Arzel Zoning systems use PVC tubing to connect the dampers to the zone control panel. Contractors get the advantage of installing a zoning system without running low-voltage wiring to each damper. Here's how to connect the tubing, with tips from our experienced technician.
Today I just want to give you a brief rundown of the Arzel air line and what makes it different from low-voltage cabling.
So if we look here, I’ve got my tubing mostly run. I’ve got a red tube here for zone 1. I’ve got a green tube for my zone 2. I like to start at the far end of my duct and work my way back. I’ll add my tees in. Another thing I like to do is to leave a little bit of a service loop here. That makes it really easy to disconnect these dampers if I need to. All I do then is take my knife, score the tubing, and then I have enough slack there that I can cut off that half inch of tubing and reconnect it.
As I’m working my way down through, I’m cutting my tees in. I’m doing a quick inspection, and I see that my helper forgot to add a damper. All I need for that is my tee, a pair of snips, and a short piece of tubing. I’m going to cut my air line, take my tees, and everything’s all press fit with barbs, so you don’t need any solvents, no glues, nothing like that. Then once I’ve got it connected, I’ll take my tubing. Everything’s got a nice tight fit to it. Then just a couple of zip ties to beaten it up. I’ll trim those zip ties off and then tighten up the air line just by pulling the slack out of it as I work my way back to the panel.
The last thing I do: It can be very difficult to pull the air lines off of the panel. The barb on the solenoids grabs that air line very tightly. So just like with the dampers, I like to leave a little bit of service loop. You can see that I’ve got some loop stapled neatly inside my floor joist up here. Then all I have to do to disconnect the air line is score that, cut the half inch off, and then I’m good to go.
We do have a tool kit available. The part number for that is TOOL-KIT. It has a staple gun which will make it really easy to fasten the tubing to your floor joist. It cradles the tubing. Then we have a good assortment of fittings and 1-inch screws. With the fittings, your most important fitting for running the tubing is the tees. This is how we’re going to build our zone out. You can buy the installation tool kit, or you can just get the tees as a standalone item. The part number is FIT-TT025.
