New TX reefer and burned wire laws

Just talked to the yard today. New law states that you must provide one of the following for reefers:
AC tech license
Contractor license
Paperwork showing you purchased the reefers or AC units.

Burned wire (wolverine)
Must have paperwork showing it came from a building or automotive fire.

Im glad they are cracking down, tired of the dope heads stealing stuff.

Originally Posted by olddude

I was looking at the TX governor as a possable deregulation president, guess I need to look deeper or elseware. when will people learn NO regulation, NO law will stop a thief. especially a tweeker, they will find a way, or some one to sell to, all new regs and laws do is make it harder and harder for honest hard working people to make a living. just my .02

I agree Olddude....Some of the local scrap yards were fined for recommending that people burn their wire down to get bare copper....But nothing has changed....Not only are more people burning copper, but when I was at the yard today the guy told me I could get more for my insulated if I burned it. Guess that big fine did nothing to stop them and that does not really surprise me.

Why would a yard tell people to burn wire for a higher price? If they're buying enough volume, they can get into a granulator and be way ahead versus people burning crap.

My guess it is some people asking how they can get better money for what they have. In my case I happen to be a regular and the guy is always chatting us up. It just never sinks in that I do not have time to strip wire and I am not going to risk getting caught burning the wire. I get almost $2 a pound for insulated wire and that is more than enough for me.

Could be. I guess some just aren't bothered by fines.

I get almost $2 a pound for insulated wire and that is more than enough for me.

That is for # 1 insulated, correct? Very good price, What does your yard consider #1. We've been saving ours up, might have to hit your yard with the load. $ .80 difference in price, more than enough to pay for the gas.

I agree, the thiefs will just find a crooked contractor who will buy their coolers, or units as a whole, which gives them their outlet.

I have a copy of TX SB694, and it states those new requirements are for condensing or evaporator coils for cental heating or a/c units, so refrigerators would not be affected. Which I am glad because I usually remove the aluminum coils out of the freezers of refrigerators, and have several stashed right now, waiting to take them in.

Originally Posted by Mechanic688

That is for # 1 insulated, correct? Very good price, What does your yard consider #1. We've been saving ours up, might have to hit your yard with the load. $ .80 difference in price, more than enough to pay for the gas.

Wow! That is a great price. I typically pay more than the scrap yards and I pay $1.70 for #1.

Originally Posted by rca987

Brought in an AC compressor today. Yard didn't question it, or ask for proof of how I obtained it. Might be because they know me.

Called another yard that typically has a lot better prices...They won't take it without proof or an AC license... oh well.

Either yards will take it, or the reefer/compressors will just be broken down even further. Pain in the butt though without proper tools.

The law only has to do with the copper/aluminum radiators, the compressor does not fall under it, so they should take it without any real issue.

Originally Posted by Mick

What if you cut the aluminum from the copper tubing?

Good question, I will need to reread and see if they talk about copper tubing that is part of refrigerant lines.

At times I wish I had an economical way of melting copper. If so I would just start creating 10 pound bricks out of everything, wire, tube, etc. On that note, does anyone know if the copper purity in tubes is the same as wire?

i imagine it is not the same grade because wire is made with high purity copper for better conductivity, and tubing is probably a less pure alloy for structural integrity. hence the difference in #1wire price and #1 tubing price

Originally Posted by Mick

What if you cut the aluminum from the copper tubing?

I cut mine up and the yard had a fit. They could tell by the marks on the tubes that they came from AC coils.