water pipe instead of refrigeration pipe?

[primmers]

im in a bind, im 250 miles from the nearest source of refer copper..and im up to my ears in alligators..can i use water pipe if i clean it? i dont wana lose any sleep.
its 5/8 and 7/8 pipe..not long runs..

[VTP99]

Are you talking about type M copper water pipe? L Type has a thicker wall.

[primmers]

if i were to substitue water pipe what class would i use?

[VTP99]

Use soft copper if you can get some.Will come in 5/8 & 7/8. I think type M is I.D.not O.D.

[icemeister]

Avoid the type M for refrigeration because of the lesser wall thickness. You could use type L which is the same thickness as ACR.

The OD of M, L and K copper is always 1/8" larger than the listed size. ACR is always the actual OD dimension.

Run nitrogen when brazing, change the filter-drier, pull a proper vacuum and you should be OK. No it's not per the book, but in a pinch like this, I'd do it. ;)

Here's some reading for you:
http://www.copper.org/publications/pub_list/pdf/copper_tube_handbook.pdf

It's also listed in the Educational Forums:
http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=165373

[primmers]

thanks ice-dude, youve alway been a great help..

ill commit your links to memory..

[pauls heating &]

and be sure theres no styrofoam peanuts/dirt etc in the pipe as water pipe
wont have the protection from debris like sealed acr tubing does..

[bryan l]

ACR is just L copper that has been factory purged.
You can use M but you need to be aware of the burst ratings (allot of old school 1950's installed were done with M and soft solder.)

I would defiantly NOT use used water line.
7/8 (3/4"ID)
Type L rated for 583psi
Type M rated for 407psi

5/8" (1/2"ID)
Type L rated for 723psi
Type M rated for 494psi

These are Annealed numbers since the weak point will be copper that was heated when brazing the joints.

Please download THIS (http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.copper.org%2Fpublications%2Fp ub_list%2Fpdf%2Fcopper_tube_handbook.pdf&rct=j&q=copper+tube+handbook&ei=rrl0S6uBHIqhnQeajZXQCQ&usg=AFQjCNHD-Hk-yq7QXCqEmW-YwB3yLmPGBQ) and have a read (everybody) it will answer allot of questions and clear up allot of old wives tales.

[Airmechanical]

and be sure theres no styrofoam peanuts/dirt etc in the pipe as water pipe
wont have the protection from debris like sealed acr tubing does..

:ditto:



.

[Poodle Head Mikey]

Because the Stay Brited joints won't be annealed to weakness.

PHM
--------




ACR is just L copper that has been factory purged.
You can use M but you need to be aware of the burst ratings (allot of old school 1950's installed were done with M and soft solder.)

I would defiantly NOT use used water line.
7/8 (3/4"ID)
Type L rated for 583psi
Type M rated for 407psi

5/8" (1/2"ID)
Type L rated for 723psi
Type M rated for 494psi

These are Annealed numbers since the weak point will be copper that was heated when brazing the joints.

Please download THIS (http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.copper.org%2Fpublications%2Fp ub_list%2Fpdf%2Fcopper_tube_handbook.pdf&rct=j&q=copper+tube+handbook&ei=rrl0S6uBHIqhnQeajZXQCQ&usg=AFQjCNHD-Hk-yq7QXCqEmW-YwB3yLmPGBQ) and have a read (everybody) it will answer allot of questions and clear up allot of old wives tales.

[k-fridge]

Not recommended, but I've done it when in a pinch and had no problems. Especially for a suction line.

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do when you have a unit down and can't get the right stuff.

[wildtech]

I've had to do it to and as far as I can remember those systems are still running fine. Not my way but it works. Sometimes you gotta do what it takes in a bind as long as its safe

[Poodle Head Mikey]

I have always used copper from the plumbing supply and copper from the refrigeration supply interchangeably. L copper and ACR copper are both L copper. And I have used M copper for suction lines since the 1980's.for decades.

I have successfully built liquid receivers for R-22 and R-502 from both M and DWV copper.

Hell; I'm going to built a shell & tube heat exchanger from DWV or M copper as soon as I can find some 4" and some sheet copper or brass for the tube sheets.

Hey! Does anybody have a few feet of 4" or larger copper laying around? I guess I could use 3" if I Have to. <g>

Read the specs and stop worrying so much. <g>

[eng&tech]

ACR is just L copper that has been factory purged.
You can use M but you need to be aware of the burst ratings (allot of old school 1950's installed were done with M and soft solder.)

I would defiantly NOT use used water line.
7/8 (3/4"ID)
Type L rated for 583psi
Type M rated for 407psi

5/8" (1/2"ID)
Type L rated for 723psi
Type M rated for 494psi

These are Annealed numbers since the weak point will be copper that was heated when brazing the joints.

Please download THIS (http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&ved=0CAoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.copper.org%2Fpublications%2Fp ub_list%2Fpdf%2Fcopper_tube_handbook.pdf&rct=j&q=copper+tube+handbook&ei=rrl0S6uBHIqhnQeajZXQCQ&usg=AFQjCNHD-Hk-yq7QXCqEmW-YwB3yLmPGBQ) and have a read (everybody) it will answer allot of questions and clear up allot of old wives tales.


Follow the factory gulid line Bryan has listed above, or the ASHRAE handbook (the annealed table). And make sure you take into consideration which refrigeratant you are using. In the 1950 we used alot of R12 - not R507, or R410a.