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Re: 1/4" copper tubing?

Original poster: "resonance" <resonance@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Copper tubing used for plumbing is commonly specified by it's ID. Plumbing engineers specifically need this data to calculate water volume, flow rates, and pressure. As long as the tube wall is thick enough to handle the applied pressure, the OD measurement is not critical. Typical plumbing tubing specified as 1/2 inch ID typically measures 5/8" OD.
Refrigeration tubing is normally 1/8 or 1/4 inch OD. In this application the ID is not a critical factor (within reason of course) so the OD is usually specified for this type of copper tubing. Usually flow rates and not critical as the refrigerant usually moves in slightly spastic chunks, ie, surges somewhat and is not a uniform volume.
The 1/8th and 1/4 inch sizes are most commonly used for nst powered coils. The plumbing tubing, specified by it's ID, is commonly used for PT and pole powered Tesla coils. 

Dr. Resonance




Sorry, but this is completely wrong.
Spend five minutes in the plumbing department of any hardware store and you'll see what I mean.
Or, check any standard reference for mechanical engineering data, like Machinery's Handbook.
Here are the nominal ("designated") pipe sizes for metal pipe (doesn't matter if its steel, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, etc), and the actual outside diameter: 

Pipe size        OD
1/8"            .405"
1/4"            .540"
3/8"            .675"
1/2"            .840
Etc, etc.

So, you can see that 1/8" pipe does not have an OD of 1/8".
Likewise for PVC pipe. The actual OD for "6 inch schedule 35 SDR pipe" (very commonly used for secondary coil forms in medium sized Tesla coils) is 6.275", with a .180" wall thickness, leaving an ID of 5.915".
Or, nominal 8" diameter PVC pipe has a actual OD of 8.400". The wall thickness will vary according to pressure and temperature rating, but all the fittings, etc are based on the "designated" pipe size, with its corresponding OD. 

Regards,
Scott Hanson




----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <<mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <<mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2007 4:19 PM
Subject: Re: 1/4" copper tubing?

> Original poster: <mailto:FIFTYGUY@xxxxxxx>FIFTYGUY@xxxxxxx
>
> In a message dated 3/28/07 10:05:21 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> <mailto:tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> >Type "K", "L" and "M" copper tubing is designated like standard pipe > >is; by 
> >the inside diameter.
>
>     If by "standard" pipe, you mean iron, brass, and PVC pipe, then
> standard pipe is measured by the *outside* diameter, not the
inside diameter.
>     Yes, this means the flow characteristics change as the wall
> thickness ("schedule") changes. But these kinds of pipes are usually
> threaded (or in the case of PVC, more likely fitted with standard
> slip-on fittings) and the standardization of the outside diameter
> simplifies the threading of the pipe and inventory of pre-made fittings.
>
>
> -Phil LaBudde
>
>
>
>
> ----------
> See what's free at
<<http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503>AOL.com>http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503>AOL.com.
>
>
>