Recharging R12: Shadetree style

[Mntom]

Re: Recharging R12: Shadetree style

I dont want a gas which is poison to breath being that close to the air ducts. A small leak will kill you before you know it.....But hey its your funeral..Fix it right or dont mess with it is the only advice I have.

R-12 displaces oxygen in your lungs quicker than propane. Did you know that propane is considered a refrigerant (R-290)? R-290 has been used as a refrigerant for years even in Europe? Did you also know that R-134a is flammable and will auto ignite at high pressures? Think about the gas tank on your car or truck....... Most are made of plastic and the possibility of hitting something on the road and puncturing the gas tank...... Hmmmmm. Take a look at this: http://www.aircondition.com/wwwboard/equipment/current/4071.html

 

[62 pipestone]

Re: Recharging R12: Shadetree style

You ought to see how a piece of metal in a relatively minor accident, driven through a plastic gas tank and dragged sparking on the ground ..........

my 02
John

had a friend in high school with a SWEET 71 nova SS(his mom got new in 71) and he hit a refector post that whint threw the gas tank. his passanger threw theme both out the drivers door @ about 70 MPH (my buddy was tryin to OUT RUN the flames). it BLEW UP in a mushroom cloud that could be seen from over 10 miles. the fire was so hot it melted the black top, yet the gallon of milk in the trunk was still full.

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Recharging R12: Shadetree style

Man I love this forum and the discussions that take place here. It's a great way to instigate a lot of thoughts.

So.. A camp trailer has a propane stove, fridge, and heater all within 4' of each other. The cheap air fans on trailer heaters are a lot more likely to create sparks than a compressor on a car aren't they?

It just seems like even though propane is flammable it is easily controllable. Even if a compressor went bad and produced spark. It would seem that since the propane is under pressure and being forced out at a leak the worst that would happen is you have a blow torch under the hood. But it would not cause an explosion.

And as far as propane being a refridgerant. Wouldn't any element that can change states from liquid to a gas at different temps be a refridgerant?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Recharging R12: Shadetree style

And as far as propane being a refridgerant. Wouldn't any element that can change states from liquid to a gas at different temps be a refridgerant?

Sure. In commercial use where a safety tradeoff can be made, ammonia is often used. The early domestic refrigerators (the ones with the unit on top) used sulfur dioxide. Propane is likely safer than either of these.

What makes something efficient in phase change refrigeration is a combination of a boiling point/pressure spot near your target temperature, and a high heat of evaporation.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Recharging R12: Shadetree style

I love those old monitor top refrigerators but sulfur dioxide does not sound nice.
What does sound nice is something as natural as ammonia refrigeration altho that is very poisonous when it leaks I think. A duck farm I worked at as a teen was all ammonia and had lots of refrigeration.

My fridge is about a 1950 Hotpoint and works great and is whisper quiet.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Recharging R12: Shadetree style

Still no word on Mr. Hanky!