My repair guy said he evacuated the system and put in 2# and I should be all set. It was 65 degrees out and we got 55 as a temp out of the dash vent. Seems light to me but he said he put die in and I should come back after I have driven a few hundred miles. We could not find a sticker that told us what the capacity should be and since I am older and smaller than the other post that said 5# of refrigerant was correct, I wondered if anyone knew anything about my system? Thanks in advance
When you switch from a r-12 to 134 use 80% of the factory capacity.
Usually there is a receiver dryer with a sight glass after the condenser. If you see bubbles in the glass after the system has run for awhile (15 min or more), it indicates that it is low on refrigerant. On my coach I have to use a mirror and flashlight to see the sight glass and some have a plug over the glass or may just be too dirty to see anything. Last week I added a can of 134a and still had some bubbles, but it was cooling very well, so I didn't use another can to add just a few ounces. Walmart is much cheaper than most auto parts stores, and don't add oil just because you like to oil everything. The only time to add oil to an AC system is when a major part is replaced or major leak of oil and refrigerant. Roof AC usually does not have a sight glass or rubber hoses that refrigerant can migrant through like dash air on RV's and other vehicles.
Can you read the low side pressure? There are charts to show what range of pressure you should have at what temperature
I just converted my 1994 U300 to R134a and was expecting to fill with 5 pounds. After 3, 12 ounce cans my sight glass is clear and my low side reading is high. I am going to lower and see if it comes into spec. Also, I read on one sight not to depend on the sight glass for R134a....found that odd. I found the folks at a local ThermoKing very helpful. They matched up a filter-drier and installed a high side fitting with a R134a, 16mm service port.
Pressures are different with R134a R-12 operated at a lower pressure. The guide line when I was doing conversions for automobiles was to fill at 80% of the r-12 capacity to get the best temperature at the register. The pressures will still be higher than r-12
I lowered my low side to 35....usually would go to 30. Sight glass is clear. Cooling is good but not like R12. Condenser fans are cycling nicely. Water is pouring out around the vacuum motor next to the evaporator drain...no mud daubers in drain tube. Will see how it does next week from Boones Mill, Va to Myrtle Beach, SC...5 hours.