Automotive Air Conditioning Information Forum (Archives)

Provided by www.ACkits.com

We've updated our forums!
Click here to visit the new forum

Archive Home

Search Auto AC Forum Archives

Recovering Charge

WayneC on Tue July 20, 2004 5:13 PM User is offline

Can I use an old 134a tank, pull a vacuum on it, then use it to recover the refrigerant in my system? Then, can this stored refrigerant be placed back in the system afterwards?

I know it's crude, but, would it work?

WC

-------------------------
Those who can...do
Those who can't...
usually end up here

TRB on Tue July 20, 2004 5:27 PM User is offlineView users profile

R134a cylinders have a check valve so this cannot be done.

-------------------------

When considering your next auto A/C purchase, please consider the site that supports you: ACkits.com
Contact: ACKits.com

WayneC on Tue July 20, 2004 6:35 PM User is offline

RATS!

Any other ideas for a cheap recovery-er-thingy?

-------------------------
Those who can...do
Those who can't...
usually end up here

Lemontcars on Tue July 20, 2004 9:32 PM User is offline

has anyone ever tried that type of recovery with a r12? how did it work out?

ChemE on Sat April 12, 2008 9:34 PM User is offline

Possibly illegal:

A side tap may not have a check valve.

If a can is connected to the system with no check valve, the refrigerant would flow toward the can if the pressure is lower in the can.

To make the can pressure lower with the compressor off (PLEASE!), the can could be placed in ice water, lowering the temperature and vapor pressure there.

Refrigerant would flow to the can and condense there until the can is full, or the ice melts, or until there is no liquid in the system and the remaining gas in the system gets down to about 30 PSIG.



Edited: Sat April 12, 2008 at 9:39 PM by ChemE

mk378 on Sat April 12, 2008 10:56 PM User is offline

The recovery container must have enough volume to hold more than the full charge in the system. If you end up with a recovery container absolutely full of liquid refrigerant, it will burst dangerously when it warms up even slightly. There needs to be a headspace of gas in it. For this reason a 12 ounce can is a bad choice.

Cussboy on Sun April 13, 2008 2:35 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: Lemontcars
has anyone ever tried that type of recovery with a r12? how did it work out?

Yes, I've done that with R-12. Here's how I recovered R-12. I had a cannister, about 12 inches by 4 inches diameter, with a shut-off and flare valve. I attached it to my gauge set (middle fitting), attached high side hose to the vacuum pump, and low side hose to low side fitting, and had the cannister sit in a dry-ice-alcohol bath in a bucket. I pulled a vacuum from the cannister (only) then closed it off and opened the cannister to the low side, and my R-12 all went into my cannister for future use.

I suppose I could use a similar cylinder and do similar with R-134a, but haven't had the need to try it yet.

Back to Automotive Air Conditioning Forum

We've updated our forums!
Click here to visit the new forum

Archive Home

Copyright © 2016 Arizona Mobile Air Inc.