That is state controlled.
Normally handled by those that sell R12 refrigerants.
From what I understand its about a three day school to learn how to properly
use the recovery equipment and the safety factors in pre-diagnosing the
contents of a system so you don't blow up your shop with Butane that is
sometimers used in Auto A/C systems by crooks.
Without the recovery and installation system the license won't be of much
use to you.
http://www.ntxtools.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ROB-17800B&Category_Code=ROB
There are less expensive systems.
I've seen similar systems for about $1400.00

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: 134 conversion

> Stan, where does one go to see about this license thing???
>
> I'm getting ready to completely reqork my AC system. Being able to do it
> completely myself would be great.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Stan Wilder wrote:
>
> >It doesn't actually equal regreting the wait it's simply that Vanagon
folks
> >are often tightly wound folks that will not spend the necessary money for
> >new hoses and other new parts that the system would need before repairing
a
> >system for R12 after 15 to 25 years of use.
> >
> >So if you're not going to go the full routine of hose replacement,
> >compressor seals, expansion valve and new dryer I would suggest that the
134
> >would be a cheaper solution than the R12 recharge.
> >
> >If you will take your R12 license and calculate the actual first class
> >repair of a leaky or non functioning Vanagon system you'll probably find
it
> >would run over $400.00 to recharge a system with the required seals,
hoses,
> >dryers etc before you'd give a custyomer a guarantee.
> >
> >My hose set was $227.00, Compressor Seal $18.00, Dryer $28.00, Expansion
> >Valve $30.00, 134R $15.00, Extra condenser I'll call $25.00 but it was
free
> >because I alread had it. Then the shop labor, Oh! I did that myself and
> >saved $350.00.
> >
> >As for Hap-Hazzard conversions there are many sites that run through the
> >full routine and most women that get out of High School could do the job
if
> >they read the instructions.
> >
> >Stan Wilder
> >Engine Ceramics
> >214-352-4931
> >www.engineceramics.com
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Jeffrey Schwaia" <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
> >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 5:47 PM
> >Subject: Re: 134 conversion
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>Thank you for your "suggestion" that I consider my future needs,
however,
> >>why should I act now?  Is R-134a about to skyrocket in price?  Perhaps
the
> >>purchase of R-134a is akin to Microschmeg stock in 1985?
> >>
> >>
> >>My Point of View:
> >>
> >>The price of R-12 has been pretty static at $22 a can, R-134a is about
$5
> >>
> >>
> >a
> >
> >
> >>can.  A Vanagon takes 3.5 cans of refrigerant, let's say $100 of R-12 to
> >>make the math easy.  Now, considering my first statement about the A/C
> >>system, "good & tight, with no leaks", IMO it is by far the smarter path
> >>
> >>
> >to
> >
> >
> >>keep the system stock spend the extra $80 and use R-12.
> >>
> >>I have worked on several vans that had been converted to R-134a where
the
> >>owner installed a high efficiency condenser and not one of them cooled
as
> >>well as a good working stock R-12 system.  Hap-hazard R-134a conversions
> >>often do more damage than good due to the fact that these systems were
not
> >>designed for R-134a (e.g., the conversion has to be done right).
> >>
> >>Yes, I am a licensed A/C tech (big whoop), and my shop does have an R-12
> >>recovery machine, however, R-12 is not that hard to get.  The A/C tech
> >>
> >>
> >tests
> >
> >
> >>are available online, they're cheap and are a joke.  Once you have your
> >>
> >>
> >EPA
> >
> >
> >>number, you can buy R-12.
> >>
> >>
> >>Ah, I love A/C topics.  So many opinions, such little actual
experience...
> >>
> >>Cheers,
> >>
> >>Jeff
> >>www.vanagonparts.com
> >>
> >>
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> >>Of Stan Wilder
> >>Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 3:19 PM
> >>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>Subject: Re: 134 conversion
> >>
> >>
> >>Yes Jeffrey! Even Ray Charles could see that.
> >>Yes R12 is approximately 14% more efficient than 134.
> >>Auto-makers response to this was simply to spin the compressor faster to
> >>compensate and build a substantial compressor business in the process.
> >>Just consider that a recharge of R12 cost about $215.00 on my Crown Vic
> >>
> >>
> >last
> >
> >
> >>year.
> >>Next year it could easily be in the $400.00 range.
> >>You better consider your future needs and just roll on over to the
cheaper
> >>stuff before you regret the wait.
> >>
> >>Stan Wilder
> >>Engine Ceramics
> >>214-352-4931
> >>www.engineceramics.com
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: "Jeffrey Schwaia" <jeff@VANAGONPARTS.COM>
> >>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >>Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 4:50 PM
> >>Subject: Re: 134 conversion
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>Same O, Same O, Except....
> >>>
> >>>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Vanagon interior is a wee bit
> >>>bigger than a 912.  I could be wrong, perhaps I forgot to carry the
one.
> >>>
> >>>Ceteris Paribus, R-12 is more efficient than R-134.
> >>>
> >>>Happy cooling...
> >>>
> >>>Cheers,
> >>>
> >>>Jeff
> >>>www.vanagonparts.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>-----Original Message-----
> >>>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> >>>Of Stan Wilder
> >>>Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 2:07 PM
> >>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >>>Subject: Re: 134 conversion
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>Same Type IV engine, Same Mini Your Compressor, Same general
application
> >>>Suction Valve and Reciever dryer. Same O Same O.
> >>>And another Port Of Entry or Dealer Installed system.
> >>>If this was a $300.00 midification I wouldn't encourage it but it cam
be
> >>>accomplished for less that the R12 refrigerant charge.
> >>>I was quoted $175.00 to recharge my Porsche system with R12 and that is
> >>>about the same as the VW system.
> >>>
> >>>Stan Wilder
> >>>Engine Ceramics
> >>>214-352-4931
> >>>www.engineceramics.com
> >>>
> >>>----- Original Message -----
> >>>From: "TJ Hannink" <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
> >>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >>>Sent: Monday, January 31, 2005 3:46 PM
> >>>Subject: Re: 134 conversion
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Stan Wilder <wilden1-1@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>So when some body says something, remember to ask: "Have you ever
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >done
> >
> >
> >>>>>that?" and that should send you in the right direction.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>So have you ever modified the A/C on a Vanagon this way? Your posts in
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>the
> >>
> >>
> >>>archives describe your success in doing this to a 912e Porsche, not a
> >>>Vanagon; thats a little like comparing apples to oranges.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>There is at least one post in the archives from someone who has done
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>this
> >>
> >>
> >>>modification to a Vanagon and for them it didn't seem to make any
> >>>difference.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Good luck,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>TJ Hannink
> >>>>Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
> >>>>1981 Bluebird Wanderlodge, FC-33
> >>>>Winter Park, Florida
> >>>>http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
> >>>>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
> >>>>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanderlodge
> >>>>FAVOR website:  http://home.earthlink.net/~clubvanagon
> >>>>
> >>>>---------------------------------
> >>>>Do you Yahoo!?
> >>>> Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term'
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>--
> >>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
> >>>>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> >>>>Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.3 - Release Date: 1/31/2005
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>--
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> >>>Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.3 - Release Date: 1/31/2005
> >>>
> >>>
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> >>>Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.8.3 - Release Date: 1/31/2005
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>--
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> >>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
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> >>
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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> >
> >
>
>
> --
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>
>

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