Quote Originally Posted by mthomasdev View Post
phantom,



You are correct that for 24.95 you could get the type I certification. I took the universal. Figured there was no sense in taking the exam and not covering all bases.

As for the equipment, you really do need a refrigerant scale and a vacrometer. Tanks are not supposed to be filled past 80% capacity. A vacrometer (suppose an old set of gauges may work) is need to ensure that you pull the minimum required 4" HG vacuum. You could get away without the meter if you pulled the 80% or 90% of volume based on the operability of the compressor. However, many times there is actually a lot less refrigerant in the system than is indicated on the tag. For these, you would never be able to pull the required volume and would have to rely on the vacuum. I added a 2nd tank due to the fact that my buyer is 8 miles away and it sucks pulling 2 or 3 units with 1 type of refrigerant and then having to run to the buyer to turn in and exchange the cylinder. I spent about 800 on an Apion recovery machine, 200 on a scale, 100 on hoses, 100 on each tank and another 200 on the vacrometer, multiport connection (to recover 5 units at once) and saddle valves.
Thank you everyone for the advice, I will get certified to do it myself.