a/c fill (vintage air)

okay im getting close to finishing the installation of my a/c and am now needing to get the system charged. the local shops want $150-$220 to charge and fill the system. i have a r/12 guage set, and can acquire a 2.5 cfm vac*** pump, with all of this what else would i need to fill the system? should i just leave it to the profesinals? can you adapt a r/12 guage set to r/134a? how do i do this?

 

To run R134a, you need to change the fittings and probably the condenser. The fins on the condenser are smaller and their are more of them. This doesn't NEED to be done, but the system will work a lot better. R134a is charged by the pound. If I remember correctly, Vintage Air recommended a charge of 1.8lbs. I would leave this to professionals and switch to the less expensive R134a.

 

They make a kit to use your r 12 guages on r134 try napa. Pumps should work ok.

 

no the system is new and designed for 134a , its the guage set i have that is made for r12

 

^^this

 

R12 gauges will work with 134a. The fittings will be different. As mentioned above, you can buy adapters to adapt the gauges to the 134a fittings. You can do it yourself, but you have to do it right or you could still have air in the system, or could allow air to re-enter the system.

 

134a is only 5 bucks a pound. I get $50 to charge, for hot rodders. $75 for everybody else.

 

You need to know how much pressure is on each side of the system. If you can't find this out, don't try it yourself.

Two things you will need to know: First, drain ALL the oil from the compressor and then re-fill with the correct amount. Next, hook up the vacuum pump and make sure the system can hold a vacuum. If not you have a leak.