Installing a Trane Compressor

[Thorkan]

I have ran across a Trane scroll compressor that has steel connections and my tubing is copper. What kind of silver solder/brazing materials are needed to make the connection. Will it require Oxygen and Acetylene or will the turbo tip do the job? Does this require somthing with a lower melting and flowing point and flux to keep it clean? Do I need to apply more heat to the steel or the copper?

 

[LouBall]

Hi Thorkan,
You should use a 45 percent silver solder with a paste flux such as Harris Stay-Silv, an oxy-acetylene torch and concentrate the most heat on the copper because it conducts heat much more rapidly than the steel. Watch the flux closely, when it melts the joint is hot enough.If you allow the steel to get too hot (especially red-hot) the solder won't stick to it.
Hope this helps
LouBall

 

[Ralph2]

Is going to threaded fittings an option? Soldering copper to steel, a bit tricky. You would be better soldering a threaded copper fitting to terminate the coper line then use some flex-braided hose to connect to your compressor.
Ralph