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Table 1: Recovery cylinder information

Cylinder name Water capacity Max service pressure DOT designation Allowable refrigerants(2)
30 lb 26.2 lb
726 in3
350 psig 4BA350 All(1) except R-410A
400 psig 4BA400 All(1)
50 lb 47.7 lb
1323 in3
350 psig 4BA350 All(1) except R-410A
400 psig 4BA400 All(1)
125 lb 123 lb
3406 in3
300 psig 4BW300 All(1) except R-410A
400 psig 4BW400 All(1)
1000 lb
(half ton)
1000 lb
27686 in3
260 psig 4BW260 Only R-12, R-22, R-134a,
R-409A, R-427A
400 psig 4BW400 All(1)

(1) All means R-12, R-22, R-134a, R-404A, R-407A, R-407C, R-408A, R-409A, R-410A, R-427A & R-507A

(2) See table 2

Table 2: Cylinder service pressure and refrigerant match-up

Refrigerant Minimum service
pressure (psig)
Available cylinder
pressure (psig) – Size (lb)
R-12 145/225* 260 - 1000 lb
300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-22 240 260 - 1000 lb
300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-134a 160/225* 260 - 1000 lb
300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-404A 285 300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-407A 290 300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-407C 275 300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-408A 265 300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-409A 185/225* 260 - 1000 lb
300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-410A 385 400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-427A 265 260 - 1000 lb
300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb
R-507A 295 300 - 125 lb
350 - 30, 50 lb
400 - 30, 50, 125, 1000 lb

* The second value is for DOT 4BA or 4BW cylinders and values rounded up to the nearest 5 PSI increment.

The maximum gross weight for each of the cylinders above is computed as follows:

Max Gross WT = Cylinder Tare WT + Max Refrigerant Net WT

Where the Cylinder Tare WT is the empty weight of the cylinder as received and the Max Refrigerant Net WT is computed as follows:

Max Refrigerant Net WT = WC x SG x 0.8

Where WC is the water capacity of the cylinder in lbs, SG is the specific gravity of the refrigerant at 77 °F and 0.8 is the safety factor. Table 4 below lists the refrigerant's specific gravity.

Table 3: Acceptable cylinders

Cylinder size Max pressure Typical empty weight Deposit
30 lb. 350 psig 14 lbs. N/A
400 psig 17 lbs.
50 lb. 350 psig 24 lbs. N/A
400 psig 28 lbs.
125 lb. 300 psig 52 lbs. $125 or $200
400 psig 58 lbs.
1,000 lb. (half ton) 260 psig 334 lbs. $1,000 or $1,500

Specific gravity

  Specific gravity
R-12 1.31
R-22 1.19
R-134a 1.21
R-401A 1.19
R-401B 1.19
R-402A 1.15
R-402B 1.15
R-404A 1.04
R-407A 1.15
R-407C 1.14
R-408A 1.06
R-409A 1.21
R-410A 1.06
R-427A 1.13
R-500 1.14
R-502 1.21
R-507A 1.05
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