My first SS unit :)

[pur]

So here is my unit. Not all the preliminary pics are here, but thats because its already posted in a forum where nobody really knows how to do this stuff, so some of the initial "parts" pictures are not there.

Since you really cant see, the compressor is NF10FX.

Instead of building mine into a box, or directly into my case, i chose to put it on a 1/4" Alu plate (6061), its about 15" x 8". I just wanted some rigidity and something that i could thread directly into.





The Alu plate, now that it’s been cut down and the edges beveled, I can drill some holes.





As I mentioned before, I wanted to thread directly into the plate to make things tidier and use less parts. I threaded it for 1/4-20. That 1/4” inch / 20 threads per inch.





Now I must say I could have done things better with the condenser. I had planned on using some rubber grommets but that didn’t pan out since the metal was just too thick. So now I think I'll just put a thin foam pad underneath the entire thing and just use some washers to compensate for the large holes. The holes are for it are also threaded, but I can not remember what I used atm. Also, the holes had to be off center so I wouldn't risk hitting the copper with the drill bit.




This is a pic of the first copper loop I did. It was ok, but not perfect. In the end I decided to redo it since it was just not bent with all the connections to the condenser and compressor in mind.








Much better. I got some more loops (though I didn't need more) without using any more space, just moved the whole thing closer to the compressor.









Just a tiny part of the connection didn't get brazed, got fixed later.








This is where I stopped, I'm going to break the next days work into another post.

[pur]

Woot woot. Done brazing. its under 200lbs of nitrogen until i can get some more time to charge with 404a and tune it.
upped the image res.



Ok, the grommets did work out.





No more propane brazing. Time to pull out the Oxy-Setaline and have some fun.




But first lets take a break...






Small dremel bit i used to open the cap tube up.




Tip of the the Oxy-Setaline torch






















So this is where I'm at right now. Just need to charge and tune. I'm going to use 404a. I would have done a few things differently, but hey for my first one I'm very pleased with how its coming out. I

I've cleaned up the evap, its flat again. Didn't throw in a pic, meh.

So what do you guys think? I used alot of the information I got from the stickies, and a few pm's i sent. I would like it to hold at least like a 200w load, but honestly this is more of a summer time killer. I'll just be happy to see it work

[sjg0]

Looks really Cool!

[Marvin]

very good skills.
waiting more pics.

[Xeon th MG Pony]

I take it you been in the refer trade for a while as well, nice kit ya got there, I love my oxy/acetylen set makes brazing a snap!

[sjg0]

How did you figure out how long to make the discharge coil?

[Xeon th MG Pony]

All he needed was one loop to snub out vibration, why people insist on adding Nth billion is beyond me, but it doesn't need to be any thing more then one loop, no figuring needed.

[pur]

All he needed was one loop to snub out vibration, why people insist on adding Nth billion is beyond me, but it doesn't need to be any thing more then one loop, no figuring needed.

Hehe, well I kinda got carried away with the discharge coil. I was like "wait, I don't need this many". Oh well. It'll still work.

[sjg0]

Hehe, well I kinda got carried away with the discharge coil. I was like "wait, I don't need this many". Oh well. It'll still work.

Hehe ok. It still looks amazing though, got any more pics for us?

[pur]

Sure there are more, but there not of any real importance, just some pics of when stuff came in the mail, and some "explanatory/diagram" pics from the other forum. A pic of my DeWalt drill.
It will probably be the coming Saturday that I finish the unit.

[sjg0]

Ok sweet.

So I have same filter/drier here, and the tubes have been brazed shut, so if im understanding this correctly you used a dremel w/small drill bit to make a hole?

[pur]

No i just used a small pipe cutter and a de-burring tool.

[sjg0]

No i just used a small pipe cutter and a de-burring tool.

de-burring tool?

Can you post pic?

[pur]

de-burring tool?

Can you post pic?

(mine is not nearby, pulled from google)

When you cut pipe with a pipe cutter, it leaves a small edge pointing inside the pipe with small burs. Naturally this is bad for flow and small copper flecks are bad for a compressor. So you put this in the pipe and spin it around a few times, it removes the edges and the burs.

[wdrzal]

No more propane brazing. Time to pull out the Oxy-Setaline and have some fun.

Your first torch looked liked you had a B-tank of acetylene there?????? not propane.


The acetylene/oxygen is much better.

I use my B-tank to soft soldier with and you can,with a adapter ,use it as a back-up when your MC acetylene tank runs out.

[pur]

Well the first post I was using propane, the second post Is oxy, I just had to use a different tip because I needed more heat.
Hehe, yeah I couldnt remember how to spell it so I just sounded it out and got setaline. Acetylene it is

[wdrzal]

Well the picture below is from your first post and appears to be a B-Tank (in bottom of picture) which are used for Acetylene/air torches.

not propane


opps pic file was too big.

[runmc]

Very nice job

[n00b 0f l337]

Only thing is, you might want to re-pipe that suction, as you'll surely have floodback in my opinion if the evap is at all over the unit.
Also why 1/4"? Thats incredibly thick, must add some serious weight. Even 1/8" would have been anchorable, and still would have no way to bend.

Past that, beautiful first build

[captaincascade]

when you guys pipe your driers, they need to be piped pointing down. a drier will work as a expansion tank alowing liquid refrigerant and gas to collect. piping them vertically with the outlet out the bottom will allow garavity to ensure pure liquid to your cap tube, otherwise you get flash gas. it doesnt have to be completely vertical, a 45 degree angle should sufice. other than that looks good man. I like desuperheaters they make the unit look so much more.... uh... turbo chargy?

[pur]

Well the picture below is from your first post and appears to be a B-Tank (in bottom of picture) which are used for Acetylene/air torches.

not propane


opps pic file was too big.

I probably just left it sitting there when i took the nitrogen out of the truck.
I used a small hand held propane torch, its just not in the pictures.

Only thing is, you might want to re-pipe that suction, as you'll surely have floodback in my opinion if the evap is at all over the unit.
Also why 1/4"? Thats incredibly thick, must add some serious weight. Even 1/8" would have been anchorable, and still would have no way to bend.

Past that, beautiful first build

Re-pipe how? If I do have floodback issues I can just put the unit above the evap temporarily.

[teyber]

hey!

guess im not the only cool cat who welds and works barefoot. all the cool members do it....

just gotta hand it to you- thats ridiculously clean. why such thick alu plate tho! if your willing to dish the $ on that props to you you mate.

DO you have flashback arrestors on the oxy acetylene torch!?!?!?!?

The DSH will help with capacity. Beautiful pipe work

p.s. just to rub it in, and scream PROFESH, id love to see those joints sanded
reed

[captaincascade]

piping suction you should never reduce pipe size, if anything it can be piped larger. this will reduce flow, raising suction prior to reduction and lower suction pressure imediatley after reduction.

same rule aplies for the most part for the high side. but oposite, you may only reduce smaller and smaller. any sudden larger pipes will allow the liquid to expand causeing flash gas. exceptions are driers, recievers, ect..

[pur]

Nope no flashback arrestor :/ I like to live dangerously.

Whats wrong with the plate? It costs 10$ from a local shop. It weighs a couple pounds... not that much.

The entire build is still under the 300$ mark. But getting things like armorflex for free helps though

[teyber]

hey pur, if your interested i have some smith flashback arrestors, torch side, which im not using. pm me if interested.

And that plate for 10$? wow. there is nothing wrong with the plate. that thickness is very expensive for me usually. props for you for no half-a$$hing a single thing in this build