Answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about the RLS System are provided below
On average you can achieve 100-150 crimps per charge depending on the size fittings being crimped. Each kit comes with 2 Makita Lithium-ion batteries and a rapid charge charging system. To prevent any downtime, it is recommended that you have both batteries charged before going to the jobsite and to have one charging while the other is in use.
No, RLS is specifically designed for copper to copper connections. Connecting to dissimilar metals can cause formicary corrosion issues that could cause a failure.
The o-ring is a highly engineered HNBR Parker o-ring that has been used in HVAC applications by OEMs and suppliers for many years with no issues.
The expected life of the o-ring that stays within the product specifications for temperature and pressure should be 30 years.
No, the shelf life of the product is estimated at or above 30 years.
No, RLS has been thoroughly tested in freeze/ thaw applications with over 10,000 cycles completed in both vertical and horizontal configurations with no leakage concerns.
No. Trying to braze the fitting will very likely melt the o-ring material and thus introduce contaminants into the system that could cause other system issues.
No, RLS has gone through a battery of corrosion testing, completing over 2,000 hours of salt spray testing without failure, which proves the resilience of the product.
If the flare of the fitting tends to be a problem, you can smooth the transition over the fitting by adding duct tape around the flared edge of the fitting to the tube.
The tool has a red LED on the back of the tool that will blink for 20 seconds after a crimp. When this occurs, take the tool back to an authorized dealer to have the tool analyzed. They will be able to verify if the tool needs to be sent in for service.
Each jaw has an expected life of 10,000 to 12,000 crimps.
You will know when the jaw needs to be replaced when the contact point between the upper and lower jaw starts to open up/widen. A good indication of failure is when the crimp gauge no longer engages.
No, we do not have a specific product designed to crimp over the flared tubing. However, if there is at least 2 inches of straight copper tubing after the flared end and is accessible with the jaws, we suggest that you cut the flared end off and crimp directly to the tube.
Use the depth gauge provided or the chart below to determine the minimum insertion depth. Mark the tubing with a permanent marker to indicate proper insertion depth on every tube. The minimum insertion depths are shown in the table below.
Fitting Size | Inches | mm |
1/4 | 15/16 | 23.8 |
3/8 | 15/16 | 23.8 |
1/2 | 1-1/4 | 31.8 |
5/8 | 1-1/4 | 31.8 |
3/4 | 1-1/4 | 31.8 |
7/8 | 1-1/4 | 31.8 |
1-1/8 | 1-1/4 | 31.8 |
We know that not all copper tubing is the same, but we have tested RLS with most EN12735-1 conforming copper tube manufacturers with no issues. The tolerance for each tube to ensure a good leak-free joint is +.002/-.007. (Greenmill’s stock of refrigeration copper tube always conforms to EN 12735-1)
Yes, the o-ring does compensate for small/ minor scratches on the surface of the tube; however, the tubing needs to be inspected prior to use per ASTM B280 and the Copper Tube Handbook published by the Copper Development Association (CDA) specifications. Imperfections in and adjacent to the crimp area could inhibit the joint integrity. These imperfections may include surface scratches, incise marks, and tubing out of round.
If the application that the fitting is being used in goes beyond the specified limits of the o-ring (-40°F to +300°F / -40°C to +1 50°C) then RLS should not be used in this instance.
Yes, RLS has gone through extensive vibration testing and results are actually better than that of a braze joint. Please review the vibration testing procedure and conclusion for more information.