refrigerant identification: was; the ever controversial "DASH AIR"

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

I agree Scott, mine cost me around $1,400.00 and is an on going cost factor.

When your EPA certified, every ounce recovered and every ounce dispersed,
must be documented. One can get a good read on what is in a system with a
known good chart, amp meter, accurate gauges and scales.

The size of the access valves are a good indication, providing they were,
in fact, changed over ( many are not) when going from R-12 to R-134a as a
for instance. The ambient temp, the out put of the Delta T, the amps and
the given low and high pressures, when put into an equation and crossed by
the known values on the charts get very close. However, new blends are
being brought out on the market every day and being advertised that they
will be the replacements in the future. The base used in refrigerants is
another item that must be considered when using, replacing or changing to
an up graded version. Then it goes further if there has been a compressor
burn out or not, in flushing the system the a vacuum draw down and another
flushing using gasses like inert nitrogen. Then finely another full vacuum
drawn on a time constant to a millibar reading and held stable there to
check for leaks.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma
http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm

At 08:37 AM 8/10/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>Not an easy task to identify the type of
>refrigerant/oil is in your system. If you think
>someone may have converted to something else, (and
>there are lots of options out there, not just 134a),
>you probably have to go to an A/C shop, and pay them
>to test it. The equipment costs $700-$1000.
>
>Scott Peatross
>'87PT40
>
>
>
>--- ttikalsky wrote:
>
>
>---------------------------------
>Anyone know how to test for the type of refrigerant
>currently in the
>system? (R12 or R134)?
>
>