Air Con Install Help!

[r.rain]

Hello All

It's DIY time again for me, this time its a split type aircon unit install, maybe bitten off more than I can chew but anyway....................

I have read the installation instructions and I'm a bit stumped as to what they are talking about regarding making the refrigerant piping connection. The instructions state the following

A. Cut pipes and cable measure the distance between indoor and outdoor unit cut the pipes a little longer than the measured distance cut the cable 1.5m longer than the pipe length

B. Burr Removal Completely remove all burrs Put the end copper tube/pipe in a downward direction as you remove burrs C. Putting nut on Remove flare nuts attached to indoor unit and outdoor unit and then put them on pipe/tube after deburring - not possible to put them on after flaring work

So far so good...............

D: Flaring Work Firmly hold copper pipe in a die in the dimensions shown in the table below. Align the centre of the pipes sufficiently tighten the flare nut with fingers and then tighten it with a spanner

Now this is where I am lost. I can see a picture of what must be a die, it has a tap handle on it and what looks like different diameter holes where I possible put my pipe end into?. Is this what I use to flare the ends of the pipe I have to cut to size. The pipes at the moment do have a flared end but obviously they wont have once I chop 'em to size. Also where would be the best place to get one of these contraptions quickly i.e not on the internet, I need it for tomorrow!

and one last thing what do the sizes in the table refer to? I have the outer diameter of the pipes listed in mm in one column and in another column I have a heading of A(mm) and beneath this I have a MAX and a MIN measurement.

Many thanks for your help

Richard

[Grunff]

You need a pipe flaring kit. Machine Mart do them:

and one last thing what do the sizes in the table refer to? I have the

No idea. What other info is present on that page?

[Richard]

Thanks Grunff. I just worked out what the A reffered to, it was the A on the diagram!!! :)

Cheers

[Sparks]

Do you have a vacuum pump, you should use one to remove all the air in the system, and to check there are no leaks (with gauges, prior to releasing the refrigerant.

Sparks...

[r.bartlett]

Would he know what he was looking at even if he did -which I rather doubt? ;-)

Luckily for the UK this is now being outlawed al la Corgi type registration so their day's are numbered

Cheers

Richard

[Andy Hall]

Reference to that?

[r.bartlett]

[Andy Hall]

I see. Do you believe that ozone depleting substances are used in new airconditioning equipment for domestic use?

Can you point me to the section(s) in said SI which prevents anybody from installing said equipment where ozone depleting substances are not used?

[Andrew Gabriel]

(a) recovering, recycling, reclaiming or destroying controlled substances; or (b) preventing and minimising the leakage of controlled substances other than work with methyl bromide.

Also appears to apply only to servicing, dismantling, and decommissioning equipment, and not installation (providing you don't go looking for leaks).

So you can install your own system, providing you don't try to prevent leaks. Perhaps I should go back and put some leaks in mine just to be safe. This just has to have been written by Prescott -- no one else could be so incompetent.

[Andy Hall]

.. and if it's a controlled substance.

Referring to the EU Directive cited in the SI, in the context of refrigeration and air conditioning, the only ones mentioned are CFC refrigerants.

[r.bartlett]

This is the first stage. The second stage close behind is to encompass all refrigerants and those who work on them. It will also stop you from nipping down to the wholesaler and buying refrigerant to 'top up' your system as they will soon have to insist on seeing a copy of your certification

However-

By correctly installing the equipment to a recognised competent person standard as laid out in column 3 you are

"(b) preventing and minimising the leakage of controlled substances other than work with methyl bromide."

If you do not use a vacuum pump and 'purge' as recommended by certain ebay sellers you're definately in breach of (b) If you do not pressure test to the correct standard your installation prior to releasing the refrigerant then you're technically in breach of (b)

They all laughed at Corgi when it first started with many plumbers snubbing their noses up at it but regulation came and whilst working on your own gas appliances may 'technically' be legal if you kill someone you suddenly become very accountable. In a similar way whilst 16th edition regs are not law they can -and will- be used against you if you wired up some new office sockets and fried some staff member coz you were too tight to get sparky in. (part P became law to stop you frying granny)

The whole industry is gearing up for this regulation so it's going to happen.

Bring it on....

Cheers

Richard

[Andy Hall]

Reference?

Are refrigerants used in new systems controlled substances within the meaning of the SI?

Did you read the paragraph about "relevant work". What did it say?

Misinformation. Part P applies to domestic installations.

THe "industry" can do what it likes.

This legislation is about the release of ozone depleting substances.

Dream on, I think you mean.

There is a market, although probably a small one, for DIY installation and maintenance of A/C systems for the home.

Markets are always addressed, trade guilds or no trade guilds.

[r.bartlett]

I'm sorry I didn't know Granny worked in your office..Jesus H Christ..

[Andy Hall]

Clearly she works in yours.

Is she in charge of marketing communications or staff training?

[r.bartlett]

Wow sharp as a pin tonight -you been on the Babycham again?

[Andy Hall]

Are you going to justify your assertions?

[r.bartlett]

There are known instances whereby Ebayers are selling R22 equipment from Russia and elsewhere which is a legal refrigerant there but outlawed here. The unsuspecting purchaser is unlikely to know the difference..

I had an enquiry recently where a company with a purchasing department in London wanted some R22 equipment sent to Nigeria. In the end the legal and logistical (let alone the moral) dilemmas left us little alternative but to turn the sale down.

Cheers

Richard

[r.bartlett]

What, that you're sharp?. Sadly I simply cannot. I withdraw unreservedly. My sincere apologies.

[Andy Hall]

I am sure they do. Chlorodifluoromethane (R22) is a CFC refrigerant which would clearly be covered by the ozone depletion legislation.

The question was about the installation of new domestic airconditioning systems in the UK. Do these use refrigerants classed as controlled substances within the meaning of the Ozone Depletion Regulations or not?

If you are going to cite legislation then it ought to be relevant.

[Andrew Gabriel]

This law explicitly does not cover installation. It covers Servicing, Dismantling, and Decommissioning.

Yes, so this law forces you to install a leaky system.

No, this law doesn't require you to purge your system at all. However, you can still purge your system, providing you don't look for leaks whilst you do it.

No, you're only in breach of (b) if you do pressure test the system.

So does a CORGI.

Part P has resulted in twice as many people being fried (given in a Parlimentary answer recently). I told the government that this would be the effect before it was brought in -- it was obvious if you looked at the stats beforehand. (Hint - Granny gets fried because no one does anything to her wiring, not because anyone does anything wrong with her wiring. Part P increases the cases of no one doing anything to her wiring.)

One thing which this legislation does get right which Part P doesn't is that it specifies required personal qualifications, and not company membership of commercial bodies.