Alde bubble tester

[ChrisPy]

I am fitting a bubble tester in my new project boat which has a very simple gas system, requiring only 5/16" or 8mm pipe.

The Alde tester purchased for 8mm appears to be a standard 10mm unit, using an adaptor to reduce to 8mm. The instructions are dreadful. It appears that a brass insert (supplied) is used to fit onto the 8mm copper pipe, replacing a copper olive in the compression fitting. Am I doing it right? Does anyone have any experience of this?

Initial set up shows a gas leak, but I am reticent to tighten the fittings too much until I know I'm doing it right.

I have sent a message to Alde Technical Help, but I'm not holding my breath for a meaningful response. After all if they can't write decent instructions, what hope is there of getting an adequate explanation?

[blackrose]

I changed the fittings in my Alde bubble tester to accommodate 1/2" pipe. I didn't use adaptors - I just put the bubble tester in a vice and cracked the fittings off and replaced them.

 

Don't they sell a bubble tester with 8mm fittings? I'm sure they do?

 

Edit: Yes they do (not that it helps you now!)

 

http://www.alde.co.uk/itemdetails.php?itemId=53

Edited November 14, 2011 by blackrose

[WotEver]

Chris, by 'brass insert' do you mean the hose tails that are supplied with it? As Blackrose says, you can fit whatever adaptor you need to suit your pipework and then it's a straightforward compression fitting onto your pipe.

 

Tony

[springy]

IIRC the actual unit has 3/8 bsp female threads, like blackrose I changed the fittings in mine - one to 1/2"

 

compression, and one to 1/2" bsp female (straight onto bulkhead fitting) howevever the original fittings

 

were bl**dy tight, on examination after dismantling I am fairly certain that a "setting" thread sealant had

 

been used (as opposed to a "non setting" sealant such as calor-tite).

 

 

 

springy

[ChrisPy]

I changed the fittings in my Alde bubble tester to accommodate 1/2" pipe. I didn't use adaptors - I just put the bubble tester in a vice and cracked the fittings off and replaced them.

 

Don't they sell a bubble tester with 8mm fittings? I'm sure they do?

 

Edit: Yes they do (not that it helps you now!)

 

http://www.alde.co.uk/itemdetails.php?itemId=53

I bought the 8mm one, it seems to be the same unit, but has brass adaptors to reduce from 10 to 8.

[blackrose]

howevever the original fittings were bl**dy tight, on examination after dismantling I am fairly certain that a "setting" thread sealant had

 

been used (as opposed to a "non setting" sealant such as calor-tite).

 

 

That's right - mine looked the same. I refitted 1/2" compression fittings with gas PTFE.

[ChrisPy]

Chris, by 'brass insert' do you mean the hose tails that are supplied with it? As Blackrose says, you can fit whatever adaptor you need to suit your pipework and then it's a straightforward compression fitting onto your pipe.

 

Tony

no. it's a short nipple that externally matches 10mm pipe, has a nib that mates with the compression nut, and internally accommodates 8mm pipe. the only way to fit it is without a copper olive, which is why I believe it is supposed to replace the olive.

Edited November 14, 2011 by ChrisPy

[MtB]

So you have established you have a gas leak and have sent a message to Alde technical help about it.... why?

[ChrisPy]

So you have established you have a gas leak and have sent a message to Alde technical help about it.... why?

I did not say I sent a message about a gas leak.

[WotEver]

... the original fittings were bl**dy tight...

Mine too. I was wondering for a short while if they actually undid at all.

 

Tony

 

no. it's a short nipple that externally matches 10mm pipe, has a nib that mates with the compression nut, and internally accommodates 8mm pipe. the only way to fit it is without a copper olive, which is why I believe it is supposed to replace the olive.

Perhaps we need a picture.

 

Tony

[David Mack]

no. it's a short nipple that externally matches 10mm pipe, has a nib that mates with the compression nut, and internally accommodates 8mm pipe. the only way to fit it is without a copper olive, which is why I believe it is supposed to replace the olive.

One like this? Different size, but illustrates the principle.

 

David

[ChrisPy]

One like this? Different size, but illustrates the principle.

 

David

no, nothing like that, but thanks for researching it for me.

[smileypete]

I am fitting a bubble tester in my new project boat which has a very simple gas system, requiring only 5/16" or 8mm pipe.

The Alde tester purchased for 8mm appears to be a standard 10mm unit, using an adaptor to reduce to 8mm. The instructions are dreadful. It appears that a brass insert (supplied) is used to fit onto the 8mm copper pipe, replacing a copper olive in the compression fitting. Am I doing it right? Does anyone have any experience of this?

 

Sounds like you have a compression fitting 'reducing set', try a google images search, but is it in 2 halves or 1 piece? If the the former it needs an olive - copper ideally, if the latter it probably needs a fair bit of tightening.

 

In both cases you could undo the joint to see if it's compressed onto the pipe (or not!).

 

cheers,

Pete.

Edited November 16, 2011 by smileypete