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Posted

Where on earth did you find the tracer gas? We bought the gas from the only source we could find, Airgas and now they charge me $20 / month hazardous gas fee for me to store a non hazardous bottle that is 95% nitrogen. The air we breathe is 89% nitrogen. I have searched for another source without luck.

Posted

Yes thank you.

Are they charging you $20 / month hazardous fee for the tank? That's what I fought with them over here in Florida.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
Posted

It's good to hear your results and process.   I too have this setup.   I purchased the Inficon AST100FG Forming Gas Leak Detector.   The N2H2 mixed gas is also called Forming Gas.   Those squirrelly little hydrogen molecules are great escape artists and thus are good for leak detection.   I also upped my game and bought the Inficon D-TEK Stratus Refrigerant Leak Detector up from my previous D-TEK 3 for refrigerant leak detection.  It can find very small leaks in an already charged system, but not the same as the N2H2.

Posted (edited)
On 9/21/2023 at 8:26 AM, Greg S. said:

Yes thank you.

Are they charging you $20 / month hazardous fee for the tank? That's what I fought with them over here in Florida.

When I first acquired my tank, they were up in arms over the Hydrogen.  It seems that 5% Hydrogen is not flammable and is an industry norm.   Maybe press them on this.   But they did make me put an oxygen valve instead of a nitrogen valve and I had to install a Nitrogen adapter.   My battle was over the valve.  No mention of a fee, but then again, I'm in Texas, not Florida.   I purchased from AirGas.

Edited by bantar
Posted

The AST detects hydrogen.   For this, you are using the detector in the Robinaire LD9TG.   These are similar units - they both detect combustible gasses.    

The Stratus detects 134a and 1234yf.    So, you use forming gas during service, but if it does return, use a regular refrigerant leak detector to check for leaks if needed.   I learned of the Stratus from Tom Lech's youtube page.  He says the top dog of sniffers is the Bacharach H-10 Pro Refrigerant Leak Detector.   However, he also says that the D-TEK Stratus is almost on par with the H-10.  He uses the Stratus for leak detection on Auto AC. 

 

Tom's page:  https://www.youtube.com/@coldfinger459sub0 

He is a great learning resource and makes no money on his channel.  He does this to help the community.

  • 3 months later...
Posted

This information seems valuable for technicians dealing with car air conditioning repairs, particularly those experiencing high returns on refrigerant evacuations and recharges. Here's a summary of the key points: Problem: Frequent warranty claims on A/C repairs Solution: Using H2 tracer gas leak detection with the Robinair LD9TG kit Benefits: Reduced comebacks and warranties: The new process minimizes returns compared to traditional methods. Efficient leak detection: Hydrogen gas easily identifies leaks, speeding up diagnosis. Cost-effective: Each recharge using the tracer gas costs only $1.36. Easy-to-use detector: The LD9-TG offers visual and audible leak detection with two user interfaces. Overall: This new procedure seems beneficial for reducing warranty claims and streamlining A/C leak detection, potentially saving time and money. Additional details: This information mentions using the refrigerant R134A and the newer R1234YF. Be sure to check compatibility with specific vehicles and regulations. While your experience may be positive, sharing this information is best done professionally, ensuring confidentiality and respecting industry regulations.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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