McBrewall
Member
Who sells the best 3-way tri-clamp ball valves?
When you run a cleaning cycle with hot PBW, turn the 3-way valves to the 45 degree position and that solution will flush the dead zones between the seats. Just make sure you hit them with the rinse in the same way otherwise PBW will be lurking in there just waiting for you to move the valves.I have 3-3 way valves in my setup and even if i clean everything after a brew day spotless with a spray hose the next brewday I do a 180 degree pbw clean with half full water and its very dirty afterwards, you just can't see it but its there
I bought a relatively expensive BrewTools 3-way valve couple years back. It was shite so I sold it on a week later. I couldn’t even open the thing for cleaning. And I’m pretty ‘handy’ generally. Threads were locked solid, probably due to over tightening in the Chinese factory with no QC. Anyway, not sure what you need a 3-way valve for, but I settled for TC T-piece and two Blichmann G2 linear flow valves. Total cost was a little more, but much, much better, imho.Who sells the best 3-way tri-clamp ball valves?
yes i agreeWhen you run a cleaning cycle with hot PBW, turn the 3-way valves to the 45 degree position and that solution will flush the dead zones between the seats. Just make sure you hit them with the rinse in the same way otherwise PBW will be lurking in there just waiting for you to move the valves.
I have years ago, when I was designing it, I can't say where it's at, I did some drawings on either brewers friend or the electric brewery maybe 6 years ago or soThat's quite a rig, @Ozarks_Mountain_Brew . Have you posted a full description somewhere?
have the ali link by chance? I couldn't find them"Easy to clean" can mean different things depending on the setting; In a commercial brewery where regularly disassembling and cleaning valves is part of the job, you could consider either of these "easy to clean":
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/t...y-quick-clamp-fittings-for-food-and-beverage/
https://www.brewershardware.com/tri...5-Tri-Clover-3-Way-Ball-Valve-TC15BALL3W.html
..or the one @sibelman posted above. (I was just about to post another one from Stout; https://conical-fermenter.com/1.5-inch-3-way-ball-valve-304.html?cat=223 )
There's the 'EZ Clean' models, which are more common as 2-way ( https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15_2pbv_ez.htm ), but I have seen 3-way versions on Aliexpress, but can't vouch for the quality of.
What manner of disassembly to you personally consider "easy"?
Yikes.. I already had to sell one kidney to support this hobby, and I know they won't take my liver.. Those McMaster valves are starting at ~379.."Easy to clean" can mean different things depending on the setting; In a commercial brewery where regularly disassembling and cleaning valves is part of the job, you could consider either of these "easy to clean":
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/t...y-quick-clamp-fittings-for-food-and-beverage/
https://www.brewershardware.com/tri...5-Tri-Clover-3-Way-Ball-Valve-TC15BALL3W.html
..or the one @sibelman posted above. (I was just about to post another one from Stout; https://conical-fermenter.com/1.5-inch-3-way-ball-valve-304.html?cat=223 )
There's the 'EZ Clean' models, which are more common as 2-way ( https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15_2pbv_ez.htm ), but I have seen 3-way versions on Aliexpress, but can't vouch for the quality of.
What manner of disassembly to you personally consider "easy"?
Yeah, and that's the 1/2" size! I was actually surprised to find the 1.5" ones cheaper in Canada; $447 for an L-port. https://www.equinoxstainless.com/ball-valves/ball-valve-3-ways-l-type-clamp-207310l6150-groupYikes.. I already had to sell one kidney to support this hobby, and I know they won't take my liver.. Those McMaster valves are starting at ~379..
While I can't comment on that, as the only TC valves I have are a couple butterlies, I can bring up yet another option;One common theme is that three-way valves are not easy to clean and tend to leak after they are cleaned.
While I can't comment on that, as the only TC valves I have are a couple butterlies, I can bring up yet another option;
If part of your requirement for TC fittings is the flow-rate of a larger bore size, then this won't suit you, but if flow-rate isn't a big deal, you can put TC adapters on NPT valves:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15m12npt.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/3wvalvel.htm
I have some of those NPT 3-ways, both from @Bobby_M (T-port), and domestic L-ports.. I've had no problem taking apart and cleaning them and no leakage ever.
That's quite a rig, @Ozarks_Mountain_Brew . Have you posted a full description somewhere?
YAY! Picture time!! I wanted to, but couldn't find one of a 3-way TC assembly, does anyone have one? ..I don't imagine it's too different from an NPT:
Everything I read about ball valves says to be exceptionally careful making sure every seal goes in the same spot it came from. Otherwise you get leaks.YAY! Picture time!! I wanted to, but couldn't find one of a 3-way TC assembly, does anyone have one? ..I don't imagine it's too different from an NPT:
View attachment 842298
...a little fiddly, but if you start on a large surface, take your time and lay your parts out in order, it's not hard. Next time I pull apart one of my own, I'll take my own pics.
Thank you everyone for the advice and recommendations. Based on the responses and reviews of three-way valves, I am going to use tees and easy clean tri clamp ball valves and/or Blichmann linear valves. One common theme is that three-way valves are not easy to clean and tend to leak after they are cleaned. Thanks again.
usually #5 is the culprit that doesn't get replaced right, everything else stays in place fineYAY! Picture time!! I wanted to, but couldn't find one of a 3-way TC assembly, does anyone have one? ..I don't imagine it's too different from an NPT:
View attachment 842298
...a little fiddly, but if you start on a large surface, take your time and lay your parts out in order, it's not hard. Next time I pull apart one of my own, I'll take my own pics.
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