Quick Disconnects

[LeeMarine]

I'm coming down the home stretch of having my all-grain system complete. The last piece of the puzzle are lines and fittings between my HLT, Mash, Boil, Chugger Pump, and plate chiller. I want to do all 1/2" Quick Disconnects in order to set any threading in permanently in with teflon tape and any hose barbs in with pipe clamps. I understand the draw-backs with QDs and the hazard of each manufacturer using different styles and I'm trying to find one supplier with all six types in stainless steel: QD(male)barb,mpt,fpt;QD(female)barb,mpt,fpt. Obviously, price and quality are the bottom lines. BargainFittings.com has been super-helpful about their product availability and they seemingly have the best prices (I've seen.) They just don't carry a QD(male)-1/2"Barb. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

[day_trippr]

Have you actually sketched out your plumbing yet?

I suspect most of us using disconnects put male fittings on kettles, pumps, plate chiller - basically anything that's fixed in place - and only use female fittings for hoses. That's how I went, it works great, and there's no reason to have a male fitting with a barb....

Cheers!

 

[insanim8er]

I have the more beer ones. I love them so far. I've only used them once, but man they were great.

I have the male NPT in all my ball valves and barbed females on my hoses.

 

[jmcquesten]

I love my bargain fittings quick disconnects. The quality is good, the price is right and the customer service was great. Beware, they aren't compatible with other disconnects so it's a commitment once you get into it. I also have the barbed females on hoses and npt males on valves, pump, and whirlpool tube. It helps being able to connect/disconnect the hoses with one hand, the female connection on the hose makes it possible. I'm glad I spent the extra on the QD's vs. the camlocs, that was money well spent.