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diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:11 pm
by supazuk
is it possible for joe average to get the bits necessary to regas a aircon?
if so where do i find the necessary bits and how do i use them.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:15 pm
by wreckingball
no go to an aircon specialist or an auto sparky
sorry
mark
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:57 pm
by want33s
Evacuation pumps and pressure gauges are all available on Ebay..
If you have an evac pump you can take the gas out of other cars
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:00 pm
by 80's_delirious
at a guess, if you dont have the neccesary bits, and dont know how to use them, you are better off paying to have it done. Regas alone shouldnt be too expensive.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:05 pm
by McLarryBob
Also you have to have a licence to handle A/C gas... So no, Joe average can't do a re-gas 'legally'. Also there is a bit of know how needed to do it.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:12 pm
by supazuk
i probably should have mentioned that a trip to a sparky will cost me around $3500 so if i cant diy
then there is no aircon.
is the gas in coolrooms the same as car systems?
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:18 pm
by McLarryBob
If your electrical side of your A/C works than you don't need to go to a sparky, you can just get your A/C re-gassed.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:21 pm
by mnemonix
Check his location guys, he's not exactly located in Sydney CBD.
Lets discuss the Tech aspects, can it be done and if so what procedure/with what tools etc.
Leave the legalities to someone else.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:30 pm
by nayto
Im guessing your far too remote to just pop down to an a/c shop, so yes it is possible with the right tools. Forget the legal side of it.
First you'd need an evacuation pump, the vac the system down and boil off any leftover moisture etc, then you'd need a bottle of gas (R134a or if your car is old R12) not sure if you can still get R12, if not you'd have to upgrade to the newer gas. Also hoses and gauges to suit to do the sucking and blowing.
IF you could get hold of this stuff, sure you could regas it yourself, it isnt rocket science. Im sure after reading google you could get it cold.
PS this is all hoping that there isnt a leak somewhere in the system that needs repairing and your compressor is good.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:34 pm
by supazuk
the legalities are of no consequence, i just want cold wind. the system was serviced when i was in town
around 3 months ago with new o rings and receiver dryer however he didn't tighten one of the lines
properly and most of the gas fell out. i have bypassed the pressure switch and it sort of works but really needs more gas.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:45 pm
by supazuk
i think i will give this a try
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2x-bottl ... ccessories" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
with one of these
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/car-R134 ... 3cb38cb3a5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:27 pm
by 80cruzza
want33s wrote:Evacuation pumps and pressure gauges are all available on Ebay..
If you have an evac pump you can take the gas out of other cars
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
No you cant a vac pump is for pulling a vacuum, a reclaimer is for removing refrigerant
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:35 pm
by 80cruzza
if its only for a top up that should work, Dont know how you would go with getting the gas into the country as it is governed by fedral law, to buy or sell you require a trading licence. The one problem i see with it is it doesnt have a guage to check pressures so you would relying only on the sight glass ( if your system has one) and sweat back down the suction line, would have to be carefull not to overcharge.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:27 pm
by mrfras
Hi supazuk,
Recharging the air con system on your vehicle is possible but U need a little knowledge about what takes place in relations to gas, over pressureising system can be great makes it much colder too much gas will also make system freeze up then only warm air most systems work on a volume of gas in systems these days & used to be on bonnet somewhere, assume U are in central aust somewhere so online is your only option to buy there is a company advertising for farmers to regas their tractors with small bottles of R134A gas they are located in Dubbo in NSW as I wasn't interested never took any notice of their name I think they are a tractor spare parts company
Thanks
Fras
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:30 pm
by hillbilliywheelchair
just use house hold bottle gas works real well
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 9:53 pm
by mrfras
Hi ,
Try this web site they seem ok for spare parts for air cons & diy repairs
cooldrive.com.au
Thanks
fras
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:47 pm
by shakes
hillbilliywheelchair wrote:just use house hold bottle gas works real well
dont let the saftey police read that one.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:17 am
by hillbilliywheelchair
shakes wrote:hillbilliywheelchair wrote:just use house hold bottle gas works real well
dont let the saftey police read that one.
but it works realy well
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:56 am
by V.W.Dave
hillbilliywheelchair wrote:shakes wrote:hillbilliywheelchair wrote:just use house hold bottle gas works real well
dont let the saftey police read that one.
but it works realy well
It does work well but the extra chemicals in the house grade refrigerant will eat the seals in your system. It is also a heavier gas that will clog the filters in the system a lot quicker.
Older R12 systems that HAVE NOT had R134a in them run on house gas better. But in either it will do damage over time.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:54 am
by shakes
I think he was talking LPG dave
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:43 am
by want33s
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:41 am
by poppywhite
from memory paul me3@nuralfibre did something on this? and propane has another R name and is used in air con.
Take a look at pauls blog or find him on here?
I wouldnt mind a cooler breeze aswelll but @ $ 140. as start I am still useing window winder
![#Rofl :rofl:](./images/smilies/new_rofl.gif)
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:09 am
by supazuk
thanks for the links fellas, i will update the thread when the gear gets here.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 9:52 am
by KiwiBacon
Yes propane and butane are both used in refrigeration, they even have R numbers.
R600 is butane (several types).
R290 is propane.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/refri ... d_902.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
LPG is a mix of the two but will have all sorts of impurities you won't find in refrigerant grade gases.
Where are the Hychill boys? They're normally all over these threads.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:26 am
by pcman
jaycar sell cans of r134a its sold as freeze spray for electrical work
http://jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID ... BCATID=277" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
tho lpg works really well
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:47 pm
by ISUZUROVER
KiwiBacon wrote:Yes propane and butane are both used in refrigeration, they even have R numbers.
R600 is butane (several types).
R290 is propane.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/refri ... d_902.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
LPG is a mix of the two but will have all sorts of impurities you won't find in refrigerant grade gases.
Where are the Hychill boys? They're normally all over these threads.
How is your home-regassed AC working Dougal???
Where did you get the propane from?
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:48 pm
by georgey
I regas at work.
90% of people come in and say 'I think it needs gas" and then 90% of the time its not the gas thats the problem.
Gas doesnt just disappear,it leaks out.
how sure are you that it is gas?
Id do it at home,but thats because i know how to do it.Wouldnt try it unless you know how.
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:14 pm
by supazuk
georgey wrote:I regas at work.
90% of people come in and say 'I think it needs gas" and then 90% of the time its not the gas thats the problem.
Gas doesnt just disappear,it leaks out.
how sure are you that it is gas?
Id do it at home,but thats because i know how to do it.Wouldnt try it unless you know how.
i know it is gas because of the 2 finger tight fittings, one on the compressor and one on the receiver dryer.
if you want to do it for me i live at Galiwinku.
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=galiwi ... 66&t=h&z=6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:19 pm
by roblrc
Whoever does your coolrooms would be able to do your car if you have found and fixed your leak, by your post you have.Need to vacuum the system to remove air and minmise moisture. A/C charge is measured by weight and checked by either the sight glass and gauges for correct pressures. Careful using propane etc. as you usually only need approx. a 1/3 of the charge that R134a is needed. Hope it helps PM me if you need more info.
Cheers Rob
Re: diy aircon regas
Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:13 pm
by Tojo
pay my airfare and take me fishing and i'll do it for you. That's if they let me take the gas on the plane.