Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Has anyone used these connectors for their cooling water? they look like they would give a nice clean connection and easy to take apart.

http://www.bunnings.com.au/smartex-20mm-x-3-4-push-pex-brass-coupling_p4700313

I think those connectors are meant to be used with rigid wall or very stiff piping. If you're going to use them with flexible hose I would do a leak test somewhere waterproof first.

There just for pex piping used in construction although i wouldnt trust the shit in my house.
You could use them and the pipe but it would be a real PITA, but if your looking to get a permanent supply to a valve near your area there perfect :handgestures-thumbupleft:

how stiff is PEX piping, i have never use it?

I am struggling to decide on a nice neat way to do my water connection. anyone want to weigh in?

I'm a plumber and use all different kinds of pex pipes, they are flexible but not like a garden hose. it also has a memory so if you get coiled pipe it wants to stay coiled unless you straighten it and leave it in hot sun for a few hours.
Best bet would be go to tradelink or Reece and ask to have a look at them, ive got heaps of it laying around and i just used garden hose and good connections on my bubbler :D

I wanted to connect to both a reservoir (260lt) and mains because I couldn't fit in an IBC and the reservoir got too hot during a long run.

I went with push connects and pex throughout.





Sorry if the photos don't work - first go at it.

End result - this system is expensive, but once it was in it is absolutely easy to manage. Can very easily remove the fittings and therefore dismantle the cooling to the still, and I can monitor the heat of the incoming cooling water and react before it is a problem.

There is another thread showing cooling systems with old air cons - not my strength so I went this way instead. Pex is easy to work with, but the cost is in the elbows and tees.

Good luck

i used irrigation pipe with push fittings and ratchett locks... all easy and cheap... i used 19mm and had no dramas even with my moderate skills...

I used push in air fittings with great success.

But you can use anything that doesn't leak. :))

Jackson wrote:how stiff is PEX piping, i have never use it?

bloody stiff.

I am struggling to decide on a nice neat way to do my water connection. anyone want to weigh in?

I bought one of these for a water line that I needed to be able to unclip easily. bit pricey though. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300895995797

if you need something larger bore, have a look at an aquarium pet store. you can get really nice quick-disconnect and isolator connectors for use with external tank filters. cheaper to do it with garden components from Bunnings, but they are a lot more compact.