15mm copper tube to 1/2 inch bsp ball valve

[DeadFall]

Hi, this question has been asked a thousand times, but my forum search skills are failing me.

After many distractions I've made the decision to finish off my BIAB AG kit based around a lidl jam maker. Due to not wanting to work on the hole and risk the enamel chipping I'm probably going to be working with 15mm pipe. Every 15mm ball valve I can find is brass, and I just don't want to risk using the stuff. I can find 1/2inch stainless ball valves with threaded female connectors easily. So how would I connect the 1/2 inch valve found here to unthreaded 15mm copper pipe?

[themadhippy]

http://www.bes.co.uk/products/163.asp?EPBOE=#14037

[DeadFall]

Thanks, is that a compression fitting on the end, I can't find any information on how those work? Would this be suitable as an alternative?

[roscoe]

The 14037 would work, since it's SS it's a little more expensive, I presume your last link is to the brass fitting 11692 which is fine as your using copper pipe away and have no SS shinny prerequisite.

[DeadFall]

The 14037 would work, since it's SS it's a little more expensive, I presume your last link is to the brass fitting 11692 which is fine as your using copper pipe away and have no SS shinny prerequisite.

yep, 15mm copper pipe -> 11692 (adapter) -> 16835(tap) -> 14558(hose tail)

[roscoe]

Just a note, whilst I am huge fan of BES especially for SS stuff, the hose tails the sell have been rubbish !

When you order hose tails I would insist a decent bore ID cos' most from BES I have are hopeless, you need to grade them as using them on pump suction side, well to coin a phrase 'sucks' or rather it doesn't ! (due to woeful restriction)

[DeadFall]

This is getting expensive, just noticed that the 11692 is brass, so back to 14037. All prices are ex vat so I have to chuck that on and a £5 delivery charge. £30+ for two items... at least the rest is going to be copper and should keep the price down. Been searching around and BES is about as cheap as it gets...

[Fil]

ebay seller metajune in china sells cheaper SS compression to threaded fittings..

the difference between SS and the copper brass is the SS ones have 2 'olives' called ferrules iirc, these slip onto the tube and into eachother to seal..
known by the brand name swaglock here in the UK

for a less permenant solution u can use a oring or 2 to replace the SS olives/ferrrules.

brass 15mm fittings mesh with SS 1/2" bsp ok with a healthy wrap of ptfe for example a compression union can be stripped of its locknuts and olives to leave a almost equivalent 1/2" bsp brass hex nipple

(am bored n daydreamin.. so with a pinch of salt...)
Not tried this BUT am 80% sure it wld work... get a ss 1/2" hex nipple and mate that with a brass fittings olive and open end locknut for a budget solution.
If the small face of olive possibly in contact with beer is a concern, u can wrap with a couple of tight rounds of ptfe again. u might need to work the softer nut onto the hard SS hex nipple thread a bit to make a compression seal, but a session with the vice and a big spanner tightening/ lossening and tightening a bit more to work the nut down should do it the brass nut is softer than the ss and should give.. if not its not a bank breaker..

[DeadFall]

Emailed metajune about a 15mm to 1/2 npt fitting as the valves are 1/3 the price of BES, but are listed as npt only. Hopefully they can get one for me.

[DeadFall]

Contacted metajune and even though they don't have 1/2 bsp ball valves listed apparently they can supply them. So I've ordered one and a hose tail for £10 inc. delivery. That's pulled the cost right down. still need to get a stud coupling though.

[Fil]

FYI i have substituted the odd 1/2" NPT threaded bit into my predominantly bsp pipework, they mesh well enough with bsp threads to make a tight fitting OK.

[DeadFall]

Think I've found a stud coupling, it's listed as 14mm to 1/2" bsp male, but that sounds like it's close to the ID of a 15mm copper pipe so might be a mistake on the posters part. £5 delivered compared to £15 here... so it's worth taking a punt.

[Fil]

fingers crossed for a typo - not come across that size (14mm)in pipes or tubes in my very limited experience b4, but that means little..