Some Technical Points On Using R410a Refrigerant
What are Puron and Suva 410A?
Puron and Suva 410A are both marketing brand-names of the ASHRAE R-410A refrigerant. The Puron name is owned by the Carrier Corporation and Suva 410A Dupont's name for the refrigerant. Essentially they are different names of the same thing, and can be used interchangeably.
Can I retrofit existing equipment designed for R-22 to work with R-410A?
No - doing so can be extremely dangerous. R-410A is a different gas with a much higher discharge pressure and cooling capacity. R-410A refrigerant is incompatible with R-22 equipment and should only be used in appliances specifically designed for it.
Do I need a new set of service tools to service R-410A systems?
You need specialized tools to work with R-410A refrigerant systems. As R-410A has higher pressure than other refrigerants, specially designed manifold gauge sets should be used. Recovery machines and recovery tanks used with R-410A should adhere to "High-Pressure Appliances" standards. To this end, DOT 4BA400 or 4BW400 should be used for R-410A recovery tanks.
What kind of lubricant should I use with R-410A systems?
Any high quality polyester lubricant (POE) as specified by the compressor or system OEM is safe for use with R-410A systems.
Are there any special storage requirements for R-410A refrigerants? Can it be stored in the back of a service van like R-22?
The good news is that is possible to store R-410A as you would R-22 provided the surrounding temperature does not go above 125°F. While R-410A is no special in this regard, caution must be given on sunny days when the temperature inside a closed van or truck can go higher than 125°F.
Is R-410A a blend refrigerant?
R-410A is a blend of HFC-32 and HFC-125. The blend is exactly 50-50 by weight, and the resulting gas acts much like a single component refrigerant.
What is the difference between Puron and R-410A?
There is no difference between the two. Puron is the Carrier Corporation's brand name for R-410A. Other brand names used for R-410A are Suva 410A, Genetron AZ20, Forane 410A and Klea 66. They are all one and the same.
Are R-410A's toxicity levels higher than R-22?
Safety and toxicity levels of R-410A have received a great deal of detailed study by companies and government regulatory bodies all around the world. These studies have come to the conclusion that R-410A gas can be safely handled provided proper protective equipment are used and all safety regulations are followed. The safety procedures used for R-410A are more or less the same as those used for R-22 and other HFCs and HCFCs. For more information on the safe handling of this refrigerant please consult the R-410A manual.
Does R-410A’s higher pressure make it more dangerous?
While the pressure at which R-410A is stored and operates is much higher than R-22, this does not make R-410A gas or cooling systems using R-410A inherently unsafe. The higher pressures of R-410A does mean that technicians working with this refrigerant have to use AC equipment; cylinders and service tools that have been specially designed to handle higher pressures.
In case of leakage from a R-410A system, will the entire charge have to be replaced or can it be topped off?
R-410A has been designed to act just like any other single component refrigerant, and any leakage will not cause any significant change in composition. Systems with minor leakage problems can simply be topped off without having to resort to replacing the entire charge. What's more, there is not real limit to the amount of times a unit can be topped off or R-410A recovered from it - making it cheap and easy when it comes to periodic maintenance. Recommended operating procedure in these conditions is to repair all leaks before topping a system off. Be on the lookout for excessive superheat as that indicates low charge - check for leaks in such situations.