No. RLS copper refrigerant fittings are specifically designed for copper-to-copper connections. Connecting to dissimilar metals can cause galvanic corrosion issues that could cause a failure.
Yes. RLS fittings have gone through extensive vibration testing and results are as good as, if not better than, a braze joint. Please review the vibration testing procedure and conclusion for more information.
If the application that the fitting is being used in goes beyond the specified limits of the O-ring (-40°F to 300°F / -40°C to 150°C) then there will be an increased likelihood that a leak can occur.
RLS fittings have gone through extensive SWATT testing, completing over 2,000 hours of salt spray testing without failure, which proves the resilience of the product. Care should be given to avoid areas that could be exposed to ammonia or ammonia-like substances, as ammonia is very corrosive to copper fittings and tubing.
No, RLS fittings have been thoroughly tested in freeze/thaw applications with over 10,000 cycles completed in both vertical and horizontal configurations with no leakage concerns.
No, the shelf life of the product is estimated at or above 15 years. **Shelf life of HNBR O-ring is 15 years
Yes, the O-ring does compensate for small/minor scratches on the surface of the tube; however, the tubing needs to be inspected prior to use per ASTM B280, B88, or B1003 and the Copper Tube Handbook published by the Copper Development Association (CDA) specifications. Imperfections in and adjacent to the crimp area could inhibit the joint …
Read more “Does the O-ring compensate for imperfections in the piping to make a tight seal?”
The O-ring material used is the same as what is used in other refrigeration components, such as valves. Due to the nature of the static crimp sealing the O-ring from outside air, in a properly working system the O-ring should last as long as the system.
The O-ring is a highly engineered HNBR O-ring that has been used in HVAC applications by OEMs and suppliers for many years with no issues.