Compressor air dryer help Please

[Tommyf]

Hello all,

I am trying to make one of those DIY air dryer setups with the copper pipe/ ball valves etc.

I have read many threads on here but I am still struggling with how to get from a standard pcl socket on a pipe from my compressor to the dryer, and out the other end once the air has passed through it

I am going to use 22mm copper pipe but can someone please tell me how to get from that to a pcl plug on incoming side and pcl socket on the other end ?

I read on a thread earlier that you can take the nut and olive off a 15mm compression fitting ( that i was hoping to reduce from 22mm to) and put a 1/2" bsp fitting straight on to it , but i have just been out to try and get a couple of pcl fittings and the only 2 sizes I can find locally are 1/4" or 3/8"

Any help will be much appreciated

All the best & wishing you all a happy new year

Tom

 

[Burdekin]

I'd take the quick fit coupling off and just screw a 1/4 bsp hose connector fitting straight to the compressor and then air hose to the start of the copper tube. I use 12id hose. http://www.airsupplies.co.uk/hose-connector-11150

Check out screwfix for compression fittings. You can get a 22mm to 1/2bsp female coupler and then just get a male 1/2 by 12mm hose connector to attach to the air hose.

If you want to use a quick connect then just get a 1/4bsp hose connector to screw to the qucik connect but the less quick connects the better the air flow.

 

[Bill Edwards]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-P...hash=item2edcbbaf61:m:mwrtQEMLOaBouJToIrMayeQ

Select whichever you want from the drop down menu, male PCL coupler with a 1/2" BSP male or female thread.
The female PCL couplers are probably also available in 1/2 BSP, another option is to use a converter piece to reduce the size to something more common.

 

[Tommyf]

Thanks for your replies,
I have now managed to confuse myself even more regarding connecting to the copper pipe.

If I use a 22mm to 15mm reducer and take off the nut and olive on the 15mm side and connect a pcl 1/2" bsp fitting to it , do I need a 1/2" bsp or a bspt thread on the pcl fittings ?

If they are both bsp wil that make a good seal or will it need some kind of seal or Ptfe tape wrapped around it?

Many thanks again

 

[Burdekin]

The PCL will be parallel so BSP (BSPP) and yes you'll need thread tape or thread lock. This is good stuff: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191693730137?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[Bill Edwards]

Personally I use PTFE tape - you can buy it very cheaply, wrap it round in the correct direction so it won't unscrew as you tighten up and it seals perfectly.

 

[dobbslc]

Just jumping in here but how do you measure the fitting thread sizes?
Ie 1/4" 3/8" they don't seem to measure 1/4" & 3/8" what are they in millimetres?

 

[brightspark]

here

http://www.adaptall.com/tutorial/idbsp.html

 

[Burdekin]

Just Google BSP thread chart.

Had several of these since my apprenticeship: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Precision-Reference-Drawing-Toolroom-Workshop/dp/B0000CLZUO

 

[dobbslc]

Thanks for that, it makes a lot more sense now!

 

[Tommyf]

Thanks again everyone for all you help
I finally got all the parts from airsupplies.co.uk and put it all together .
This was my first attempt at soldering so its not too pretty but it works a treat.
Anyway thanks for all your replies again

Cheers Tom

 

[123hotchef]

Looks good Tommy I plan on doing something similar this week I have a pile of old junk 22mm so will put it to use did u use compression fittings on the ends?

 

[B1N9S]

That looks good. I really need to pull my finger out and sort one of these setups.

 

[graffian]

You can use push on flexible hoses for connecting taps to copper pipe. They connect 15mm to 1/2"bsp.

 

[123hotchef]

those tap flexis seal via the rubber washer inside the nut though is this ok for 10 bar

 

[tinman123]

nice tidy bit of work there Tommy, its well done.

just to add, why not solder on some copper pipe to the drain pipes and join them all together, drill a hole in the wall and run the drain pipe out through it, it ill save having to get a canister each time and the top of that box as well.
icing on the cake perhaps...

or go ball$ out and buy a electrically operated drain valve that will automatically open the drain for so many set seconds every so many set hours....
altho any i looked at would be operating too often for my liking tbh but the options are there all the same.