Loop Tap?

stueng

stueng

stueng

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I am going to be adding a fill and drain port to my loop quite soon, I have the fill port taken care of but am busy pondering on the drain port

I have looked at t-lines, drain valves, quick releases etc

but it seems to me that the easiest possible thing would be a simple three way junction with a tap which you can turn to force water in a different direction. Turn it to position 1 and the your loop acts as norma. Turn it to position 2 and the water gets re-directed to the drain port

does such a thing exist? I haven't been able to find anything
 
stueng said:
I am going to be adding a fill and drain port to my loop quite soon, I have the fill port taken care of but am busy pondering on the drain port

I have looked at t-lines, drain valves, quick releases etc

but it seems to me that the easiest possible thing would be a simple three way junction with a tap which you can turn to force water in a different direction. Turn it to position 1 and the your loop acts as norma. Turn it to position 2 and the water gets re-directed to the drain port

does such a thing exist? I haven't been able to find anything
Click to expand...

you need to search for something called a 3 way ball valve
 
this one is only £520 :P

http://www.esska-tech.co.uk/esska_eng_s/ball_valves_3_way_t_execution_with_compr.html

Found a picture of something very close to what I want using google image search

3-way-ball-valve-with-internal-threads-G-or-NPT-KM-9301.jpg
 
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stueng said:
this one is only £520 :P

http://www.esska-tech.co.uk/esska_eng_s/ball_valves_3_way_t_execution_with_compr.html

Found a picture of something very close to what I want using google image search

3-way-ball-valve-with-internal-threads-G-or-NPT-KM-9301.jpg
Click to expand...

do you speciafically want a 3 way valve, why not just a T piece and extra pipe and stop plug????

http://www.irrigationuk.com/Metal-V...ll-valve-side-branch-0401518-/prod_25898.html

http://www.pipestock.com/metal-valves/stainless-steel-valves/ball-valve-3-way-t-port/

failing that go to a plumbing centre as i'm sure they do much cheaper plastic ones
 
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just thought a valve would be easier, look cooler and be awesome

but turns out they are not as easy to come by as I had expected really
 
Was thinking about this last night but it how to incorporate it in the build without it looking unsightly.

Something like this attached to the end of a bit to tubing with some plugs in would probably do, but you're going to wind up with static fluid and more joints. Think I will stick with draining my system with a large syringe with a piece of tubing attached going in the top of the res for now.
 
Ball valves are restrictive, even when open. It's not ideal to have one in the loop all the time. A t piece with a valve coming off the middle junction is a better solution in terms of flow rate, but possibly not as pretty.
 
Yup a decent half inch ball valve will be full half inch bore and shouldn't restrict flow at all.

Op if you are dead set on a 3 way ball valve I'll check with our supplier once I get to work and let you know how much a cheapish quality one should cost?

Edit: the one you linked to is rated for around 315bar hence the price, it will be full stainless and weigh quite a bit. Off the top of my head a good standard alloy valve should be no more than a few quid. Also found the stainless 3 wayvalve, same as you linked with a cost price of £24.39, shows what kind of profit they make!
 
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T line with a bung in the end looking favourite to me, on the "easiest possible way" front anyway. Don't really need any sort of valve tbh.
 
Looking between £15 and £32 for a 3 way valve depending on material.

A t-piece comes in at around £1 depending on material.
 
pgi947 said:
Looking between £15 and £32 for a 3 way valve depending on material.

A t-piece comes in at around £1 depending on material.
Click to expand...

Hi, I can live with that price. Do you happen to have a picture or web link? Thanks for looking into this for me :)
 
Its through one of works suppliers, I think the cheaper ones may be npt rather than bspp though its nothing a tap can't sort.

What size thread are you after, 1/4" or 1/2"?

The place is pkhydraulics, they take PayPal so would presume they do one off sales as well as the company account I use. Only have a hard copy of the catalogue so I'll snap a pic of it and upload after work, I'll fish out the direct part number with quoted price too.
 
Thread is 1/4 I beleive, these are the compression fittings I use:

EK PSC Compression Fitting 7/16 [16/11mm] - G1/4 - Nickel [3831109845011]

I like the look of their Mini Ball Valve - Brass - Black lever handle
 
The larger stainless g1/4" comes in at £21.27.

They are usually quite helpful over the phone if you explain what you are after.
 
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