shop air quick connects

[Peter Fairbrother]

Just got some air tools, I think I should only use one type of quick
connector if possible throughout the workshop.

So, which is better, vertex/pcl or euro? Price isn't a factor with the
small number I'd use.



Everything seems to end up in 1/4 BSP though... :) Britain's
contribution to world engineering?

ta

Peter Fairbrother

[Brian Reay]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Just got some air tools, I think I should only use one type of quick
connector if possible throughout the workshop.
So, which is better, vertex/pcl  or euro? Price isn't a factor with the
small number I'd use.
Everything seems to end up in 1/4 BSP though...  :) Britain's
contribution to world engineering?
ta
Peter Fairbrother

I use PCL, easy to find (Machine Mart), cheap enough, and seem reliable.

My compressor came with a Euro one but the supplier included a PCL one
and, as you say, the BSP thread seems common. Whenever I've added to the
airtool collection, I've simply bought an extra PCL fitting for it.

[FMurtz]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Just got some air tools, I think I should only use one type of quick
connector if possible throughout the workshop.
So, which is better, vertex/pcl  or euro? Price isn't a factor with the
small number I'd use.
Everything seems to end up in 1/4 BSP though...  :) Britain's
contribution to world engineering?
ta
Peter Fairbrother

What came with the tools?

[Peter Fairbrother]

Post by FMurtz

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Just got some air tools, I think I should only use one type of quick
connector if possible throughout the workshop.
So, which is better, vertex/pcl or euro? Price isn't a factor with
the small number I'd use.
Everything seems to end up in 1/4 BSP though... :) Britain's
contribution to world engineering?
ta
Peter Fairbrother

What came with the tools?

8mm hose barb on 1/4 BSP fitting.

I was thinking of having two different sorts of QD, one for air and one
for argon. I hear the common ones can leak, which isn't at all
acceptable for expensive argon.

Does one type leak less? Is there a QD for argon?



Another question on shop equipment, electrical this time. I have a TIG
welder and a plasma cutter which can each take over 13A.

I have an unused cooker spur (I have a gas cooker) with a dedicated 32A
MCB behind a RCD in the main fusebox - can I use that somehow? Seems a
pity to let it go unused.

What sorts of plugs and sockets do people use? I don't like the 16A
round ones caravanners use, ugly, expensive, and too little capacity.

About 20 amp, perhaps a little more might be useful just in case (the
flex is 25A).


Weird idea, a double 13A socket is rated for 20A total - suppose you
used two 13A plugs each with 10A fuses, then joined the outputs together
using proper cable etc - legal??


-- Peter Fairbrother

[Brian Reay]

Post by Peter Fairbrother

Post by FMurtz

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Just got some air tools, I think I should only use one type of quick
connector if possible throughout the workshop.
So, which is better, vertex/pcl  or euro? Price isn't a factor with
the small number I'd use.
Everything seems to end up in 1/4 BSP though...  :) Britain's
contribution to world engineering?
ta
Peter Fairbrother

What came with the tools?

8mm hose barb on 1/4 BSP fitting.
I was thinking of having two different sorts of QD, one for air and one
for argon. I hear the common ones can leak, which isn't at all
acceptable for expensive argon.
Does one type leak less? Is there a QD for argon?
Another question on shop equipment, electrical this time. I have a TIG
welder and a plasma cutter which can each take over 13A.
I have an unused cooker spur (I have a gas cooker) with a dedicated 32A
MCB behind a RCD in the main fusebox - can I use that somehow? Seems a
pity to let it go unused.
What sorts of plugs and sockets do people use? I don't like the 16A
round ones caravanners use, ugly, expensive, and too little capacity.

There is a 32A version of that connector. I have seen them advertised
when looking for 16A ones, probably on Ebay.

They are used by people other than caravanners etc (16A ones inc), you
see them in all kinds of places. I've heard/seen them referred to as
'commando' connectors but I've no idea how official that name is.

You can get slightly neater wall mounted units but I agree, they aren't
the most attractive connectors.

[David Billington]

Post by Peter Fairbrother

Post by FMurtz

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Just got some air tools, I think I should only use one type of quick
connector if possible throughout the workshop.
So, which is better, vertex/pcl  or euro? Price isn't a factor with
the small number I'd use.
Everything seems to end up in 1/4 BSP though...  :) Britain's
contribution to world engineering?
ta
Peter Fairbrother

What came with the tools?

8mm hose barb on 1/4 BSP fitting.
I was thinking of having two different sorts of QD, one for air and
one for argon. I hear the common ones can leak, which isn't at all
acceptable for expensive argon.
Does one type leak less? Is there a QD for argon?
Another question on shop equipment, electrical this time. I have a TIG
welder and a plasma cutter which can each take over 13A.
I have an unused cooker spur (I have a gas cooker) with a dedicated
32A MCB behind a RCD in the main fusebox - can I use that somehow?
Seems a pity to let it go unused.
What sorts of plugs and sockets do people use? I don't like the 16A
round ones caravanners use, ugly, expensive, and too little capacity.
About 20 amp, perhaps a little more might be useful just in case (the
flex is 25A).
Weird idea, a double 13A socket is rated for 20A total - suppose you
used two 13A plugs each with 10A fuses, then joined the outputs
together using proper cable etc - legal??
-- Peter Fairbrother

I run my welders off a 32A round blue socket in the garage which is
basically a cooker spur. An electrician I know recommended these guys as
some of the cheapest but good quality parts
http://www.discount-electrical.co.uk/ . You would be looking at things
like this
http://www.discount-electrical.co.uk/product.php/1493784/mennekes-344-blue-wall-mounting-appliance-inlet-ip44-2p-e-32a-230v
,
http://www.discount-electrical.co.uk/product.php/1493234/mennekes-260-am-top-blue-industrial-plug-with-screw-terminals-2p-e-ip44-32a-230v
,
http://www.discount-electrical.co.uk/product.php/1494136/mennekes-522-am-top-blue-industrial-connector-with-screw-terminals-2p-e-ip44-32a-230v
. The connection in my garage has a switched fused box and IIRC 4mm^2
cable tail with a socket on the end.

[Mark Rand]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
8mm hose barb on 1/4 BSP fitting.
I was thinking of having two different sorts of QD, one for air and one
for argon. I hear the common ones can leak, which isn't at all
acceptable for expensive argon.
Does one type leak less? Is there a QD for argon?

The EN 561 Quick-Action connector that hobbyweld use on their cylinders is
leak free (if the O ring is in reasonable condition), however it seems to be
rather rare in the UK.

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Another question on shop equipment, electrical this time. I have a TIG
welder and a plasma cutter which can each take over 13A.
I have an unused cooker spur (I have a gas cooker) with a dedicated 32A
MCB behind a RCD in the main fusebox - can I use that somehow? Seems a
pity to let it go unused.
What sorts of plugs and sockets do people use? I don't like the 16A
round ones caravanners use, ugly, expensive, and too little capacity.
About 20 amp, perhaps a little more might be useful just in case (the
flex is 25A).
Weird idea, a double 13A socket is rated for 20A total - suppose you
used two 13A plugs each with 10A fuses, then joined the outputs together
using proper cable etc - legal??
-- Peter Fairbrother

Don't bother with doubled 13A sockets/plugs. without a bit of work, there's no
guarantee that they'll actually share the current. As for legality, I think
it's 'not specified'! I'm ashamed to say that I've got two 16A commando/BS4343
sockets for the welding circuit on a 20A MCB in the shed. I don't feel at all
ashamed about this, due to the fact that we ran an 80 rack data-centre with
this arrangement (four sockets per rack, with two independent 20A circuits
feeding each pair) for 17 years (still going) and didn't suffer any issues at
all. Her Indoors has got a pottery kiln in the garage, that I put on a 32A
Commando plug and socket, but that's pretty fixed in position. The 32A or even
63A ones are a bit on the bulky side, the 16A ones aren't really all that bad.
I've got them in dado rail trunking (ex-work offices :) along with the 13A
sockets, network sockets yada, yada, in the shed and they really don't look
out of place.


regards
Mark Rand

[Peter Fairbrother]

Post by Mark Rand

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Weird idea, a double 13A socket is rated for 20A total - suppose you
used two 13A plugs each with 10A fuses, then joined the outputs together
using proper cable etc - legal??
-- Peter Fairbrother

Don't bother with doubled 13A sockets/plugs. without a bit of work, there's no
guarantee that they'll actually share the current.

I was thinking two 13A plugs each with very short say 6" lengths of
1.5mm flex, joined together to a long length of 2.5mm flex.

At small currents I don't doubt that there would be imbalances, but at
higher currents, if one fuse was getting a lot more current it would
heat up, significantly increasing its resistance - and the short lengths
having similar low resistances compared to the fuses, the easy path
would then take more current, balancing it up.

You might have to match fuses by experiment, but they are cheap.

That way the 1.5mm cables, the plugs and the individual sockets are each
protected by 10A fuses, and the double socket and the 2.5mm cable are
protected by two 10A fuses in parallel or 20A.

Post by Mark Rand
As for legality, I think it's 'not specified'!

I'd guess so too. But afaict every individual thing would be in spec.


I'm ashamed to say that I've got [...]

Heh. I've got a 13A plug, some Chinese 20A "BS1363" fuses, and a very
thick cable...

I tend to connect it to the cooker socket though, so the only thing
which isn't in spec is the socket and plug. And the fuses, of course.

Also I work almost exclusively with thin materials, which probably don't
need more than 13A anyway. But I have a new bells 'n whistles TIG welder
coming next week..

Post by Mark Rand
regards
Mark Rand

-- Peter Fairbrother

[Chris]

Post by Peter Fairbrother

On Sat, 8 Sep 2018 20:14:28 +0100, Peter Fairbrother

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Weird idea, a double 13A socket is rated for 20A total - suppose you
used two 13A plugs each with 10A fuses, then joined the outputs together
using proper cable etc - legal??
-- Peter Fairbrother

Don't bother with doubled 13A sockets/plugs. without a bit of work, there's no
guarantee that they'll actually share the current.

I was thinking two 13A plugs each with very short say 6" lengths of
1.5mm flex, joined together to a long length of 2.5mm flex.
At small currents I don't doubt that there would be imbalances, but at
higher currents, if one fuse was getting a lot more current it would
heat up, significantly increasing its resistance - and the short lengths
having similar low resistances compared to the fuses, the easy path
would then take more current, balancing it up.
You might have to match fuses by experiment, but they are cheap.
That way the 1.5mm cables, the plugs and the individual sockets are each
protected by 10A fuses, and the double socket and the 2.5mm cable are
protected by two 10A fuses in parallel or 20A.

As for legality, I think it's 'not specified'!

I'd guess so too. But afaict every individual thing would be in spec.
I'm ashamed to say that I've got [...]
Heh. I've got a 13A plug, some Chinese 20A "BS1363" fuses, and a very
thick cable...
I tend to connect it to the cooker socket though, so the only thing
which isn't in spec is the socket and plug. And the fuses, of course.
Also I work almost exclusively with thin materials, which probably don't
need more than 13A anyway. But I have a new bells 'n whistles TIG welder
coming next week..

regards
Mark Rand

-- Peter Fairbrother

So what happens if one of the plugs gets unplugged and the kids get hold
of the pins ?. Crazy idea and grossly unsafe.

Commando 16a plugs and various types of sockets are cheap as chips on
Ebay, easy to wire up and reliable. Use tham all over the workshop and
extension cables here...

Chris

[Clifford Coggin]

Post by Chris
So what happens if one of the plugs gets unplugged and the kids get hold
of the pins ?.
Chris

He'll only do it once.<G>

[Rodney Pont]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Weird idea, a double 13A socket is rated for 20A total - suppose you
used two 13A plugs each with 10A fuses, then joined the outputs together
using proper cable etc - legal??

A definite nono. If one is out and the other one is live there is live
power on the pins of the one that is out!

[Mark Rand]

Post by Peter Fairbrother
Just got some air tools, I think I should only use one type of quick
connector if possible throughout the workshop.
So, which is better, vertex/pcl or euro? Price isn't a factor with the
small number I'd use.
Everything seems to end up in 1/4 BSP though... :) Britain's
contribution to world engineering?
ta
Peter Fairbrother

I started off with PCL, but have decided on Euro for when I put the permanent
plumbing around the shed. It's much more common now (even in packs of
connectors at Lidl from time to time) and it actually has a larger bore. So
I've built up a collection of fittings from said store and am converting my
stuff as I use it. As for BSP, it's the standard ISO metric pipe thread :-).

Regards
Mark Rand