automotive AC compressors

[richnz]

R152a is probably flamible

But so too is petrol.
I don't smoke and expect that should a leak occur, it will be at the front (under the bonnet).
It was originally R12 but that ran out after 15 years (front seal) and was converted to R134a. That did not have enough cooling power (it was a joke really).

The R152a has far better cooling and I got the idea from Youtube.
There are videos of people regassing their old R12 systems using the cans of spray dusters.

 

[turbokinetic]

Hi richnz; you're right about R134A being a joke in systems not specifically designed for it.  It also tends to ruin compressors which end up running at an insane high pressure. I fought that battle since the R12 debacle became a thing. 

 

Before using R152A in my cars, I did some flammability studies on it. It seems to be very difficult to ignite. In fact, it will extinguish a propane torch quite instantly. I believe that when combined with certain other materials, it could have more flammability than it does when spraying out of a duster can.  I had to solder a puncture in an evaporator of an old fridge, after an attempted R152A charge. There was a tiny, candle-like flame that existed only while the soldering torch was present.

 

I sprayed a lot of it in liquid form onto a paper towel, and that was able to ignite. It seemed to burn only because the paper was already sustaining it.

 

When sprayed in gas form, it would not ignite.

 

Bottom line is, for a car A/C you would already need a catastrophic fire in progress before the refrigerant would become ignited. There aren't any substantiated accounts of R152A burning accidentally in a vehicle due to a leak. It's just not a valid worry. If you already have a catastrophic fire in progress, there are other things which are present in higher quantities, and burn with a lot more heat.

 

The main reason I like it is because it's not a blend. There is only one compound in it. If it leaks, you have less of it but you still have the same thing. It's not like a hydrocarbon blend that separates if it leaks. You can recover R152A and re-use it. There are so many benefits to it compared to the other things you can use.

 

[strongenough78]

I've read a lot about using 152a in place of R12. Many people seem scared to try it due to the flamability factor. But others have also said it seems to work better than even R12. I've been considering converting my 92 Caprice and 93 LeSabre back over to R12 as the 134a just doesn't always cut it here in the California summers. Once they're on the highway a few miles it'll cool down no problem but driving in stop and go traffic in town, it just takes way too long to get comfortable. I found a guy here in Cali that has a salvage yard and tells me he has quite a bit of R12 stock piled. So once I get the money I may do it. I miss being able to freeze out sitting at an idle on a 110 degree day. Why must the government always take away the good stuff!!