Safew Precautions - Mitsubishi Eclipse Workshop Manual

55-10
HEATER,
AIR
coNDlrloNER
AND vENTlLATloN
-
sarety
prscautions
SAFEW
PRECAUTIONS
R-12 refrigerant is a chloro-floro-carbon
(CFC)
that
can contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer in
the upper
atmosphere.
Ozone
filters out harmful radiation from the sun.
To
assist
in
protecting the
ozone layer,
Mitsubishi
Motors Corporation
recommends
that an
R-12
refrigerant recycling device that meets SAE standard
Jl991
be
used.
Contact an automotive service equipment supplier
for
refrigerant recycling equipment that is available
ln your
area.
The refrigerant used in all air conditioner is R-12. lt
is
transparent and colourless in both the liquid
and
vapor state. Since it has a boiling point of
-29.8'C
l-21.7"F\, at
atmospheric pressure.
it
will
be
a
vapor
at all
normal temperatures
and
pressures.
The
vapor is heavier than air. non-flammable.
and
nonexplosive.
lt
is nonpoisonous except when
it
is
in direct contact
with open flame. lt is noncorrosive
except \^/nen combrned
with
\^/ater.
The following
precautions must be observed when handling R-12.
Caution
Wear safety goggles when servicing
the
refrig-
eration system.
R-12 evaporates so rapidly
at normal
atmospheric
pressures and temperatures
that it
tends
to
freeze
anything
it
contacts. For
this
reason. elitreme care
must be taken
to prevent any liquid refrigerant from
contacting the skin and especially the
eyes.
Always
wear safety goggles when servicing the refrigeration
part of the air
conditioning system. Keep a bottle of
sterile mineral
oil
handy when working
on
the
refrigeration system. Should any
liquid
i'efrigerant
get into the eyes. use
a
few drops of mineral oil to
wash them out. R-12 is rapidly absorbed by the oil,
Next. splash the eyes
with plenty of cold water.
Call
your doctor immediately even though irritation
has
ceased after treatment.
Caution
Do not heat R-12 above 52oC (125.6'Fl.
In
most instances, moderate
heat
is
required to
bring the pressure of the refrigerant in its container
above
the
pressure of the system when charging or
adding
refrigerant.
A
bucket
or large pan of
hot
water
not over 52"C (125.6"F)
is all
the
heat
required for this purpose. Do not heat the refrigerant
container with a blow torch or any other means that
would
raise temperature
and
pressure above this
temperature.
Do not weld or steam clean on or
near
the system components or refrigerant
lines.
Caution
Keep R-12 containers upright when charging the
system.
When metering R-12 into the refrigeration
syste.,
O
keep
the supply tank or cans in an upright position.
lf the
refrigerant container is on
its side
of
upside
down, liquid refrigerant will
enter
the
system
and
damage the compressor.
Caution
Always work in a well-ventilated
room.
Good ventilation is vital in the working
area.
Although R-12 vapor
is
normally
nonpoisonous.
contact with an open flame can cause the vapor to
become very poisonous.
A
poisonous gas
is
pro-
duced when using the flame-type leak
detector.
Avoid inhaling the fumes from the
leak detector.
Caution
Do not allow liquid
refrigerant
to
touch
bright
metal.
Refrigerant
will
tarnish bright metal and
chrome
surfaces.
and
in
combination
lrr,ith
moislure
can
severely
corrode all metal
surfaces.
,-
-'- -'
@
Mitsubishi Motors
Corporation
Apr.
1991 PWUE9010