Silicone Tubing & street elbows

[Cajun_McChicken]

I'm about to upgrade my system with silicone hoses and aluminum camlocks but I've got a question that I'm hoping you can help me answer first:

I've seen on various websites (brewhardware.com, bargainfittings.com) that a typical setup involves stretching the 1/2" tubing over the male end of a street 90 elbow witch is screwed in to the camlock fitting. Why is the street 90 necessary? Could I just stretch the tubing over the male end of the camlock fitting without the street elbow in between?

Thanks!

 

[AScott]

The elbows help to keep the hoses from kinking. I used to use them, but found that most of the time my hoses aren't really in a position to have that problem, so I took them off as it makes the end of the hose pretty heavy.

 

[Hammy71]

I use the 90s on mine for the reason Ascott stated. With my setup they are necessary to stop any kinking and its a couple more inches of beer that looping the silicone would waste. Since I'm running a RIMS I wanted my hoses as short as possible.

 

[evandena]

Make sure to grind down the threads a bit, otherwise they can cut the silicone.

 

[luhrks]

The other reason is the female hose barbed connectors have an insanely small bore.

You can get around this by using the female fpt with either a large bore barb, or the 90.

 

[Markd27]

I don't use them, just the silicon tube stretched over the F type camlock. Not sure if it makes a difference or not, but I didn't like the idea of the extra restriction of the two 90's. I haven't had a problem with kinking hoses, takes an extra second to position the hose so it doesn't kink. They seem like a waste to me, but a lot of people use them.

 

[Hammy71]

The other reason is the female hose barbed connectors have an insanely small bore.

You can get around this by using the female fpt with either a large bore barb, or the 90.

I use the barbs. I've seen Bobby's youtube vids and I was just afraid it would slip off or split (not that it will...just my paranoia). Besides, for me it's not a race so an extra minute or so to transfer water from the HLT to the MLT won't kill me. Gives me time to taste samples from the taps.

 

[evandena]

I use the barbs. I've seen Bobby's youtube vids and I was just afraid it would slip off or split (not that it will...just my paranoia). Besides, for me it's not a race so an extra minute or so to transfer water from the HLT to the MLT won't kill me. Gives me time to taste samples from the taps.

I'm not going to tell you what works best for you, but I can assure you that there is no way in hell the silicone will fall of or leak. Be not afraid.

 

[Jamming]

1/2 barbed end into a female cam lock works great for me. Just be concerned about tearing the silicone tubing, terms easily but last a very long time. Half inch fittings and half inch Id on all my stuff with a march pump works great.

 

[Jamming]

1/2 barbed end into a female cam lock works great for me. Just be concerned about tearing the silicone tubing, tears easily but last a very long time. Half inch fittings and half inch Id on all my stuff with a march pump works great.

 

[Bobby_M]

Not all connections benefit from the elbow, but the ones hanging off the vessels absolutely do. I've been screwing around with pumps, and just about every type of quick disconnect system for five years now and I promote and sell what I personally find to be the best solutions. For example, no matter how much I can profit on selling the lame type C camlock, I just will not do it. I'm not demanding that you listen to me, but I want you to understand that I've been a user much longer than I've been a vendor.

Silicone can probably stretch over 1" OD without tearing.

 

[big_al_in_k-zoo]

I recently bought a few of these, SS 1/2" Male Thread x 1/2" barb OD cheap off of ebay.
screwed into type 'D' camloks. Took a little time but got them to stretch on. Haven't had any trouble with kinking, either.

 

[Cajun_McChicken]

Thanks for clearing that up, I figured it was something like that. I'll prob just go w/o the elbows at least at first because I'm a cheap bastard (as evidenced by my selection of aluminum cam locks).

Now time to order some of that super clear silicone I've been reading about!

 

[ChiefHophead]

So the street elbow is a full 1/2" causing no restriction (beyond what the 90deg bend causes)?

How tough is that connection? I worry about it slipping. Would it hold a 5lb weight? I don't hang weight from my hoses, but it would be nice to have that security. I noticed that Bobby M does not use clamps. how long would these hold up doing high temp recirculation?

I do like the idea of not buying barbs. I know 5/8" barely restrict, but for 2 hoses they add a good amount of weight and almost $20.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jCOSbrew]

1/2" silicon hose is very sung over a 1/2" NPT fitting. I had to kind twist/thread the hose onto my fittings. If you want extra insurance, add a zip tie to each connection.

@ Cajun, the aluminum cam locks work great but make sure they have the silicon gaskets installed.