videosin short, everything for people who love cars. 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. But many European cars, such as the vintage BMWs I love, had A/C systems that never functioned all that well even when they were new and charged up with R12. R12 costs about 4 times as much as R134a. R12 is miscible with mineral oil under any operating condition. In Stock. Boiling Point: R134a refrigerants boiling point is -26.3C (-15.34F). Alternator Overcharging - Causes and Fixes. 1. Whether R134a performs as well as R12 in any given a/c system depends upon system components and the . Being a CFC, this product depletes the earths ozone layer, contributing to global warming. 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.

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