People were using propane in place of R12 in the 1990's too. In fact, Snap On Tools was selling a refrigerant and gas identifier made by TIF because they thought it was going to be a widespread problem.
Just recently, a New Zealand technician got fire balled in the face when he was working on a R22 system filled with unscented propane and was marked as R22. It was filled by an unscrupulous It somehow caught fire.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times...n-second-blast
Two years ago, a system holding 175 lbs of propane refrigerant leaked, caught fire and killed a fire fighter.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times...ore-was-a-bomb
People were using propane in place of R12 in the 1990's too. In fact, Snap On Tools was selling a refrigerant and gas identifier made by TIF because they thought it was going to be a widespread problem.
[Avatar photo from a Florida training accident. Everyone walked away.]
2 Tim 3:16-17
RSES CMS, HVAC Electrical Specialist
Member, IAEI
AOP Forum Rules:
I have not come across this in the states but would not be surpised with the quality of work being done. Propain is cheap compared to r22/r410 so your gonna have those issues. I feel for those guys that have been injured, If I ever found a unit like that I would do my best to make it known who did the hack work on it.. ...
Back when I was in automotive A/C I heard of it happening in cars while people where driving. Someone had filled a/c with propane and evap coil leaked it into the car until it found a spark.
Not propane but, an interesting read anyway.
http://www.alder.co.za/raca_article.pdf
I know of a few techs around here using it. It worries me.
I hope these guys get shut down - http://www.redtek.com/products_refr.html#
R22a is propane.
The worst part of it is that they sell it through Canadian tire (a big box hardware/automotive chain).
Anyone putting flammible gas in a compressed system is a douse bag and needs to be banned
Well the bad thing is they sell it. I think it shouldn't be legal, because what happens when they put it in a heat pump with dual fuel and it leaks?
I used to work on the systems in a popular upstate s.c. restaurant, found out the owner had the ref. switched to propane,we dropped his contract.
EN VINO VERITUS
R290 is propane...We use it here, in systems designed for it though....
Testing....Signature on Full Site Forum
r22 is nowhere near propane??? huh? this thread doesnt even make sense, you should have known better than to do business with this person...
Wal-Mart here has it too. You should see the kits they sell with the pressure gauges that read : EMPTY, UNDER, FULL, OVERCHARGED. No numbers. Nothing a PT chart could help you with. Just 5 zones on a gauge.
That stuff should be banned. That's just a fly by night business idea. People have no idea how to troubleshoot their systems and think "Freon" just dies off and goes away over time. No. Thats called a leak. And who would want something like that under the hood of a car in a first place? Too bad you don't need an ODS card to buy it. It may not damage the o-zone layer but use it wrong and youll blow yourself and your car sky high.
Get money, get paid.
That stuff can't be used right - no vacuum pump, nitrogen included.
Once sealed in the system, propane is more or less a drop-in substitute for R-22. Refrigeration grade hydrocarbon blend, like R-22a is more consistent in quality and drier compared to LP gas sold as "propane" at gas station.
but... if it leaks, it basically has the same hazard as leaking barbecue propane.
Even though its mainly propane, after doing some reason, it's unlawful to vent any refrigerant gas, it must be recovered. (whether it makes sense or not, it's illegal, just like its illegal to vent R-134a despite the fact its legal to use as a propellant in aerosol)
Most of you guys don't have a tank for R-22a, rendering the system unserviceable by the average service tech.
Unfortunately, these things are sold as Envirosafe, ES, 22a. They use euphemisms such as "alkanes" or "hydrocarbon" without stating "propane" so that the average consumer-buyer do not realize what they're getting himself into.
The ones sold on eBay are particularly worse as it is unscented, which invites accidents like this.
Propane (R-290) is a the same vapor / pressure as R-12, not R-22. You can't buy refrigerant grade propane in the bottles sold at gas stations or Wally world. If you know of any place selling refrigeration grade propane as fuel they need to be turned in to the DOT (Department of Transportation) as this an illegal activity. Only propane with odorant added can be sold to consumers. I have industrial systems that use refrigerant grade propane (R-290) as the low side of a cascade system. The high side of the system is ethane and it cools heptane. If you thought R-123 was scarey try working on a system that you think is R-12 only to find out it's propane.-GEO
I think not. I looked at pressure charts. R-290 is quite similar to R-22.
I believe R-22a is straight propane while R-12a is a propane/butane blend.
Right, I meant, refrigerant grade propane is purer and drier than fuel grade LPG/propane.You can't buy refrigerant grade propane in the bottles sold at gas stations or Wally world.
The stuff sold on eBay Enviro-Safe is "pine scented" so they say.
I have used it quite extensively!
It's used in ultra cold cascade systems as a means of anti waxing and oil return. It's needed for the low inner evap temps to get the box down to -180°C. Been in these compressed systems forever. Oderless, purified and flamable as hell.
They mean exactly as they print...Service to be performed by qualified personnell only.
It is criminal to use R209 in a system that is not designed for it. Geez can you imagine...the hacks out there running reefer lines in a residential setting. I guess you'd just tee off your propane tank and not have to worry about the gas and go service calls! It would be like an iv. Or at least as deadly as one with an air bubble in it.
opps!...excuse the fat finger typo...it's R290. Necesary stuff!