Questions about the r404 mod on a Mach 1

[Inquizator]

I'm thinking about buying a Mach 1 and getting the gas changed to r404. I have a few questions about this:

1) How difficult is a gas-change like this to perform? Would I be able to learn how or would I basically have to find someone who knows how?

2) What kind of tools are needed to perform this gas-change?

3) Would there be any change in the procedure of performing the gas change from what an average HVAC technician would know to do? Such as gassing under heat load?

4) Would any other modifications need to be made to the Mach 1? Such as changing the cap tube? If so, how hard is it? (as in could I learn how relatively easily or would I need someone else?) What tools are required?

5) How much r404 gas would I need? Where could I get it? Along with this, if it requires a certification, as I think it does, would any certified HVAC tech be able to get it for me? How much would it cost?

6) Anything I missed in the entire process that need to be accounted for or that I would need to learn/acquire/do? I have only very very basic knowledge about refrigeration and no HVAC tools or anything of the like.

Thanks for all your help, if I missed anything or made statements or asked questions that really don't make any sense, please inform me, I'm still trying to learn.

[Çhrist0ph]

well, i dont know a whole lot about this kinda of stuff either, but i can tell you this.
If you want to regass it yourself, youve got some learning to do, as it isnt very simple and not anyone can get ahold of R404A without certain certifications,etc.

Getting your average local ac tech fellow to do it isnt the best idea as they often charge the wrong amount if they dont charge it under load. If i were in your postion, i would give someone here a pm. im not sure who mods vapos and prommies these days at XS, but you can have it professionally done by a forum member who knows what they're doing.

and...welcome to the sickness!!!

:toast:

[StrongBadia]

I'll keep mine stock for awhile, but I'll probably have it professionally modded after a couple months.

[Inquizator]

So, it's not even feasable even to try to have an HVAC tech do it even if I ask him to do a few things a certain way? Like charge under heat load?

I really am looking for actual answers to my questions, not a conclusion as to what's feasable, I may reach that same conclusion in the end, but I'd like to reach it myself, hehe.

Thanks

[Gary Lloyd]

An HVAC tech can weigh in the refrigerant charge, if he knows how much refrigerant to weigh in. So the all important question is, "How much refrigerant does it need?"

It is more accurate to charge it under load, but this takes a lot of tweaking and time is money.

[Inquizator]

Well, I might be able to get it cheaper through family connections so that at least it won't be a total stranger doing it, so I may have more leeway...
Is it as simple as telling the guy to put a basic amount in, we'll boot it up, put it under heat-load and then take out/put in till we find a lowest temp? And how accurate should the heatload be? If I put it at the highest OC it can reach with the default gas, re-gas it and then optimize it to that, will the resulting better oc (which equals more heat) be enough more heat that it needs to be re-calibrated?

[Inquizator]

Also, this is a bit off topic (this thread is about modding a Mach 1 with r404, just this question is about a hypothetical Mach 1 already modded with r404):
Is there any way to tell what gas is inside the compressor? Or maybe just if it's been changed?

Also, what could an orange T on the compressor mean?

[Inquizator]

Ok, I really need the above question answered... Whats the easiest way to see what refrigerant is in a Mach 1 and what could an orange T on the compressor mean?

[Gary Lloyd]

With the system entirely at room temperature, the saturation temp of the refrigerant should match room temp. If you know the room temp and the pressure, you can usually tell on a pressure/temperature chart what refrigerant you have in there.

[Inquizator]

so to know the pressure you'd need a pressure guage to connect to the unit? and by entirely at room temp you mean turn it off and let it sit for a while till everything warms up or cools down (as the case may be) to room temp?