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[RSI]

The only difference between copper types is the wall thickness. I have seen one company saying that about the type M but they were cutting a spiral grove in the pipe and if they used the thinner pipe it would most likely fail because of the grove they cut in it.

[LittleJohn]

True about Cu pipe sizes, but just remember they only make one size Cu fittings they don't make M,K,L type fittings. So like always fittings and joints are were you will see issues

[idahohay]

The fittings seem to be getting pretty thin but the price gets thicker. The 2x1x1 tee's were 21.55 ea. Same outfit had copper tee's listed up to 8" with a price of  2,126.95. Don't know what 8"copper would be used for but would probably take a roll of solder to make up one tee!

[slimjim]

They do make the fitting but you do not want to have to pay for it, you can get a close bushing, 1 inch to 3/4 that works nice but you will need to remove the stop in it so the 3/4 pipe will slide all the way through, another thing that I do is to solder scrap pieces of 12 gauge wire loosely to the 3/4 inch pipe, this increases the surface area of the copper exposed to the wood boiler side of the heat exchanger, ( better transfer ) as for the L or M copper, because it is domestic pressurized water it should be L as it is thicker wall

[farmboythegreat]

if a guy  built a side arm but before soldering together  he fabed a piece of copper to be like a grain auger  and soldered it to inside pipe  ....  how  u think that  work ??

[slimjim]

Awesome!

[Sprinter]

If you don't exceed 2'-3' per second velocity type M copper will be fine. Most I've seen were M. Do a search on sidearms, there is a few pics of the multi pipe version I mentioned.  Making an auger won't help. You need to increase the surface area of heat exchange to make any difference. Surface area play a much larger role than flow and temps.

[slimjim]

I do not think you understand what he is saying sprinter!

[idahohay]

Would 1" be better in the center than 3/4? But then it would need reduced which might affect the thermosyphon?

[slimjim]

I do not think it will, in fact I would be concerned that you would be restricting the flow on the wood boiler side, believe me you will get plenty of very hot water with the standard setup

[idahohay]

Thanks slimjim. My fittings are due to arrive tomorrow. Might still use Type m, it is legal here for domestic water. Should last my lifetime and my water pressure is less than 60 psi.  Will post some pics when I get it done and when installed.

[slimjim]

It's all I ever use, if you had a leak it would simply overfill your boiler and you would notice it, never had one leak yet!

[Sprinter]

Pipe size will not effect the thermosyphon, temp differences will. If your using those circs, you won't have to worry about restriction unless its a very long zone. You won't need much flow anyways, as it will not exchange as much as a flat plate.

[idahohay]

Here is what i came up with.  Used 32" of 2" copper.  I really like working with those big fittings. Was going to come out of the bottom tee straight up, but it would have blocked the elements on this heater.  The w/h goes in and to the right of the toilet, now I can finish the installation of the fphe for the closed in floor system.

[NaturallyAspirated]

Nice!  Gonna gets some of that nice PVC jacketed insulation on it?

Neal