how do I tell if it is really R12?

[skipskip]

I have a chance to buy a 30 pound can of R12 at a reasonable price.

How do I tell if it is full?

what does the 'seal' look like

what will a full 30 pound can weigh?

How do I tell if its actually R12?

Any other advice?

Thanks

Skip

 

[Mike007]

Re: how do I rell if it is really R12?

I have a chance to buy a 30 pound can of R12 at a reasonable price.

How do I tell if it is full?

what does the 'seal' look like

what will a full 30 pound can weigh?

How do I tell if its actually R12?

Any other advice?

Thanks

Skip

Should weigh 36 lbs. If you measure the temperature and pressure of the bottle you can compare it to an R12 P/T chart. If you have R12 gauges, the "P/T" chart is built right into the gauge.

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Re: how do I rell if it is really R12?

AFAIK, R12 has the real trade name 'Freon' which is owned by DuPont I believe. Should be a trademark somewhere.

 

[kingofrestriction]

Re: how do I rell if it is really R12?

R12 should also be in a white colored bottle. BUT I would not use color code alone to determine contents.

You can also use a Halide leak detector torch and release a very very very small (de minimus) amount of the gas near the torch vacuum hose. The color of the flame will change from blue to green in the presence of even minute traces of halogen refrigerants.

 

[volvo]

Re: how do I rell if it is really R12?

There are shop test machines the size of a small case that tell you what you have and if is contaminated with some other non condensable .They are or were very common and test can be made in a few minutes at a minimal charge.

 

[joebiodiesel]

Re: how do I rell if it is really R12?

As Volvo said, there are Refrigerant Identifiers that can tell what is in the bottle. This summer has seen a new wave of alternative refrigerants in R12 cans. Be careful what you buy, and definitely have it checked before using it.
Joe

 

[bgott]

I've seen R-12 bottles filled with water that had a pound or two of refrigerant install for testing. Factory seal and all.

 

[G_P]

I've seen R-12 bottles filled with water that had a pound or two of refrigerant install for testing. Factory seal and all.

This. Year or so ago a shop in my area got a couple bottles of 134a that only had a tiny amout of refrigerant in them and were filled with some form of a solid to make up the extra weight. No idea what the filler was as they were unable to get any of it to come out of the tank after the tiny amount of real refrigerant was used up.

From what I remember the police got involved and traced the bottles back to a large distributor. They checked several random bottles at the warehouse and found some more that were full of ****. Supplier had no idea they were selling counterfeit bottles so it was assumed that the manufacturer or someone in the supply chain was stealing the refirgerant and then putting the junk filler in the bottles and resealing them and slipping them back into the supply.

 

[Stick]

Re: how do I rell if it is really R12?

This summer has seen a new wave of alternative refrigerants in R12 cans. Be careful what you buy, and definitely have it checked before using it.

It's not limited to R12 either. Plenty of reports of R134 being contaminated with R40 as well. As stated, use a refrigerant identifier to make sure whatever you are buying is pure.

 

[Mike007]

I've seen R-12 bottles filled with water that had a pound or two of refrigerant install for testing. Factory seal and all.

No $hit?????

People will try anything. Unreal.

 

[LutzTD]

This. Year or so ago a shop in my area got a couple bottles of 134a that only had a tiny amout of refrigerant in them and were filled with some form of a solid to make up the extra weight. No idea what the filler was as they were unable to get any of it to come out of the tank after the tiny amount of real refrigerant was used up.

From what I remember the police got involved and traced the bottles back to a large distributor. They checked several random bottles at the warehouse and found some more that were full of ****. Supplier had no idea they were selling counterfeit bottles so it was assumed that the manufacturer or someone in the supply chain was stealing the refirgerant and then putting the junk filler in the bottles and resealing them and slipping them back into the supply.

very common think to happen in China sourced product. they know you cant bring it back and if you try it will be of no use. They did it with childrens formula, milk and dogfood recently, there is no trusting what you dont see manufactured with your own eyes there

 

[pipsters]

very common think to happen in China sourced product. they know you cant bring it back and if you try it will be of no use. They did it with childrens formula, milk and dogfood recently, there is no trusting what you dont see manufactured with your own eyes there

Another big problem in China is counterfeit refrigerant, R12/R22 especially making things explode. Already one or two such events here in the States as well traced back to Chinese refrigerant.

 

[LutzTD]

Another big problem in China is counterfeit refrigerant, R12/R22 especially making things explode. Already one or two such events here in the States as well traced back to Chinese refrigerant.

I have been seeing a lot of Craiglist R22 sales showing pallets full of R22 bottles. Seems its become a commodity that is known to be on the edge of depletion so guys are buying tons of it and holding it for the price hike. last year it was $150 now its $300. I bet a lot of chinese fakes are mixed in with these bulk buys from China. I am like the OP, I want to buy some to keep my old heatpump going but Im afraid to pay $300 for a jug of questionable heritage.