Animal Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 My air con needs re-gassing after having a new condenser fitted. My mate works for a refrigeration company and sorts out industrial air con units in offices, etc and has said he's got everything in his van to do the job on my car and will come round and do it for nowt. Is this a sensible offer? Knowing nowt about air conditioning, is he likely to have the right equipment, gas, whatever to do the job properly or am I better off just spending the 40 quid or whatever at Kwik Fit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KaiBosh Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Took mine to Kwik-Fit the other day. There are apparently two valves and while the top one on my Jap import is the same size as the UK spec, the bottom valve is smaller and K-F don't have the right nozzle. If matey has different sized nozzles, he can do mine for the £40 if he likes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sams Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 the gas he will use will be better than stuff used for cars so you will find your air con will be even colder than you have ever had it, good thing tho in this weather lol and being the wide variation of industrial fringe units, air con etc i would expect him to have a nozzle to fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) Took mine to Kwik-Fit the other day. There are apparently two valves and while the top one on my Jap import is the same size as the UK spec, the bottom valve is smaller and K-F don't have the right nozzle. If matey has different sized nozzles, he can do mine for the £40 if he likes! Ah, that's useful to note, cheers. He doesn't travel that far south, so I can't blag him to do yours. the gas he will use will be better than stuff used for cars so you will find your air con will be even colder than you have ever had it, good thing tho in this weather lol and being the wide variation of industrial fringe units, air con etc i would expect him to have a nozzle to fit Cool, that sounds promising, ta. Edited July 2, 2009 by Animal quotes (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 I don't suppose anyone knows what size the connections are so I can check he has the right ones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 My friend runs an air con company, they only do buildings and industrial stuff so they need a whole range of fittings so he has all the right fittings to do my Supra, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I'm sure it can't be that hard. Gas in Gas out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 Yeah, and if industrial units use a different gas that could screw up a car's system I thought it wise to check first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 I think that used to be a problem with cars using the old type( now illegal R12?) gasses. As long as the gas is R134A compatible, your system will be fine. How much was the new condenser? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted July 2, 2009 Author Share Posted July 2, 2009 I've had it sat around for ages, I think it was about £120 from Nic. Never got the time to actually swap it over til now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 (edited) I think that used to be a problem with cars using the old type( now illegal R12?) gasses. As long as the gas is R134A compatible, your system will be fine. How much was the new condenser? I was talking to an air-con specialist the other day when i was doing his vehicle graphics for him. He said to me that regassing an R12 system is called retrofitting- which involves changing some of the components of the air con system to allow it to run on the new R134-A. It is not a case of simply taking the R12 out and replacing it with R134-A- This only applies to pre 1995 cars R-134a can be used in an R-12 system provided the system is converted or "retrofitted" to the new refrigerant. The way this is done will vary from one vehicle to another, but in most cases it will require: "Factory R-134a systems are generally equipped with barrier style hoses to reduce seepage that can lead to refrigerant loss over time. It may not be necessary to replace the hoses when converting an R-12 system with non-barrier hoses to R-134a as long as the hoses are in good condition. This is because the hoses have absorbed oil that forms a barrier of its own. But if the old hoses are leaking, they should be replaced with new barrier style hoses. Factory R-12 systems generally use mineral oil while R-134a systems use various types of PAG (poly-alkaline glycol) oil, because mineral oil does not mix with R-134a and PAG oil does not mix with R-12. Some conversions also require replacing the high-pressure cut-off switch and/or orifice tube or expansion valve with ones calibrated for R-134a." Edited July 2, 2009 by jacko (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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