R134a to R12a conversion

R12 is NOT outlawed...

The BAN is on Creating more R12, or digging it up actually, because it's not made

Anyhow there is a LOT of R12 left but the reason for the $$$$ is simply to get people to stop using it... It harshly depleats Ozone, and is a major contributor to the creation of the brown smog...
At least that's what they told me in my AC school where I got's all my smarts frum...

R134A is not illegal in any country.

Plus, I've never heard of having to have a license to buy something that you can get off the shelf at Walmart's automotive center... Or any parts store for tahat matter....

With millions of vehicles built to use 134a in the last 15 years, I just can't see a sudden switchover to this "R12A" stuff. At the very least, there should be a gradual phase-out, like there was with the old R12. I don't know Canadian law, but I think someone at NAPA has his wires crossed. Should be easy to 'Google' and find out, tho.

R134A is SAFER than anything else out there but it DOES NOT cool as efficiently as most

you can buy 134 without a license in the US. AFAIK, you can also buy R-22 without a license. To purchase R-12, you have to have a license - when I got mine, it was just a simple set of questions that came in a book with the answers. Took about 10 minutes, put a check in the envelope and in about 4 weeks I had a license. For Canada R-12, check into this:
DuPont R-414B
Also for US users:
Legal Status of HC-12a ®, DURACOOL 12a ®, and OZ-12 ® | Alternatives / SNAP | US EPA
Some Canada regs.

EPA Certification by Mainstream Engineering

R134a in not ilegal in Canada, but it can only be sold to and handle by a certified refrigeration specialist. R12a you can buy anywhere, but then you have to purge you system (in a place with a certified refrigeration specialist) in order to put it in your car, which cost an arm and a leg. I'll go to wallmart tomorrow to see if they have r134a. If they do, I'll be a happy man, and let you guys know.

It took me a little longer than I expected, but today I fanally went to walmart to see if they had R134a. The guy at the store (very helpful) told me that R134a cannot be sold to just anyone anymore, just to certified people. He went on to tell me that evnthough R143a does not deplead the ozone layer (main reason for the change from R12 to R134a), it was found that it is a green house gas, and therefore it is being phased out by the Canadian Government. It seems as it was only yesterday that they said R12 is bad, and R134a is good, and know they are changing their mind again. The guy finally showed me a kit to convert form R134a to R12a, which has a moisture remover can, a sealant can, and a R12a can. With this kit, I'm supposed to be able to do the conversion without any problem. I'll give it shot tomorrow, and let you guys know how it went.

Originally Posted by Mr.Ed

One of the best refrigerants out there is propane but as you all know it is very flammable. So stay away from anything that has propane in it under the hood of a car. Mr. Ed

Ya and stay away from any car that has gasoline under the hood too, like fuel injected mustangs that pressurize fuel to 50+psi then mix it with air to a near perfect mix to EXPLODE and then compress the stochiometric mixture further to near the self ignition point then intentionally ignite it and do that thousands of times a second. How dangerous can you get? And if that werent bad enough, gasoline is toxic and an inhalation hazard.
I'm not kidding you when I say I have personally been in one of those mustangs going 150MPH carrying at least 10 gallons of that extremely dangerous gasoline!
They ought to write some laws to keep people from acquiring such POTENTIALLY dangerous substances or at least limit access to only liscenced gasoline engineers and college degreed technicians. When are people gonna wake up to how dangerous all this stuff is and demand our world be made to completely protect us from our own ignorance and stupidity?