Safety quick disconnect recommendations?

[DavidL]

Hi all

@whm_fab recent thread got me thinking.. and I'm sure I'll get lots of different opinions

What are your preferred *safety* quick connect/ disconnect fittings for compressed air?

(Edit to add: want compatibility with Type 25, euro, PCL XF, etc)

I've used PCL genuine XF normal fittings, which are nice and robust. However, as I've got some longer hoses, I've found - predictably - that the whip/air rifle effect is quite something, if they can't be discharged before disconnect, so thought it would be helpful to my digits/limbs to get a couple of safety connectors.

PCL safety XF seem about 3x the price of normal XF - is this typical?

I've seen some no-names and CEJN which seem to be cheaper than PCL. Is it pays your money, takes your choice, or is there a favourite?

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[Farside]

That's about right. I thought about getting a couple of safety disconnects for floor hoses but was put off by the price of decent branded ones from a reputable source.
There might be some cheap and cheerful fall-apart ones available, but not when I last looked and how long would they last anyway?

 

[Munkul]

PCL is worth paying for, cheap connectors are horrible.

I can't say I've ever felt the need for safety disconnects.

 

[grim_d]

You can de-pressurise an airline from the connector, just release it slowly and hold onto it.

 

[Guzrik]

I put a separate checkvalve on one of my hoses, because at the time I couldn't make it fit otherwise.
Chunky but it works very well.
Or just make a habbit of paying attention when disconnecting, on big hoses I kink the hose and slowly release the pressure after undoing the QC.

 

[MCKDAVID]

You can de-pressurise an airline from the connector, just release it slowly and hold onto it.

exactly, always control the disconnection by keeping the two together until the pressure drops off. Certainly don't just let if fly off into the wild blue yonder.. Done right, little risk, even with a long hose, it's only a few seconds worth, and as the pressure drops rapidly, safe enough, certainly less that just letting it fly off anyway.

 

[DavidL]

Thanks for information everyone, including all the notes and tips for safe disconnection.
Perhaps it's my lack of strength or technique - i.e. holding both ends firm while pulling the release collar (or even fear after one of two got away!) but I've had some difficulty getting a safe disconnect even holding tight. Time for more spinach

 

[Jay1st]

You can always add a whip-stop if you're not feeling safe

 

[grim_d]

I don't know the brand off hand but the connectors we have at work disconnect and de-pressurise but remain attached, you need to then pull the coller and push them together to get it to uncouple (a bit like plumbing push fit connectors) and are fully compatible with pcl xf.

So they do exist!

 

[DavidL]

Yes indeed, it was these I'd been looking at. The PCL brand look like this:
https://www.pclairtechnology.com/products/couplings-adaptors/safety-couplings/xf-safety-couplings/

I've found them around 25 quid upward unless buying in silly quantities, which just seemed a bit steep.

But the advice has put me on the back foot a little as it seems my disconnect technique needs a little work

I'd certainly be interested to hear which brand you use at work and how they stand up to the odd drop etc

 

[cheb]

I've recently installed these on the ends of my hoses, genuine* standard PCL, fittings cost about £10 each. I'm cheap and/or blasé about many things, flailing hoses isn't one of them. I've had them disconnect just by being knocked on the floor.

Genuine PCL for two reasons, they are made in the UK, and IME they are much better than the knockoffs.

Bought via Ebay, but from what looked to be a straight company.

 

[DavidL]

I've recently installed these on the ends of my hoses, genuine* standard PCL, fittings cost about £10 each. I'm cheap and/or blasé about many things, flailing hoses isn't one of them. I've had them disconnect just by being knocked on the floor.

Genuine PCL for two reasons, they are made in the UK, and IME they are much better than the knockoff.

Yes I must admit, it's this sort of experience that led me to "upgrade" to standard PCL XF. Some of the knock offs would connect but pop out if even slightly off centred. Sold as euro but on inspection, a very different diameter and taper/seat.

Looks like PCL safety it is, plus a bit of technique improvement on the non safety hoses.

PS where did you find them for 10 quid?

 

[cheb]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCL-Safeflow-Safety-Couplings-Ideal-for-Engineering-and-Workshop-Environments/352118097932?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&var=621573638102&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Standard PCL as I need no more flow than that.

 

[graffian]

CEJN and Dyna here. The first fittings I bought were the 1/4 turn DC040 fittings; they take no
pressure to connect and they don't want to spit out the air tool when you disconnect them.
I bought the dyna connectors in ~1975 and haven't got a clue how much I paid.

 

[Cobbler]

Last time I looked, Screwfix was the cheapest place for genuine PCL XF & PCL fittings by quite a bit. Don’t do PCL safety though, first time I’d heard of them.

 

[cheb]

The other slightly specialist PCL couple I have is a corrosion resistant brass one on an outside wall. 2 years on and it's still good.

 

[premmington]

What you really need for airlines is to fit on your pressure out port. A two way ball valve with a relief port. When you isolate the air pressure it relieves the air pressure on the pipe after the ball ball valve. Lets the pressure out anything you are gonna undo quickfit connectors.

I have these on all 1/2 bore airlines with PCL series 60/100 connectors - as disconnecting 1/2 bore hose is not nice. I let the pressure out of the hoses - using a crane relief ball valve.

1/4 stuff on 6/8mm bore hose I don't bother with relief port valves - I just undo them.

 

[DavidL]

Thanks again everyone. @cheb - I'd not seen safety variants of PCL standard before - considerably cheaper, and honestly ample flow for me too - and if that didn't leave me with a bucket of XF connectors to replace, I'd seriously consider it. There was no logic to my choice, just my first little compressor from Aldi about 10 years ago had euro fittings so that dictated what I got from then on

PCL XF safety it is. I did try a little more heavy handednes/firmess in disconnecting following the hints and tips, and while it's still ok if one end is fixed (compressor, wall port, etc) but still struggle to do so comfortably if both ends are free to move and it's high pressure/long hose. I can normally lift heavy things and given the strength of feeling that it's not a massive problem for others, it's clearly something I'm doing wrong - so I'll just bite the bullet and get a couple of safety fittings.

Thanks again everyone, much appreciated

 

[Farside]

The XF / Euro fittings are great, and the only thing I don't like about the ones I have is the tendency for them to blow apart if dropped on the floor. That's purely down to the design of the collar on them. Better ones, even the ordinary non-safety PCL XF ones don't have the same sticky-outy collar so I might just replace the problematic ones with those and use the others purely for wall-socket duty.

 

[armalites]

Prevost is the way to go but you are looking at £20+ each. Push button release and vent so the probe doesn't fly out.