EPA required fittings & Adapters

(required by law for Automotive use,
not required for stationary refrigeration)

 

Autofrost / R-406A / GHG-X3 / McCool-406A

Low side Unique (3L2) High Side Unique (3S1) Low side hose Adapter (3LA4) High side hose adapter (3SA3)

 

Autofrost-X4 / GHG-X4 / Chill-it

Low side Unique (4L2) High side Unique (4S1) Low side hose adapter (4LA4) High side hose adapter (4SA3)

R-406A fittings use "reverse" (left hand) threads, GHG-X4 use "normal" threads.

To be up next week: Unique small can tops (for 9.6 oz cans), also required by law.
Unique can taps (and tappers) are also required for automotive use. The "Belly" can tappers are soon to become illegal.

Part Number Description Color
3S1 R-406A Highside Unique fitting Red
3L2 R-406A Lowside Unique fitting Blue
3SA3 R-406A Highside hose adapter Red
3LA4 R-406A Lowside hose adapter Blue
3T5 R-406A small can tapper (not shown yet) Green
4S1 GHG-X4 Highside Unique fitting Aluminum
4L2 GHG-X4 Lowside Unique fitting Aluminum
4SA3 GHG-X4 Highside hose adapter Aluminum
4LA4 GHG-X4 Lowside hose adapter Aluminum
4T5 GHG-X4 small can tapper (not shown yet) Aluminum

 

Explanation of part numbers:
S is for small (highside) fitting
L is for large (lowside) fitting
A is for adapter (connects unique fitting to 1/4" SAE male flare so it will connect to R-12 type hose fitting)
T is for can Tapper

All fittings and adapters contain "double ended" Schrader valves. (US) Federal Law requires use of unique threaded fittings for all alternative refrigerants. The unique threaded fitting must be attached with a permanent thread sealant (such as Loctite(TM)) or other means to prevent its removal. Extra R-12 service ports, not fitted with unique threads must also be rendered unusable.

Depressing the Schrader valve in the hose adapter, will in turn depress the valve core in the unique fitting, which will in turn depress the valve core in the original service port. Athough the original valve core in the A/C service port can be left installed, evacuation and charging with the alternative refrigerant will go faster if it is removed.

Unique fittings, can tappers and labels are available from Monroe Air Tech, 1-800-424-3836.

Link to the EPA's homepage showing fittings & Labels for all alternative refrigerants.

Pictures of labels and small can tappers should be up sometime next week.