cheap disconnects

[newtonsshed]

After writing loads and timing out, I'll cut to the point this time - what's the cheapest type of quick disconnects I can get away with? I'm on a shoe string budget but sick of my cobbled together compression fittings and want leak free quick disconnects , not bothered with using copper/brass, as already do and already have brass male threaded tank connectors and 6 ss ball valves. I currently go from tank connector to a piece of copper with olive and nut on either end to ball valve with another copper tube and nut and olive on one end going to silicone hose inserted on the copper pie at other end with jubilee clip all 1/2". I have to use pumps as want option of herms and single tier and plate chiller. I need 6 couplers (female sockets) so I can just screw into tank connector and ball valves. I also want 12X part A? camlock type fittings to screw onto male threads and 6 Part C type? camlocks to go on end of silicone hose and to mate with the Part A? Can I use Polypropylene at 100 degrees (thinking for flushing cleaning) as only rated to 80? Also where's best to get them from as I work it all out to be about £55 for the sockets from home brew shop @ £12 and about £1 each for Type A in Polypropylene so £12 but with part C being more expensive at £35.

Thanks
Andy

[DeadFall]

Try angelhomebrew they have ss cam-locks for about £6 each IIRC. They also have silicon tubing at about £4.20 if you're worried about the temp of the tubing. The 1/2 tubing will fit over the male threads on the camlock parts pretty tightly, so no need for any other bits.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

If it's stainless you want look here

http://www.intricoproducts.com/cat/Camlock-Couplings

[newtonsshed]

Sorry I meant I couldn't justify or afford to go stainless steel. I was wondering if I could use Polypropylene rather than SS? Or other cheaper disconnect types other than camlocks.

As the ss from Intrico (Thanks for the link) for instance, would work out to £90, whereas for the same fittings in Polypropylene it would be £38, which would be worth it for ease of use/operation, if I could use them but want the camlocks to be able to handle 100 degree C. I know the silicone hose and pumps are 100dc+ but the Polypropylene 'Camlock' are stated as being at 80dc so I wondered if at higher temps they would leak or break or something at higer temp? or do they just not recommend it and for our application of short infrequent use they'll be ok? Only want 100dc so I can flush the system down after brew day by running boiling water through then some starstan.The sparge water maybe boarderline too

Thanks
Andy

[Fil]

i bought camlocks both ss and PP the PP ones will not mate with the SS ones, 2 completely different sizes.. PP will probably be ok at 100c, may leak a lil but due to the level of compression involved on the seal shouldnt fail. not tested the few i bought as the twice the size and half the bore dimensions put me off.

even tho i use camlocks i would suggest terminating everything in 15mm od tube and using a bag of plumbers twist to seal/unseal speedfit fittings, the ones with the big twisty grip are a doddle to pull off and even tho they die after X uses a bagful costs the same as a single pair of SS camlock fittings. get a few 90 degree bends too and u can build a valantines arm on the fly for the tun too..
Once u go camlocks you need to consider any new bit of kit u introduce and adding new connectors to it at a premium cost..

[hebbstar]

Hi Andy

I used PP camlocks on my first rig with no issues at all. They are a bit chunkier and a little less funkier than SS but they did the job well until I upgraded. The SS bug hit so I finished up replacing with SS and paying twice when I upgraded....

Just a thought.

Cheers

Paul

[newtonsshed]

Thanks..
The rest of the brewery doesn't warrent ss (the pots are converted beer kegs the cold water in feed is from an outside tap with a long yellow garden hose to reach the brewshed & the tank connectors are brass) so no other ss (bar ball valves as good price but not convinced they are ss at £5 each with male threads on both ends) One day I eventually get some ss 100l pots nicelyy fitted with ss bulk heads ball valves and connectors but for now I need/want to get up and running

I'm using the standard 1/2" silcone hose for lenght so was looking at the 1/2" camlocks "as the twice the size and half the bore dimensions put me off." Does anyone know what size the bore is on the pp and are they different bore to ss? Worried about restricting flow as be using a pump although the heat exchanger has 10MM copper anyway albeeit on the outflow of pump.

I used PP camlocks on my first rig with no issues at all - Ah brillient thanks for that - did you use them at 100 degree C with no issue or at lower temp, have you still got them?

[Frothy]

Alternatively these are ~£2 each
I use the compression fittings you describe on the ball valves etc and these slot over the 15mm pipe.
As long as you have a rotating pipe cutter that leaves a nice smooth edge on the end of the copper the seals will be fine for repeated use, I've been using these for years.

[Fil]

i still have the PP camlocks i took a punt on, the bag is buried in a box of bits, i can dig it out take a snap and measure bores of the hostail terminated fittings, if of interest to you you can make me an offer..

And while i will sell em i can only do so with a clear conscience if i reiterate that cheap plumbing twist to seal/unseal speedfit fittings will be cheaper n easier to use,,

[newtonsshed]

Thanks Frothy how do they quick disconnect or do u take the the whole thing off each time?

Hi Fil its been awhile how's things? If P/p "work" then that's fine no need to measure, I think from what I've read they're 3/4 rather than 1/2 what type and how many you got ? I'm looking for 12 type A and 9 C Been quoted about £58 delivered but Intrico have I think a special offer for members of this site which I think works out about £10 more for ss. Let me know what you've got pm me - how come you don't use them and what u got instead?
Thanks Andy

[Fil]

how come you don't use them and what u got instead?
Thanks Andy

i got PP as a punt the intention of using PP on the hotside and SS on the cold side when i upped to a bigger brewkit. however the 2 will not mate together so i went SS 100%

Its not just the PP ones with tiny bores thru the hosetail fittings, many SS ones too suffer from this, Mrlard aka the home brew builder has got some max bore 1/2" hosetail fittings, this aspect bugged me intensly so i ended up going for 19mm ID silicone tube using 1/2" ss weld nipples to terminate my female threaded camlock fittings and provide a full bore attachment for the hose jubilee clipped over the weld nipples weld end..
[/url]

im not sure of what i got, but its probably only about 50% of what your looking for
I will dig em out and take a snap so u can see, one thing i learnt recently from our pal at intrico is that the camlock standard only refers to the compression the seal receives?? other specs are upto the manufacturer so if u use mine it may be wise to consider sourcing any extra u need from the same supplier
https://www.colglo.co.uk/productlist.ph ... k_Fittings

[Fil]

10 x M to 1/2" bsp male thread
4 x M to 1/2" bsp female thread
2 x F to 1/2" hosetail
and 1 x F to 1/2" bsp F thread, - a few of the female couplings must have fallen out of the bag??


** edit
ok worst photo option possible black bits on black tiles in a dimly lit hall,, try this

ps 1 more M to female thread fitting found..

[Frothy]

Thanks Frothy how do they quick disconnect or do u take the the whole thing off each time?

No problem. I fit one on to each end of my 1/2" hoses.
Standard speedfit system - Just pull back the grey plastic collar with 2 fingers on one hand and pull the fitting to slide it off your copper pipe.
If you've got 15mm pipe/ ball valves on your HTL / Mash tun / cooler etc. you can then switch the double ended hoses around v.quickly if necessary.
They also fit directly onto some pumps such as the Flo-jet variety which have 15mm tails on them.
Rated at 85 degrees centigrade I think but I've never had any trouble with boiling wort or using them with my HLT etc.

picture speaks a 1000 words and all that:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPEEDFIT-15MM ... 19e4e2d3a7

[ciderhead]

If it's stainless you want look here

http://www.intricoproducts.com/cat/Camlock-Couplings

Just bought some stainless camlocks, 90's and a valve all top quality and great prices for members of this forum.