Split type wall mounting Air Conditioning system

[stevews]

This particular system came with pre-flared 5m x 10mm pipes and 5m x 6mm pipes.

Having installed the indoor unit carefully without kinking the copper pipes, I wasn’t so lucky when I connected the last 10mm pipe to the outside unit. I gave the pipe such a bad kink I don’t think the gas will get trough properly.

My question is two fold.

A) Can I simple purchase another fully prepared i.e. pre-flared 10mm pipe, 5m in length?

b) Purchase a few couplings to make the job easier in the first place and avoid another mistake of kinking a pipe when trying to bend it?

All I can establish about purchasing copper pipe is the thickness of it and how that tends to tends to be relevant to the preinstalled frigerant gas - my system uses R407c.

Can anyone recommend a supplier in the UK that could supply either of the two options above? a link would be great.

I would extremely grateful for any advice as I feel such an idiot about ruining the whole installation because of 1 stupid mistake.

Look forward to hearing from you guys soon.

Steve

[Abe]

I would assume that this is one of those B& Q air condtioners.
Kink in pipe?? F

Is the pipe soft copper ? or flexible hose?
10mm , thats probably 3/8" I think.

All it needs is cut off the offending kink, fit a coupler and braze it on..........

Hope that helps. Better then buying a whole new set of hoses.......

A bit more info on the system itself would assist

[eggs]

sorry mate, i only work here the weekends and holidays.

try the plumbing aisle.

i think you can use a 10mm radiator pipe repair kit.

cheers

Burt Quentin.

[Brian_UK]

Now, now, Burt... calm down.

It sounds like the man is going to break all the environmental laws anyway so we ought to try and help him a little bit.

Steve, a couple of questions of you first if we may.

Do you have ANY experience of fitting systems containing refrigerants; it doesn't sound as though you do but we have to ask.

Is the equipment you are fitting supposedly "ready to run" once you had connected all of the pieces ?

You will find it hard to purchase pre-formed (fitted) piping from wholesalers. It is generally cut/brazed/flared etc on site by the installing engineer to suit the particular job itself.

If the pipework you have damaged has open ends may we ask what you proposed doing next in your installation.

If the pipework you have damaged has sealed ends which then you are, my boy, in deep do-do.

If you can give us more info then we may be able to help and point you in the right direction.

[Andy W]

You need to weigh up the cost of purchasing new lines or paying a refrigeration engineer to finish off the job, personally I do not agree with places like B&Q selling these DIY systems as they are prone to leak gas etc through poor design and construction and it is only a matter of time before Goverment legislation bans these DIY systems but only after someone has been badly injured. Have you ever seen what liquid refrigerant can do to the skin? I once burnt myself so bad that I had to have my hand in a flamazine bag (sterile burns bag filled with cream) for two weeks, boy was that painful!

[stevews]

Hi Brian and Co.

You were dead right, I am not a professional, nor do I have any prior experience of installing air-conditioning units.

I purchased the unit as a kit on Ebay a couple of months ago. It was sold on the basis that anyone with good DIY skills could fit themselves.

Because I was already familiar with plumbing and electrical work I thought I would be able to cope with it easily. What I didn’t realise was the copper pipe work supplied had already been pre-insulated (heat-resistant insulating material) and had "speedy connection nuts" with pre-flared ends. Both lengths of pipe supplied were 6mm thick and 10mm thick and were made of soft copper.

The specification of the system is:

Indoor Unit ASW-H09A4/HAR - Cooling rated 960, Heating capacity 960
Outdoor Unit AS-H09A4/*R - Refrigeration material - R407c.

Cooling Capacity (W) 2500
Heating Capacity (W) 2750

Specification and length of connecting pipe (mm)
Liquid Tube = 6. 35x0. 6x3600 (4500\5000\7000\7500)
Vapour Tube = 9. 52x0. 6x3600 (4500\5000\7000\7500)

I believe the outdoor unit is made by Toshiba.

Is it simply a question of fitting a coupler and brazing it on - where do I get the couplers from? Are 10mm plumbing pipes and couplers okay to use from Wickes? I was slightly concerned that it might not be sufficiently thick and could burst or leak.

The refrigerant is still in the main outdoor unit. I wasnt going to touch the outdoor unit until all the pipes had been feed through and after that I was going to follow the instructions about connecting up the pipes.

I had come across the site below http://www.mc-distribution.fr/liaisons-gb.htm#05 - SEE INSULATED FLARED PIPING - that’s the type of pipe work that was supplied. Unfortunately the company is in France. Does anyone know of a UK based supplier?

Or does anyone recommend that I cut out the kink and use a coupler and a small piece of pipe to join the two ends? If so what type of copper pipe and coupler would you recommend I buy (giving that thickness of these pipes seems to play such an important role in refrigeration).

What supplier would you recommend for either option?

Does Eggs suggestion of using "a 10mm radiator pipe repair kit" sound okay?

If you need any further information then please just ask away.

Thanks

Steve

[frank]

Hi Steve

I think Eggs was pulling your leg

If and when you get your pipework completed, do you intend to evacuate the pipework before you release the refrigerant from the outdoor unit?

[stevews]

Hi Frank,

The instructions given in the manual suggest you remove all the excess air from the pipes. It then guides you how to do that using the release valves.

I presume that is what you meant by "evacuate the pipework"

Any ideas on what type of pipe and couplings I should buy?

Thanks for your note about Eggs response - I wouldnt have a clue whether he was right or not.

Steve

[Karl Hofmann]

Steve, to evacuate thoes pipes, you'll need access to a vacuum pump, whoever wrote those instructions needs to be beaten about the head with a wet fish, the kink is not a problem, it can be either cut out and the pipe re brazed (NOT soft soldered) or replace the pipe and re flair the ends, the pipe is available at refrigeration wholesalers, please dont be tempted to use the pipe used for heating systems, it is just not up to the job, besides your pipe is imperial and plumbers pipe is metric.

From what I understand the instructions they suggest that you purge the pipes using refrigerant, this is not acceptable, and illegal. This is what I fear most from DIY kits, not that this is a proper DIY kit, rather than a split system sold with a bit of copper tube.

[chemi-cool]

Now that all my distinguished friend said their words, let give you another aspect,

Get a pro to finish the job and you will be able to enjoy your purchase.

Chemi

[davo]

This particular system came with pre-flared 5m x 10mm pipes and 5m x 6mm pipes.

Having installed the indoor unit carefully without kinking the copper pipes, I wasn’t so lucky when I connected the last 10mm pipe to the outside unit. I gave the pipe such a bad kink I don’t think the gas will get trough properly.

My question is two fold.

A) Can I simple purchase another fully prepared i.e. pre-flared 10mm pipe, 5m in length?

b) Purchase a few couplings to make the job easier in the first place and avoid another mistake of kinking a pipe when trying to bend it?

All I can establish about purchasing copper pipe is the thickness of it and how that tends to tends to be relevant to the preinstalled frigerant gas - my system uses R407c.

Can anyone recommend a supplier in the UK that could supply either of the two options above? a link would be great.

I would extremely grateful for any advice as I feel such an idiot about ruining the whole installation because of 1 stupid mistake.

Look forward to hearing from you guys soon.

Steve

steve, i would head down to the local plumbing shop or if you no a plumber, and grab a flaring kit and re-flare the pipe, its not hard. if you got this far in the installation i think you could work it out. you have to remove the kink. or if you are extremmely handy i have seen the pipe soldered to the valve fitting on the side of the unit. the copper will have to come from a refrigeration wholesaler. or if you don't need much hit a local fridgy up for a metre or so. or try asking for 5m with two flares on either end and swing them some cash. but all i can stress to you is once you have it piped up evacuate the system with a vavuum pump. do not purge refrigerant to atmosphere. it sounds like a small split and if you over purge you will loose half of your gas charge anyway. i would go the extra effort to try to re-flare it and of you do it right it will never bother you if you do a quick fix in refrigeration you are asking for trouble