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/p...e_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 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..

.

[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 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>