Hello,

I need to T into cold and hot lines with Type L hard copper. The lines that I want to tap are 1/2"OD soft copper.
Looking at some charts I can see the there would be a 1.8mm gap if I tried to put the 1/2"OD into the 1/2"ID so that seems like a bad idea. Or is it ? I haven't physically tried it.

I can find 1/2"OD to 5/8"OD couplings but am interested in swaging the 1/2"OD. Can it be swaged to fit inside the 1/2" T or even slightly to fit inside the 1/2"ID ?

Thank you

there are any number of ways to do this.
easiest might be to find a tee similar to this.
it would be 1/2 compression x 1/2 compression x 1/2 inch female.
the female side will be pipe size so a common 1/2 inch copper x male adapter will fit.

A 1/2 nominal X 3/8 nominal fitting X copper reducer (bushing) would sweat right into a 1/2 tee. 3/8 nominal is 1/2 OD.

I couldn't follow that. By nominal do you mean Type L and M hard straight pipe with a 5/8'OD (for 1/2" and it's related fittings ? I'm assuming that you are.

Do you mean a 1/2 x 3/8 reducing coupling and a reducing bushing ? Or a 1/2 x 3/8 reducing fitting with a 3/8 x 1/2 bushing ?

[www.grainger.com]

Outside Dia.
1/2 in x 1/2 in x 5/8 in - run/run/bull - as in 'bullheaded' T





all you need do is solder



you are welcome


ps. 1/2 OD soft copper is the same dimensionally as 3/8 nominal hard copper

5/8 OD soft copper is the same dimensionalyl as 1/2 nominal hard copper


pps. there is no such item as 1/2 ID copper, merely 1/2 nominal size

hard temper, used primarilly for potable water, is 'stated' as nominal pipe size

soft temper (annealed), used primarilly for refrigeration, is 'stated' as OD diameter

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638



Edited 2 times.

i don't know bern..
the copper tubing he wants to cut a tee into fits inside plain old 1/2 copper tube.
a little loose but the OD of it is within 1.8mm of the ID of 1/2 inch copper tube.

the tee you pictured does not look like it is that close as has been described.
i see the described size as 1/2 x 1/2 x 5/8 but it doesn't look it to me?

i still think to save the guy from soldering, just slip on a comp x comp x male tee like this with a 1/2 inch ips x copper sweat ball valve.

1/2" nominal copper is 5/8" OD.
3/8" nominal copper is 1/2" OD.

A "fitting reducer" is a bushing, so a 1/2" X 3/8" fitting reducer would fit into a 1/2" tee and allow you to sweat 1/2" OD (3/8" nom) in the branch - if you are willing to solder. If you have the tools for sweating these fittings would be cheaper than the other options.

@ packy

copy & paste from fitting site:

Outside Dia.
1/2 in x 1/2 in x 5/8 in



EXACTLY what the OP wants





ps. the OP is confused re: OD sizing and NOMINAL tube sizing - he/she thinks nominal is an ID size instaed of an APROXIMATION

pps. 'hard' 3/8 tube will fit loosely inside 1/2 OD 'soft' tube - too loose for soldering, but brazeable

==============================================

"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638



Edited 1 times.

The fittings worked perfectly.
Thank you.



Edited 1 times.