Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:07 pm
I just outfitted my whole rig with the B3 stainless fittings, too. They are pricey, indeed - but they are well worth it. They are about 1/3 more than the plastic (CPC) fittings. What you get for the extra money is durability. Those plastic ones are nice because they don't get hot, but they are pretty fragile, and you have to replace the exposed o-rings often. Brass is more durable than the plastic - but it only comes with garden hose threads, meaning that you will have to buy a myriad of adapters (also in brass) to connect it to everything else in your system. You also have to pickle the brass ones periodically.
Many people that I have talked to decide to plumb theirs with the same gender fittings on both sides of the hose. I never liked that method. I always preferred a "linear approach" in which each hose has a male and a female side on it. That way I can always join two or more hoses together if necessary. I guess it's personal preference. When I planned out my B3 order, I grabbed four highlighers to mark up my plumbing diagram. (ie. threaded male, threaded female, barbed male, barbed female). As it turned out, I had the same number of male and female threads, and the same number of male and female barbs, so I was able to buy them all as "sets" (cheaper).
Since I also repurpose my JZ chiller as my herms coil, I had to make one adaptor so I could easily switch from the stainless B3 fittings, to the plastic garden hose QDs on my garden hose. If you plan it out right, you will be able to easily accomplish all your goals. QDs make brewing so nice...
Mylo
"Life is too short to bottle homebrew." - Me
"HEINEKEN? Fuck that shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!" - Dennis Hopper, in Blue Velvet