I want to switch to a different cooler for reason you can read about below if interested. I bought a coleman 50 qt cooler and a bulkhead setup from bargain fittings. My problem is that I cannot seem to keep it from leaking.
Here's what I did after removing all the existing drain "hardware".
-------Inside------------cooler wall-------outside
Nut | silicone washer | cooler wall | washer | valve
I noticed that the "hardware" includes a very nice gasket that is bigger and has a protrusion that goes through the cooler wall. Is there any reason I can't use that to help get a good seal? Food grade with hot liquid I guess would be the primary concern. I would do this:
----------------Inside-----------------------cooler wall-----outside
Nut | silicone washer | coleman gasket | cooler wall | washer | valve
If that's not an option, does anyone have a trick for getting these to seal?
________________________________________________________________________
Why the new cooler? The one I have was part of a bulk used equipment purchase and just has the high temp hose stuck into the drain hole. It works well enough, but the cooler has wheels so the bottom isn't flat and I need to take the hose assembly apart every time I clean it. A bulkhead won't work because the hole goes through at an angle, so the valve quick connect on the outside would protrude lower than the bottom of the cooler.
Going forward, I want a true bulkhead/valve/quick connect that I can use with my existing silicone hose and quick connects. That way I can easily connect the output on the kettle to the cooler then underlet the strike water. Similarly, just connect the hose the same way to drain the wort into the kettle when the mash and sparge are ready.
Here's what I did after removing all the existing drain "hardware".
-------Inside------------cooler wall-------outside
Nut | silicone washer | cooler wall | washer | valve
I noticed that the "hardware" includes a very nice gasket that is bigger and has a protrusion that goes through the cooler wall. Is there any reason I can't use that to help get a good seal? Food grade with hot liquid I guess would be the primary concern. I would do this:
----------------Inside-----------------------cooler wall-----outside
Nut | silicone washer | coleman gasket | cooler wall | washer | valve
If that's not an option, does anyone have a trick for getting these to seal?
________________________________________________________________________
Why the new cooler? The one I have was part of a bulk used equipment purchase and just has the high temp hose stuck into the drain hole. It works well enough, but the cooler has wheels so the bottom isn't flat and I need to take the hose assembly apart every time I clean it. A bulkhead won't work because the hole goes through at an angle, so the valve quick connect on the outside would protrude lower than the bottom of the cooler.
Going forward, I want a true bulkhead/valve/quick connect that I can use with my existing silicone hose and quick connects. That way I can easily connect the output on the kettle to the cooler then underlet the strike water. Similarly, just connect the hose the same way to drain the wort into the kettle when the mash and sparge are ready.