Tech Tip: The importance of refrigerant identification

March 18, 2014
Counterfeit refrigerants are an issue in the air conditioning service. Equipping refrigerant identifiers in your shop can help.

The availability of contaminated and/or counterfeit refrigerants is a growing and is potentially a dangerous problem in the marketplace. Counterfeit R-134a, containing various amounts of R-40 (Methyl Chloride or Chloromethane), has been found in mobile air conditioners, stationary air conditioning and transport refrigeration systems in many countries. When placed in contact with aluminum, R-40 forms compounds that can be extremely dangerous. For your personal safety and to avoid serious injury, special care must be taken when accessing the service ports to sample or work on systems that are not functioning properly or have been serviced by others.  MAHLE RTI offers a series of Refrigerant Identifier Systems for R134a and R1234yf refrigerants.

The ID1000 Pro works with the RHS 980 Series of A/C equipment for R134a refrigerant.  It will identify EPA SNAP-approved blend refrigerants. The ID1000 Pro will also alert you to percentages of R12, R134a, R22 and hydrocarbons like propane, butane and air.  This unit contains a self-calibrating system that ensures at least 98 percent accuracy.

The RHS 1280 Series of A/C equipment specializes in servicing R1234yf refrigerant.  These units meet the new standards of mandatory refrigerant verification by utilizing either an internal or external identifier device similar to the ID1000 Pro.

MAHLE RTI offers the R/R/R A/C units and identifiers to quickly determine refrigerant purity.  Ensuring you are working with a vehicle with uncontaminated refrigerant will help preserve your refrigerant recycling machine, the refrigerant stored in your machine as well as your safety.

Information provided by: MAHLE RTI

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