Wrong tubing

[matc]

Crap...i just spent 35$ on 3/8" silicone tubing and realized I need 1/2" tubing with my new chugger pump. Will this work amyway ? Can i still use 3/8" tubing on the pump outlet and buy some 1/2" for the inlet ?

 

[reynolds5520]

Yes, you can use it on the outlet side.

 

[matc]

Okay but if I buy some 1/2" tubing, i guess i'll have to upgrade to full port ball valves ?

Will i have to change my nipples and couplings too ???

 

[Wynne-R]

The end gets really stretchy if you dip it in near boiling water. Once it’s stretched, it pretty much stays that way.

 

[matc]

No my question was if i need to upgrade to a full port valve, will i also need to change my couplings and nipples to fit these larger valves ?

 

[Bobby_M]

I know of at least one vendor that oddly lists their 3/8" ID tubing as 1/2" tubing. I can see that being misleading, but I digress. Pumps work a little better with full 1/2" ID flow components on the inlet especially. No reason to panic though. Try what you have and see if you have cavitation problems. If not, no worries.

 

[matc]

All right ill try my hose first thanks ! But again, if i ever need to upgrade to a 1/2" hose with full port valves, do i still need to change my 1/2 nipples and couplings in my mash tun and kettle ? Because it seems like full port valves have bigger threads than standard ones...

 

[mikescooling]

IMHO, if it were me, I'd cut my losses. BobbyM sells the best tubing that I know of. It last forever and cleans up well. I have 2 of his Add a pump kits, when I have the money I'll get another.

 

[Bobby_M]

All right ill try my hose first thanks ! But again, if i ever need to upgrade to a 1/2" hose with full port valves, do i still need to change my 1/2 nipples and couplings in my mash tun and kettle ? Because it seems like full port valves have bigger threads than standard ones...

I'd leave the mash tun alone. It sounds to me like you have 3/8" NPT components there. Whenever you pump out of the mash tun, it won't be full bore anyway. You'll be restricting the output of your pump with a valve.