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[robash9608]

A friend of mine is trying to plumb a 1" pex line to a 3/4" flat plat HE. Will this work? Will this constrict the flow? I told him I would ask the pros

[Scott7m]

Overall dimensions and number of plates are more important, you'll need to find out that info before we can answer, but if its a standard 5x12 30 plate with 3/4" it will be fine likely.... 

But one again, that all depends on the size of his pump and the head pressure on his system?  There ain't one simple answer. 

[yoderheating]

 It will work if you use a 30 plate or larger. We use 1 inch pex and 3/4 30 plates on almost all jobs. I've installed hundreds like this with no problems. Scott is correct, you need to be sure your pump is large enough.

[robash9608]

He will be using a 30 plate HE, I'll have to look at the pump size. I do know that it is a 3 speed.. Thanks

[muffin]

You could just but a bypass in.  If restriction is a problem just open it a little.

[slimjim]

With the cost of plate exchangers coming down as much as they have in the past couple of years you can easily buy a 50 plate exchanger with 1 inch ports for less than 500 dollars, Put purge ports and ball valves on all 4 ports, this allows you to rinse out any sediment with acid without removing the plate exchanger when they plug up and they will.

[yoderheating]

$500 for a heat exchange?  I need to forget selling furnaces and start selling heat exchanges.

[slimjim]

Less than 500 is what I said, all depends on how greedy the dealer is, I retail them @ 350 plus shipping, and you? Try buying one from a supply house like FW Webb or Granite group

[willieG]

braztec online 650,000 btu 50 plate, 1.25 ports 369 bucks and free shipping not sure how good they are but that was the first one that came up in an online search

[yoderheating]

I'm still trying to imagine what kind of application would require that kind of heat exchange, industrial maybe? 650,000 btu is a LOT of heat

[willieG]

I'm still trying to imagine what kind of application would require that kind of heat exchange, industrial maybe? 650,000 btu is a LOT of heat

yes, i dont believe any home owner would require that kind of heat but someone may want to reduce friction (head pressure)?  my water to air rads are all 1 inch ports but i only use 3/4 copper to deliver to them, have never had a problem with not getting enough heat, my home made water to water is a 50 foot coild of 1/2 inch soft copper inside a 12 inch pipe and the water at the tap is as hot as the furnace

[yoderheating]

 One thing I guess many people do not understand is that 3/4 in one thing is not equal to to 3/4 in another. Sometime compare the inside size of a 1 inch brass pex fitting and a 3/4 flat plate, they are almost the same size. And that is only one example, always think about comparing the inside dimensions of pipe. I have honestly seen 1 inch pex parts where the interior was not much bigger than 1/2 inch.