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+--- Thread: Propane a/c? (/showthread.php?tid=4664)
Propane a/c? - sassparilla_kid - 06-21-2013
So at the risk of starting a flame war, has anybody else done any reading or looking into charging their a/c with propane? Apparently it is commonly used in large/industrial applications under the alias R280 (or something like that) and is a common ingredient in "generic" refrigerant replacements like Duracool and Envirosafe. I'm thinking about trying it out since no real conversion is needed to use it in an R12 system, but coming up with a charging apparatus is looking to be a whole other challenge in itself
RE: Propane a/c? - tjts1 - 06-21-2013
Propane is R290, it works very well in every R12 system I've seen. The charging aparatus is dead simple. Start with a cheap propane torch and cut off the nozzle end, slip a 1/2" hose over the end with hose clamp, take an R12 or R134 hose and cut off the bottle end, stuff the hose into the other end of the 1/2" hose, hose clamp, done. With propane you don't have to worry about vacuuming it down to 29.xxx inch. Get it down to 20", fill to 65psi, repeat a couple of times if you're super picky about it, then normal fill up procedure with engine running. The propane Duracool and others sell you are very dry, higher quality than the generic Benzomat stuff and usually contains some butane to match the temp/pressure of R12. That said, generic propane from the hardware store works just as well. Keep in mind that doing this is illegal in most states, its very flammable so you better know what you're doing, you can still buy R12 on Ebay for very little money and if you take it to a professional AC shop and contaminate their recovery equipment with propane, they will cut off your nuts and feed them to you.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/tech-help/254928-ac-propane-stying-alive.html
cheers
RE: Propane a/c? - willbhere4u - 06-21-2013
Evan r134 is flammable!
RE: Propane a/c? - sassparilla_kid - 06-22-2013
Hmm, well if I can find an R12 hose tomorrow I might try it out for fun
RE: Propane a/c? - Simpler=Better - 06-22-2013
My unprofessional backwoods theory:
Unless the AC system is full of air, then you're just running compressed propane. If ignition occurs, then you're going to get flame like a torch from wherever the leak is (worst case scenario). In a diesel a torch under the hood is bad, but nowhere near as bad as it would be in a gas car. In a crash the propane would vent so fast it would be highly unlikely to be a fire hazard-it would vent away. Maybe a breathing hazard, but what refrigerant isn't?
For offroad uses I think you'd be just fine. Maybe mix in some CO2 to de-flammability it?
RE: Propane a/c? - Mark_M - 06-23-2013
Common garden propan has a huge amount of water in it, won't that damage the AC system?
RE: Propane a/c? - tjts1 - 06-23-2013
(06-23-2013, 06:09 PM)Mark_M Common garden propan has a huge amount of water in it, won't that damage the AC system?Hasn't damaged mine yet.
RE: Propane a/c? - willbhere4u - 06-24-2013
(06-23-2013, 06:09 PM)Mark_M Common garden propan has a huge amount of water in it, won't that damage the AC system?
I think the ac dryer will capture most of the water
RE: Propane a/c? - sassparilla_kid - 06-25-2013
Okay update folks, I've acquired a charging manifold and a vacuum pump, so next is finding the correct fittings and some uv dye to add to the system to find leaks
RE: Propane a/c? - Simpler=Better - 06-26-2013
(06-21-2013, 12:20 AM)sassparilla_kid So at the risk of starting a flame war, has anybody else done any reading or looking into charging their a/c with propane?
Hahaqhaha! I just got the pun, man am I slow
RE: Propane a/c? - sassparilla_kid - 06-27-2013
^^ lol! So it looks like I have everything I need except a few hose clamps I forgot to buy, so I might try to get it going tomorrow night, we'll see
RE: Propane a/c? - mach4 - 06-28-2013
I use Envirosafe which is essentially propane plus some other components like iso-butane. It's a proprietary mixture so can't know the exact formulation. It's a relatively cheap way to get "dry propane" into the system. I did some cursory research to see if there was a convenient way to run "Coleman" propane through some sort of a dessicant to adequately dry it and didn't get anywhere.
For other options you might be interested in a rather long conceptual post on DIY A/C systems that I put together for discussion purposes -
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/339271-quest-100-percent-diy-c-setup.html
RE: Propane a/c? - sassparilla_kid - 06-29-2013
So I tried to charge the system last night, and something wasn't right. When I went to charge it the low side pressure went up and never went down, and the high side pressure never changed, even though the compressor was running the whole time? I'm confused