I don't think these have yet been unleashed on the UK general public.
Norman has covered pretty much all the points involved in recharging properly, but the kit manufacturers fail to mention any of these. They usually also contain some kind of sealant, which doens't work, but what it does do is screw the system up, guaranteeing a bigger bill in the end. They're known in the trade over in the US as 'death kits', as it's easy to kill the system when you can't weigh in the correct amount, pull a vacuum, and monitor high side pressures. Plus, of course, if you have a leak (which is probably why it needs recharging in the first place)then you'll still have the same leak, as leaks don't have a habit of fixing themselves, unfortunately.
You can buy R134 in 1kg cans, to which you can buy a hose, coupler(s), gauges etc. But be quick, as forthcoming EU regulation is going to ban the sale of refrigerant in disposible containers, which means you'll need to buy 15kg at a time.
If you're serious about recharging properly, you can buy basic components for a reasonable price. But a/c can be tricky stuff, with many interelated issues that need to be understood and taken into account. It's preferable to do it properly, and only have to do it once.
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