R134a to R12a conversion

I just got back from napa auto parts here in Calgary, AB. I was trying to buy a cople of cans of R134a in order to top off my a/c system, and they told me that if I get cought with a can of r134a without a refrigeration license I'll get fine $ 50,000. The only refrigerant they sale is the new R12a. I've been looking in internet, and I cannot seem to find a r134a to r12a conversion kit. What are my options...how do I get my 95 mustang a/c running again? Is there anybody else with this same problem?

Thax for the help.

Over here R12 is long gone and everything now is R134A.. Someone's got their wires crossed it think telling you that but maybe different there ???

Here in the US R12 is all but obsolete. On the other hand R134a is readily available.

Try another parts store with someone who knows what they're talking about.

Originally Posted by labzerpa

I just got back from napa auto parts here in Calgary, AB. I was trying to buy a cople of cans of R134a in order to top off my a/c system, and they told me that if I get cought with a can of r134a without a refrigeration license I'll get fine $ 50,000. The only refrigerant they sale is the new R12a. I've been looking in internet, and I cannot seem to find a r134a to r12a conversion kit. What are my options...how do I get my 95 mustang a/c running again? Is there anybody else with this same problem?

Thax for the help.

I agree with the others, someone at NAPA has got their info confused. R12a had been phased out due to the damage it caused to the ozone layer and stuff like that.

Even so, I cannot see a fine that high when up until it was phased out here in the US, you could buy cans of R12a and can still buy cans of R134 regularly at any parts store.

I believe the regulations reagarding R12 (and probably R134 as well) is that you cannot SELL it without a proper license, possesing and/or buying it is not illegal so long as the person(s) selling it was/is licensed (I could be wrong, but I do believe that is the way it was once explained to me).

Mike

yeah 134 is good to go 12 if expensive and most parts stores dont even carry it either way its good to change over so if there is a leak or whatever it does not cost much to charge it up again and all that

R12A is NOT R12. It's a substitute with propane and butane not CFC like R12 has.

Canadian law may not allow 134a on a person without a license but that is not the case here in the US.

Check your laws before deciding to swap to some 'alternative' cooling agent.

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. I have asked about buying 134a around here and never been told that I need a license. I was told many years ago by a manager at Pep Boys that I had to have a MAC license to buy R-12 from them. I am licensed in the HVACR industry by RSES but they (or he) wouldn't recognize that licensing network which is very sad because at the time, they had a warehouse full of 12 that was cheaper than what I was selling it for at a refigeration wholesale house! I hear they still have a lot of it.

Later!
Mr. Ed

You got it right Allen, R12 and R12a are not the same thing. R12 was outlawed here in the 90's, same as in the us, but now, even R134a is being phased out. The only refrigerant that you can buy over the counter here is R12a. I guess I'm alone on my search for a switch kit from R134a to R12a.

I'm confused now. I thought r134a was the stuff new cars run. Is R12a the new standard? Or they just don't want average Joe mucking around with it?

Originally Posted by BlueOvalBandit

I'm confused now. I thought r134a was the stuff new cars run. Is R12a the new standard? Or they just don't want average Joe mucking around with it?

R12A is a substitute (see posts above) that is named to make you *think* you're buying the old R-12. Or at least that's how I see it.