Blacklight and AC leak detection...

[offthahook]

I have the UV dye in my AC system and the guy told me I have a leak at the compressor. He didn't know how bad it was, but said a blacklight will make the leaking gas a green color if I shine a blacklight on the compressor. Is there any kind of special blacklight for this test? I'm thinkning I'll try to keep an eye on it and learn about the whole leak test thing. Not that I can tell a whole lot other than "it is leaking" with the light, though...

Should I get a flashlight size, a bigger light, a battery powered or electric blacklight? Does the size of the light matter? I figure the smaller the better so I can get it down there by the compressor, but I don't want a light so cheap or so little that it really won't do the job. Just curious if any ol blacklight will work or if there is a special application for an automobile AC system. Thanks!

[dlr1989]

I bought a cheap kit that had a pen sized uv light (black light) and a set of glasses that enhance the uv dye when illuminated by uv light. I wasn't sure it was working until I actually saw a leak, then it was like somebody lit the area up with bright yellow lights. The pen sized light is nice because you can get it into places that would be shaded from a larger light.

[nskforlife]

lol let all your r12 out near a friends car and have the breeze blow the right way, then go tell him theres some forensic evidence stuff on his car while he's wasted. lol it was great. but ya, any blacklight should work. it's a uv reactive dye, so if you have any source of uv light, you should be good...

[BITESIZE]

I have uv led's :).

[LX-incredible]

I have the led ones and the larger one that connects to the vehicle's battery. The larger one is the best by far.

[HondaBoy]

the ones i've used at school were fairly largeish, the head the size of a maglite flashlight. they were either the type with aligator clips that go on the car's battery or plug into the wall socket. but we had also used some pocket sized ones. but whatever you get, it just needs to be a UV light. as long as its UV, it will work no matter what size shape or type of lamp it uses, like it can be LED halogen or whatever else you can find. see if you can rent or borrow one from a parts store, that would be more economical if you can do that.