Been doing my vehicles AC for a couple of years, have a vac. pump, guages etc.

Needed a recovery pump, just got a MicroVac unit (used, works $60) - it is a residential / light commercial unit, but I think it is fine for auto?

Anyone here have experience with one of these? I only have the pump unit, no tank, so first I need a refrigerant tank, right? Use and empty one?

2 of may vehicles use r12 one uses r134, the unit is for both

Any help will be rewarded with Clapping and Coolness...

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How many inches of mercury is it rated for? I made my vacuum pump out of an old compressor from a window A/C. I was using a handheld vacuum pump before this. That is the one you have to keep squeezing.

Hmmm, not sure, but this is a recovery unit so it pulls the charge out of the uAC unit, and into a tank. My thinking is that this allows me to avoid venting the refrigerant, and also pull the vacuum and then recharge.

The thing is where do I get the tank, and is it empty?

Been awhile, but thought I would update.

As most here likely know (I did not but no I do. Amazing!!) the recovery pump pulls the refrrigerent out of the unit - auto or other - compresses it, and pumps it as a liquid into your recovery bottle.

After that, yuou attach your vacuum pump, pull a vacuum, hold it etc. etc.

Then, reattach your recovery pump and fill 'er up.

I had thought that the recovery pump did everything, as my vacuum punp needs a rebuild, but it does not. IT does allow you to pull a vacuum and remove moisture, perhaps fix a leak etc. Or even change a part out, then replace the refrigerant. Nifty.

There are recovery tanks you use to put the refrigerant in. Keep in mind you aren't supposed to use empty refrigerant bottles for recovery purposes. I don't know where the recovery tanks come from but you can probably find them on the Internet. The question I would have tho is what to do with the tanks when they're full.

Never fill a recovery tank beyond 80% of its total capacity, to allow for expansion. Otherwise the tank can burst.

You'll need separate tanks for R-12 and R-134a.

And yes, you'll still need your vacuum pump. There are some combo units that do everything or nearly everything, but they cost a lot.