1/4C90 – REFRIGERATION COPPER FITTING (1/4″ 90° ELBOW, LONG RADIUS)

1/4 in. refrigeration copper 90 degree elbow, long radius, cup x cup. The long-radius sweep turns a refrigerant line 90 degrees with less flow restriction than a short-radius elbow. Sized by tube OD, the standard convention for ACR fittings.

Specifications from our own stock records. The manufacturer does not publish a public page for this item.

Specs

• TypeRefrigeration (ACR) copper fitting
• Fitting90 degree elbow, long radius
• Size1/4 in.
• Sizing BasisTube OD
• ConnectionsC x C (cup x cup, solder)
• MaterialCopper
• ApplicationRefrigerant and ACR copper tubing turns

Can I use plumbing copper for a refrigerant line?

Type M, no, not ever. Type L, no in practice either. The wall thickness argument misses the point. ACR tubing is cleaned, dehydrated, capped and shipped with a nitrogen charge sealed inside. Plumbing copper is not - it comes with drawing oil and mill dust in the bore and both ends open to the room. That debris ends up in the drier screen, the metering device and the compressor. Type M is also thinner walled and has no business at R-410A or R-454B pressures.

Why does the size on the label not match my tape measure?

Because the two aisles measure differently. ACR copper is called out by its actual outside diameter, so 3/4 inch ACR really is 3/4 inch OD. Plumbing copper is nominal and runs 1/8 inch under, so 3/4 inch type L is actually 7/8 inch OD. Ask for 3/8 inch at a plumbing counter and you walk out with 1/2 inch tube. When in doubt, give us the OD.

Hard temper or soft?

Soft annealed comes in coils, bends by hand or with a bender, and is what line sets and small refrigeration runs are made of. Hard drawn comes in 20 foot straights, is stiffer, holds a clean straight run, and needs a fitting at every direction change. Do not try to bend hard drawn - it kinks and you have scrap.

How do I size a line set?

Off the equipment maker's line sizing table for your real equivalent length and vertical lift, not off whatever the service valve stub happens to be. An oversized suction line drops velocity below what carries oil back. Undersized costs you capacity. Long runs and lift both change the answer.