What material for dash AC lines?

rv_safetyman · March 10, 2007, 06:30:13 PM

I now have most of the parts for my dash air including a great Red Dot Heater/AC unit which saved our bacon this winter after I hooked it up to our Aqua Hot system.

Now it is time to figure out how to plumb the AC part of the system. The Series 60 had the compressor, and I will pick up a new condenser and dryer.

The issue is what to use for the long runs to the front. I could use AC hose, but for 134, which requires "barrier hose" that could be a goodly chunk of change.

Folks have said I should use copper like to original system. If copper is the best way to go, is there a special type copper tubing for AC? In the old days, you could get hose fittings that would clamp to the copper tubing but with the new technology, what does one do to connect the flexible hose to the copper tubing?

niles500 · March 10, 2007, 07:02:25 PM

>>>>>..what does one do to connect the flexible hose to the copper tubing?

Brass coupler - one side compression fitting - other side hose fitting - HTH

Jerry32 · March 10, 2007, 07:29:19 PM

For high pressure refrigerant lines flare or siver soldered is best. Jerry

DrivingMissLazy · March 10, 2007, 07:42:19 PM

I agree. I do not believe compression fittings are really suitable for the pressure lines. Single or double flare or silver solder would be best.

I also vaguely recall from many years ago that I bought special copper line from an A/C shop. I really do not remember what was special about it though.

Quote from: Jerry32 on March 10, 2007, 07:29:19 PM
For high pressure refrigerant lines flare or silver soldered is best. Jerry

82 MCI-9 · March 10, 2007, 08:49:47 PM

As an ex plumber with 16 years of experience you need to go to your local plumbing supply store and get ACR copper which is used for refrigeration lines. You can buy what they call a line set which is soft copper in a roll which has rubber plugs in the ends to keep it clean inside, if you use ACR hard copper you will need to run nitrogen through it when you silver solder it use 15% silver solder. The nitrogen keeps it from getting black inside which will mess up the system. I am also pretty sure that it will need to be sized for the length that you need to run this is a question that Nick will have to answer.

niles500 · March 10, 2007, 08:53:15 PM

Sorry, I meant "flared" compression fittings - Not "ferruled" compression fittings - thanks for correcting me.

gus · March 10, 2007, 09:16:02 PM

To me Flared fittings are completely different from Compression fittings??

niles500 · March 10, 2007, 09:43:35 PM

flare-type fitting = A fitting that achieves a seal through the "compression" of mating parts on the flared end of a tube. - HTH

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · March 11, 2007, 06:48:00 AM

Hi Jim,

ACR copper will do the job as 86 orion has suggested. The cleaner the better. Always cap the ends, even for a

couple min's... Standard flare joints will work for your application. The only thing I can add to what others

have told you is, make coil loops with the copper if you have an area that may vibrate and also keep the copper

away from any rubbing against other metals.

Good Luck
Nick-

RTS/Daytona · March 11, 2007, 04:48:12 PM

Hi Jim

I purchase Goodyear Galaxy Barrier A/C hose - 50 feet of #10 and 50 feet of #12 for about $1 / foot on Ebay a while back

I sent an email to the person I purchased the hoses from - If he replies I'll give you his addy

I Just Searched Ebay for more - didn't see any recently - but keep looking (put in a ebay search so that you notified)

I didn't want to use copper (Was afraid it would get fatiqued(sp?) and break ??

Pete RTS/Daytona

rv_safetyman · March 11, 2007, 07:47:50 PM

Wow, lots of good replies!!

Sonnie Gray called and suggested that I could also use seamless steel tubing or even aluminum. He also pointed out the aluminum and copper might be a bit expensive with the huge increase in raw material costs. His feeling is that double flare or silver solder would be the way to go.

Pete, please let me know if you hear from your source. Being retired from the Gates Rubber Co., it is hard for me to pay real people prices. I would love to go to rubber hose if I can find a decent value. I have access to a crimper for attaching the fittings.

H3Jim · March 13, 2007, 11:45:30 AM

Jim,

I have some lengths of rubber hose that came off an air-conditioning system. I'm not sure I have the length you require, but if you need some shorter pieces they would certainly work. You can have them if you want, but you might have to pay for shipping unless we can find a place to meet, or another bus nut thats going your way.

They are the hoses that Sean Welsh took off his coach. I'm not sure how to tell if they are suitable for your use, but the price is right.