Air conditioner charge
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
From: Woodland Ca
Air conditioner charge
I have bought the compressor with clutch, accumalator, and oriface.
I found a guy down town that will evac the system for me. I also have the R12 and hose to fill the system up with.
Is there someway other than using a manifold guage to get the readings that I need? I just by chance have a 2001 suburban with the same challange. I'm hopeing that I don't need 2 different manifold set ups to charge both systems(one R12 and the other R134a). Or is there a manifold set that I don't know of that will do both?
Also. Would it make more sence to buy a vacum pump from Harbor freight for $20.00, or pay the guy downtown $40.00 to do both vehicles?
I have an air compressor that I'm not sure will run the vacum. It has a 5 gal. tank and a 3hp motor. What do you think?
Is there certain steps I should go through?
I found a guy down town that will evac the system for me. I also have the R12 and hose to fill the system up with.
Is there someway other than using a manifold guage to get the readings that I need? I just by chance have a 2001 suburban with the same challange. I'm hopeing that I don't need 2 different manifold set ups to charge both systems(one R12 and the other R134a). Or is there a manifold set that I don't know of that will do both?
Also. Would it make more sence to buy a vacum pump from Harbor freight for $20.00, or pay the guy downtown $40.00 to do both vehicles?
I have an air compressor that I'm not sure will run the vacum. It has a 5 gal. tank and a 3hp motor. What do you think?
Is there certain steps I should go through?
Last edited by BIG K; Aug 1, 2005 at 02:02 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,397
Likes: 0
From: Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffin glue Orlando
Working on an A/C system effectively takes some practice. First you’re going to need quality tools, so be ready to spend some money.
The compressor driven vacuum pumps you mentioned suck, look at spending at least 200.00 dollars on a quality pump, also, you will need a good set of manifold gauges.
Your supposed to have a set of gauges for every type of refrigerant you use, so one set for R12 another set for R134, and another set for home AC use.
This is to prevent cross contamination of refrigerants.
When it comes to charging a system the most accurate method is by weight. You should be able to find in the service manual the exact amount of refrigerant and oil your particular system holds. Oil quantity is also important, too much and the system efficiency takes a dive, too little and you could burn up your compressor to oil starvation
The compressor driven vacuum pumps you mentioned suck, look at spending at least 200.00 dollars on a quality pump, also, you will need a good set of manifold gauges.
Your supposed to have a set of gauges for every type of refrigerant you use, so one set for R12 another set for R134, and another set for home AC use.
This is to prevent cross contamination of refrigerants.
When it comes to charging a system the most accurate method is by weight. You should be able to find in the service manual the exact amount of refrigerant and oil your particular system holds. Oil quantity is also important, too much and the system efficiency takes a dive, too little and you could burn up your compressor to oil starvation
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 855
Likes: 0
You can get by with one set of gauges, but you will need two sets of hoses. One for R12 and one for R134. I'm not running an AC shop, so I will be buying the Harbor Freight vacum. By the way I charged my vette with no gauges. The system was empty so I just put in what the manual said was the capicity. I know this is not the professional shop way, but some of us are just Shade Tree machanics. I did recently buy a set of R12 gauges and I see you live in Woodland. I live off of I80 just south of Roseville. IM or email me.
