I want to replace the Ball valve on my boiler so I can use a 1/2" fittings on all taps. The existing ball valve was fitted when I bought the boiler and was fitted by making a 33mm hole in the boiler. Obviously the hole is too large to fit a 1/2" ball valve but I was thinking maybe fitting a larger valve and using a reducing socket to bring it down to 1/2". Anybody any idea what size of a valve I would need to fit a 33mm hole? I know the 1/2 valves fit a 21mm hole.
Just wander into your local hardware store and pick up an adjustable spanner with with a size gauge.
Set it to 33mm and go explore their valves using that as a measure.
Or cut the same size hole in a piece of cardboard and bring that in to fit to.
Quote from: LordEoin on June 13, 2015, 09:40:40 PM
Just wander into your local hardware store and pick up an adjustable spanner with with a size gauge.
Set it to 33mm and go explore their valves using that as a measure.
Or cut the same size hole in a piece of cardboard and bring that in to fit to.
Thanks. Good idea. Not sure any of my local hardware shops sell ball valves though. There is a plumbing supply place though so might just pop into them Monday and ask.
33mm hole is 1" bsp hole!
Now a 1" bsp ball valve is a pretty massive thing!
If I were you I would take the boiler to Heat Merchants or equivalent suppliers and ask there advice. You want to fit a free turning valve as a 1" ball valve can be so tight it will damegae the thin SS of the boiler.
You will need a tank connector on the inside and washer, then on outside a washer and then a 1" female to 1/2" or 3/4" female, then your tape (female to the boiler, other end is up to you)
1" valves are usually fitted to 3 or 4mm SS plate!
HTH Will
Quote from: Will_D on June 14, 2015, 10:34:40 AM
33mm hole is 1" bsp hole!
Now a 1" bsp ball valve is a pretty massive thing!
If I were you I would take the boiler to Heat Merchants or equivalent suppliers and ask there advice. You want to fit a free turning valve as a 1" ball valve can be so tight it will damegae the thin SS of the boiler.
You will need a tank connector on the inside and washer, then on outside a washer and then a 1" female to 1/2" or 3/4" female, then your tape (female to the boiler, other end is up to you)
1" valves are usually fitted to 3 or 4mm SS plate!
HTH Will
Thanks Will. There is actually nothing wrong with the current valve. It seems to be an odd size though. The thread is 30mm and I am finding it hard to find a reducing fitting for it. I thought changing the valve maybe the easier option but as you pointed out that may not be the case.
Those are not bsp threads! I very much doubt you'll find anything that will screw on.
Just go bsp - you know you want to!!
Yes. That's the problem. I can't find anything to fit. I will see what the plummer supply shop has regards to 1" BSP valves. Thx
Is this the kind of thing I should look for instead of ball Valve?
http://www.nero.co.uk/catalogue/product.aspx?node_id=87581cdf-84ba-4dd2-9d5c-c3c62c5d85c7
Quote from: Endatheworld on June 14, 2015, 11:56:20 AM
Is this the kind of thing I should look for instead of ball Valve?
http://www.nero.co.uk/catalogue/product.aspx?node_id=87581cdf-84ba-4dd2-9d5c-c3c62c5d85c7
No! Gate valves are used in industry and are crap*! They have been supperseeded by ball valves!
*Why Crap?
Coz' they usually stick open or stick closed, or stick leaking just a bit!
Try looking here:
http://www.nero.co.uk/Catalogue/Ball-Valves?gclid=Cj0KEQjwzPSrBRC_oOXfxPWP6t0BEiQARqav2Fn4yUJyX19f6MSzQdeRWEySkFlzZo0Y5-xjWWaL31YaAsBX8P8HAQ (http://www.nero.co.uk/Catalogue/Ball-Valves?gclid=Cj0KEQjwzPSrBRC_oOXfxPWP6t0BEiQARqav2Fn4yUJyX19f6MSzQdeRWEySkFlzZo0Y5-xjWWaL31YaAsBX8P8HAQ)
Ball valves come in 3 flavours:
1 piece: Ball bore is smaller than nominal - so 1/2" bsp bv only has about a 5/16" hole in the ball - cannot be cleaned/adjusted
2 piece: Ball bore is full size, and also the tension on the ball can be adjusted. Cannot be dismantled for cleaning
3 piece: Full bore ball and the whole shebang comes apart into a lot of bits so can be cleaned and adjusted.
And guess how the prices go!
HTH Will
Quote from: Will_D on June 14, 2015, 06:50:24 PM
Quote from: Endatheworld on June 14, 2015, 11:56:20 AM
Is this the kind of thing I should look for instead of ball Valve?
http://www.nero.co.uk/catalogue/product.aspx?node_id=87581cdf-84ba-4dd2-9d5c-c3c62c5d85c7
No! Gate valves are used in industry and are crap*! They have been supperseeded by ball valves!
OH. Ok. I thought that was want you meant by "free turning valve"
Quote from: mrmeindl on June 14, 2015, 12:43:06 PM
If that fails then you can make up a 1'' bulkhead fitting with a close/tapered nipple a washer and a locknut then reducing bush to 1/2'' for your ball valve.
Thanks. I have no idea what you just said but I will have ask the Plumber supply place to decipher!
Enda, Where lives you?
You might be living next to an equipment geek!!
Ahhh! "Cocks, Balls and Nipples" don't you just love plumber speak!
Then you get the combinations: "Ball Cock" "Grease Nipple" "Blow OFF valve"
To us of the "society of the sacred plunger" these are all real world terms!
Quote from: Will_D on June 14, 2015, 07:35:40 PM
Enda, Where lives you?
You might be living next to an equipment geek!!
I live in Enniskillen.
Quote from: Will_D on June 14, 2015, 07:39:36 PM
Ahhh! "Cocks, Balls and Nipples" don't you just love plumber speak!
Then you get the combinations: "Ball Cock" "Grease Nipple" "Blow OFF valve"
To us of the "society of the sacred plunger" these are all real world terms!
Ha! a new one today. An "Essex Flange".
The plumbing supply place was a bit of a waste of time. I brought the boiler in and they had nothing to do the job. They suggested using an 'Essex Flange' and are getting one in tomorrow to try. It looks like it may do the job but after doing a bit of research it seems that they come ith rubber washers which I am not to keen on using in my boiler. I will see what happens tomorrow but looks like i will have to buy online to get what I need.
Quote from: mrmeindl on June 15, 2015, 10:51:02 PM
Quote from: Endatheworld on June 15, 2015, 10:20:29 PM
Quote from: Will_D on June 14, 2015, 07:39:36 PM
Ahhh! "Cocks, Balls and Nipples" don't you just love plumber speak!
Then you get the combinations: "Ball Cock" "Grease Nipple" "Blow OFF valve"
To us of the "society of the sacred plunger" these are all real world terms!
Ha! a new one today. An "Essex Flange".
The plumbing supply place was a bit of a waste of time. I brought the boiler in and they had nothing to do the job. They suggested using an 'Essex Flange' and are getting one in tomorrow to try. It looks like it may do the job but after doing a bit of research it seems that they come ith rubber washers which I am not to keen on using in my boiler. I will see what happens tomorrow but looks like i will have to buy online to get what I need.
At least you won't be gouged with shipping if you get the fittings from a UK site, you'll have to make the hole bigger if you make up a 1'' bulkhead.
I see that the tapered nipple is 37.4mm at its widest so I shouldnt have to make the whole that much bigger. It might even thread in.
Just a question on the reducing bush, would I not need a Reducing Adaptor instead? So it can screw onto the nipple?
http://www.nero.co.uk/Catalogue/150LB-BSP-Threaded-Fittings/Reducing-Adaptor-FemaleMale
Quote from: Endatheworld on June 16, 2015, 09:46:18 AM
Quote from: mrmeindl on June 15, 2015, 10:51:02 PM
Quote from: Endatheworld on June 15, 2015, 10:20:29 PM
Quote from: Will_D on June 14, 2015, 07:39:36 PM
Ahhh! "Cocks, Balls and Nipples" don't you just love plumber speak!
Then you get the combinations: "Ball Cock" "Grease Nipple" "Blow OFF valve"
To us of the "society of the sacred plunger" these are all real world terms!
Ha! a new one today. An "Essex Flange".
The plumbing supply place was a bit of a waste of time. I brought the boiler in and they had nothing to do the job. They suggested using an 'Essex Flange' and are getting one in tomorrow to try. It looks like it may do the job but after doing a bit of research it seems that they come ith rubber washers which I am not to keen on using in my boiler. I will see what happens tomorrow but looks like i will have to buy online to get what I need.
At least you won't be gouged with shipping if you get the fittings from a UK site, you'll have to make the hole bigger if you make up a 1'' bulkhead.
I see that the tapered nipple is 37.4mm at its widest so I shouldnt have to make the whole that much bigger. It might even thread in.
Just a question on the reducing bush, would I not need a Reducing Adaptor instead? So it can screw onto the nipple?
http://www.nero.co.uk/Catalogue/150LB-BSP-Threaded-Fittings/Reducing-Adaptor-FemaleMale
I went back to plumbers merchants today to look at the Essex flange. We replaced the rubber washer with fiber washers and used a reducing bush to reduce from 3/4 " to 1/2 ".
I have used brass for the past 6 years in the boiler so I am not that bothered about that
but are am not sure if fiber washers safe for boiling wort?
Anybody see any problems with this setup?s
Nice Flange ;)
They are not nylon they are a fibre blend, you need it to be 3/4 inch why don't you just use silicon baking sheet and this stuff
http://www.fernox.com/files/Fernox/Content/PDF/English/LS-X.pdf
also available from your plumbers merchants
Quote from: Ciderhead on June 16, 2015, 05:49:28 PM
Nice Flange ;)
They are not nylon they are a fibre blend, you need it to be 3/4 inch why don't you just use silicon baking sheet and this stuff
http://www.fernox.com/files/Fernox/Content/PDF/English/LS-X.pdf
also available from your plumbers merchants
Cheers Ciderhead. I just noticed before your post that they are fiber and not nylon. I could change them out for Silicon ones I suppose. As long as they are safe and dont leak I will leave them. I will test the boiler later to make sure I have a seal.
Quote from: Ciderhead on June 16, 2015, 05:49:28 PM
........... this stuff
http://www.fernox.com/files/Fernox/Content/PDF/English/LS-X.pdf
also available from your plumbers merchants
Well it leaked! I cut out some Silicone washers and they leaked as well. Got the LS-X and applied it......NO MORE LEAKS.
Thanks again Ciderhead for the recommendation. That LS-X is some stuff!