need help with refrigerant fittings
 

I'm retrofitting the controls in a big chiller (for an ice rink) and I need to add pressure transducers along with the existing gauges. The gauges have 1/4" male flare connections. The transducers are 1/4" male npt. Ideally, i'd like to find a Tee that can attach to the back of the gauge and accept the existing flared tube and the transducer.

While I'm dreaming, it would be good if it didn't project far behind the gauge.

I have looked at grainger and mcmaster, and come away more confused than I went in. Surely I cant be the first person to do this.

I'm not a refrigeration guy, though I'm working with one. I won't be able to reach him for a week, and I'm trying to get a jump on this.

Your suggestions are welcome.

jpb

need help with refrigerant fittings
 

rangerssuck wrote:
I'm retrofitting the controls in a big chiller (for an ice rink) and I need to add pressure transducers along with the existing gauges. The gauges have 1/4" male flare connections. The transducers are 1/4" male npt. Ideally, i'd like to find a Tee that can attach to the back of the gauge and accept the existing flared tube and the transducer.

While I'm dreaming, it would be good if it didn't project far behind the gauge.

You might look at a Swagelok catalog. Getting from 1/4" flare to 1/4" NPT
will take some adapters, but I think it can be done.

If brass is usable (not with ammonia) Weatherhead hydraulic fittings
might be an option, but a quick keyword search of their website made
it clear the hunt will be a long one.

Good luck,

bob prohaska


I have looked at grainger and mcmaster, and come away more confused than I went in. Surely I cant be the first person to do this.

I'm not a refrigeration guy, though I'm working with one. I won't be able to reach him for a week, and I'm trying to get a jump on this.

Your suggestions are welcome.

jpb

need help with refrigerant fittings
 

On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 9:07:47 PM UTC-4, rangerssuck wrote:
I'm retrofitting the controls in a big chiller (for an ice rink) and I need to add pressure transducers along with the existing gauges. The gauges have 1/4" male flare connections. The transducers are 1/4" male npt. Ideally, i'd like to find a Tee that can attach to the back of the gauge and accept the existing flared tube and the transducer.

While I'm dreaming, it would be good if it didn't project far behind the gauge.

I have looked at grainger and mcmaster, and come away more confused than I went in. Surely I cant be the first person to do this.

I'm not a refrigeration guy, though I'm working with one. I won't be able to reach him for a week, and I'm trying to get a jump on this.

Your suggestions are welcome.

jpb

I did find a 1/4" female flare to 1/4" npt male, but it's either out of stock or crazy expensive everywhere I looked. I have decided, instead, to do it the "right" way, and make up short flared female - female tubes to connect the gauges to the tees. More trouble but easier to put things where they need to be.

Still, it's surprising that this isn't a more common part.

need help with refrigerant fittings
 

rangerssuck wrote:

I'm retrofitting the controls in a big chiller (for an ice rink) and I
need to add pressure transducers along with the existing gauges. The
gauges have 1/4" male flare connections. The transducers are 1/4" male
npt. Ideally, i'd like to find a Tee that can attach to the back of the
gauge and accept the existing flared tube and the transducer.

While I'm dreaming, it would be good if it didn't project far behind the
gauge.

I have looked at grainger and mcmaster, and come away more confused than I
went in. Surely I cant be the first person to do this.

I'm not a refrigeration guy, though I'm working with one. I won't be able
to reach him for a week, and I'm trying to get a jump on this.

Your suggestions are welcome.

jpb
If there's a refrigeration supplier in your area, they have stock of all
sorts of special fittings for this. The trick is plumbing is measured from
the effective ID of the pipe, refrigeration is measured by the real OD of
the tube.

Jon

need help with refrigerant fittings
 

There is a Harbor Freight brass 1/4 inch T fitting with 2 npt "sockets"
sticking out the sides & 1 flange fitting on the bottom (or top) in the
next room that's served well. If there's a Harbor Freight store handy, a
trip there might be worth while for you. Also, the Ace stores can be
useful. Costly though.

Hul

rangerssuck wrote:
I'm retrofitting the controls in a big chiller (for an ice rink) and I need to add pressure transducers along with the existing gauges. The gauges have 1/4" male flare connections. The transducers are 1/4" male npt. Ideally, i'd like to find a Tee that can attach to the back of the gauge and accept the existing flared tube and the transducer.

While I'm dreaming, it would be good if it didn't project far behind the gauge.

I have looked at grainger and mcmaster, and come away more confused than I went in. Surely I cant be the first person to do this.

I'm not a refrigeration guy, though I'm working with one. I won't be able to reach him for a week, and I'm trying to get a jump on this.

Your suggestions are welcome.

jpb