AC SERVICE VALVE 3/8″

Description

The 3/8 inch L-Type Service Valve (also known as a mini-split stop valve, suction/gas line valve, or base valve) is a heavy-duty brass mechanical fitting installed directly on the exterior chassis of an air conditioner or heat pump’s outdoor condenser unit. This valve regulates the flow of refrigerant through a 3/8 inch copper line set. It features a forged solid brass body paired with a pre-bent, right-angle (90 ∘ ) copper extension tube designed to ensure clean, downward-pointing alignment for brazing. Under a protective brass hex cap, it houses a Schrader service access port, allowing HVAC technicians to safely connect gauge manifolds to charge refrigerant, evacuate lines, or test system pressure. Technical Specifications Size Connection: 3/8 inch ODF (Sweat / Flare tracking) Body Design: L-Type (90 ∘ Right-Angle bend copper tube extension) Material: Forged Brass body with a seamless copper extension line Internal Mechanism: Internal hex-key (Allen wrench) operated control stem to safely lock or open the refrigerant loop Pressure Compatibility: High-pressure rated, making it fully compatible with modern R-410A and R-32 systems, as well as legacy R-22 setups Compatible Brands & Systems Refrigerant service valves are standardized globally by plumbing line diameters rather than specific appliance brands. A 3/8 inch connection is incredibly common and functions as either the primary suction (gas) line on smaller mini-splits, or the liquid line on high-capacity commercial split systems. 1. Typical System Capacities This specific valve size is universally found on mini-split and central split systems matching: 9,000 BTU (0.75 Ton) mini-split systems (where 3/8″ serves as the main suction/gas line). 24,000 BTU to 60,000 BTU (2.0 to 5.0 Ton) large central residential systems (where 3/8″ is utilized as the high-pressure liquid line). 2. Supported HVAC Brands & Part Interchanges This valve framework is used as a universal service and repair component across practically all global air conditioning manufacturers: Gree / Kinghome (Directly crosses with the Gree Air Conditioning Stop Valve Bent Type series) Midea / Carrier Daikin / Goodman (Matches liquid-line valve specifications for large condensers) Lennox (Crosses with part code 10M23) Panasonic / Samsung Essential Installation Checklist: During the installation process, it is critical to remove the internal Schrader valve core and wrap the brass valve body in a wet rag before applying a torch to braze the copper tube extension. If the brass body gets too hot, the internal Teflon and rubber seals will permanently melt, ruining the valve and causing a permanent refrigerant leak. Always ensure the outer hex cap is wrench-tightened after service to prevent micro-leaks.