Large bulkhead fittings

[jungliedunglies]

I know for me at least, finding big drain fittings for an RDWC system was a chore. Wound up fabbing some with fittings like everyone else, but I just found these and they seem pretty cool.

Thought I'd throw the the link up in case anyone is searching for them in the future. Can't vouch for them, and if someone here knows they are crap, please say so.

http://www.123ponds.com/plumbing-supplies-bulkhead-fittings.html

 

[GrowForIt]

Nice find, but why not just use ebb and flow fittings for rdwc?

 

[budshoteyes]

I use the exact same ones....I get them cheaper here in nova scotia and I find that rare..almost half price at local plumbing store. The ones I have include a quarter inch thick gasket!
I'm using 1 3/4 inch for top drain rdwc...5 gal bucket.

Use a big wrench!

 

[jungliedunglies]

Nice find, but why not just use ebb and flow fittings for rdwc?

I had a tough time finding anything hydro specific that was bigger than 1" myself. Don't know for sure, but I've seen a fair amount of threads in different places from people looking for what to do in this area. Most are forced to resort to piecing together a makeshift bulkhead fitting out of a combo of male and female adapters, toilet bowl gaskets, thread seal tape, and silicone.

They work fine, but somewhere in that HR tree grow thread there is an allusion to the very nice large drain fittings he uses only being available in the EU or something to that effect. I found this incomprehensible, but given what I had seen in the US consumer marketplace, it appeared true. Just happy to see that someone had the common sense to manufacture/distribute these.

 

[jungliedunglies]

I use the exact same ones....I get them cheaper here in nova scotia and I find that rare..almost half price at local plumbing store. The ones I have include a quarter inch thick gasket!
I'm using 1 3/4 inch for top drain rdwc...5 gal bucket.

Use a big wrench!

That's cool dude! Awesome deal with the gasket...must be nice to have one that is actually designed to be used with the fitting you are using it with .

BTW man, finally getting close on my top drain system that you guys were helping me out with. Just gotta get doors on the new cab and I'm gonna start germing!

 

[bobweirsshorts]

I use those for my setup. You can get them in Canada at Wolseley or most plumbing places. Andrew Sheret in B.C. has them. I use 2-20 gal rubbermaids piped together with 3- 1" fittings as shown, then you can pipe offsets, nipples or whatever off of the bulkhead fittings. You could even screw i male thread to plastic/rubber pipe adapter if you wanted to connect with some flex. I have never had a leak.

The bigger fittings allow you to pipe your system with ABS or PVC if you really wanted some Flow and no root bung up.

 

[zeropercentthc]

Uniseals are a cheap option. IIRC one of the commercially available DWC systems uses them instead of bulkhead fittings.

 

[petemoss]

I've always had problems with larger bulkhead fittings leaking, especially when installed on a curved surface like the round 5 gal buckets. Can these bulkheads seal to a curved surface?

 

[highonmt]

These guys have a great selection and good prices. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/default.aspx?catid=477&parentcatid=855 also they have every tube tank and bucket imaginable...a diy'ers paradise

 

[budshoteyes]

I'd say no as to curved surfaces with uni seals.

My bulkheads are 1 3/4 inches and they seal perfectly....I haven't tried larger bulkheads on round buckets cause I'm not sure the buckets could take much more flattening!

 

[highonmt]

I've always had problems with larger bulkhead fittings leaking, especially when installed on a curved surface like the round 5 gal buckets. Can these bulkheads seal to a curved surface?

If they are quality buckets and bulkhead fittings just tighten the bulkhead fitting with a wrench and that part of the bucket will no longer have a curve it'll be pressed flat. I have run up to 1 1/2 bulkheads on 5 gallons buckets with no leaks. I'm sure a 2 inch fitting would work as well. A cheap pvc drain from home cheapo will set you back about 8 bucks and is a great 2 inch bulkhead fitting by the way, I used them to run 2 inch drain lines back to the rez no leaks and stealth for the paranoid diy'er.