AC lineset install, braze or solder?

[QueBota]

Hope this isn't a Ford v Chevy thing. Interested to hear TBN opinion, lots of good mechanics here .
Thanks,
Q

 

[/pine]

silver solder...

 

[QueBota]

Thanks I've brazed and soldered but never on AC linset, all my buddies have different theories on method and technique.
Picked up 3 ton heat pump at local distributor below their cost. My son's a HVAC tech but mostly works on oil fired furances, boilers and water heaters. He can handle the control systems I need to plumb and wire it.
Thanks,
Q

 

[mini14]

silver solder, allways

 

[yomax4]

I vote anything with at least 6% silver. Preferably Harris or Weldcote #15 or similar brand. It's an HVAC go to. No flux needed copper to copper. If you want to go high silver, 45 or 56%. 56 has a lower melting temp and both need flux. I suggest the Black flux as it doesn't burn as easy. Good Luck !

 

[Labrat]

For what you're doing on a light residential system with low vibration I would suggest Harris staybrite 8. It has a shear strength over 10,000 psi is easy to use, Inexpensive compared to silver, Can be done with a MAPP gas torch and does not require inert gas flush while brazing like silver and phos rod do. I have many systems that were installed in the mid 90's with staybrite that are still in service with no issues.
If it was a commercial system with large piping and high resonance I would certainly go with silvaloy or phos but for residential it's absolutely fine.

 

[Cord]

Commercial and gasses should be brazed. For residential it's acceptable to use silver solder.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

From an old time refrigeration fitter. I always lean to brazing unless surrounding stuff is temp critical, then 90-10 soft solder or the silver bearing soft solder. Stay away from Phos-Copper as it takes too much heat. It is simply Copper and phosphorus labeled as BCUP 1 & 2. It is a brand name but commonly used. Copper to copper the BCUP series 3-7 are the silver bearing alloys that work copper to copper w/o flux, brand name Sil-Phos. Dissimilar metals you have to use the BAG series minimum 45% silver and flux. Proper flux is one made for silver solder applications. All but soft solder need to have a nitrogen purge through the lines tom prevent copper oxide from forming inside the pipe. It is a hard black residue that raises havoc with compressor bearings and plugs small orifices or capillary metering devices.

I worked on refrigeration piping from 1/4" up to 6" copper. Still have the tools and refrigerant handler permit. Getting ready to install a mini-split for my daughter as soon as the virus program is lifted.

Ron

 

[HicksFarms]

Do you have all of the equipment necessary to leak check, vacuum, and charge the unit? There痴 more to it than brazing the lineset.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

For residential solder 15 is kinda industry standard.

I wouldn’t suggest installing a system if you never have before without some guidance first. Best case the system works perfectly and efficiently for 25-30 years, most likely the system sky rockets utility bills or fails prematurely and has to be replaced again in under 5 years.

PM me and I can tell you the procedure, I’m not gonna post it publicly.

But you will need silver solder, torches, nitrogen tank with regulator, pipe bender, vacuum pump and micron gauge etc. Just to name a few tools.