What Size Air Hose Do I Need

Understanding Air Fittings, Hose Connectors & Quick Release Couplers

Despite their meaty size air hose fittings and connectors play a very important role in the overall performance of air compressors and the air tools that they are used with. The fittings maintain a constant menstruation of air and pressure within the hoses so that the performance of the air tools is non compromised. Having durable and reliable air tool fittings and air tool couplers is hugely of import for the prophylactic and efficient performance of your air tools. Our superb air tool fittings and couplers can enable you to extend your air supply and/or aid yous create more complex air systems to adjust your needs. To ensure the equipment is in its optimal working condition the fittings must exist kept in expert working shape.

How are air hose fittings measured?

Many of the hoses in our range will come up already fitted with some type of cease fitting so you tin can start connecting up to your air compressor and tools, any add-on couplers you need will be the aforementioned size.

If you're all the same unsure what size you need, it'south simple, the circumference of your hose is the size coupler that you volition need. You can utilise this quick trick to work out the circumference of your hose;

Take your hose and a length of string
Wrap the cord around the hose
Go on the string running around the bore straight and truthful
Mark the string across both ends
Layout the sting next to a record mensurate
Read the length of the string from marking to mark
This will give you the circumference of the hose
Take this length and split past PI (iii.1416)
This volition give you the diameter of the hose

There are many unlike types of air fittings but near air tools use ane of only a few types of connector. The master things to consider are the fitting type and the thread size. Common fixing types include ¼" BSP, ¼" PCL and 3/8" NPT.

What is BSPF and BSPM?

The British Standard Pipe (BSP) is a family of standard screw thread types that is used internationally for interconnecting and sealing pipe ends by connecting male with female threads. The thread size is measured and based on the inside of the hose fitting. When couplers are labelled as "Female Quick Release Coupler to 1/iv" BSPM" the BSPM translates to British Standard Piping Male. In turn "F" appears if the coupler connects to female.

Tin can you connect ii air hoses together?

Nigh hoses come supplied with either a thread fixing or quick release coupling. A male thread would screw into a female thread, whereas a male quick release would plug into a female quick release, so yous may need a coupling to connect lines together. Fortunately, nosotros supply a wide range of couplings, and any SGS air compressor or hose would use a ¼" BSP thread or quick release coupling to keep things simple.

Past using couplings there is technically no limit to how long yous tin make the hose. As a full general rule, information technology is always ameliorate to have a single, longer hose than to have multiple hoses connected together. The more connections nowadays, the more likely it is you will experience pressure drop.

Should I use Teflon record on air fittings?

It is a good idea to apply Teflon/PTFE tape on threaded fittings. Quick-release fittings are designed to seal using internal o-rings, then any additional sealant or tape is not required. If y'all are experiencing leaks from a quick-release coupling, information technology will likely be due to incompatibility or impairment/loss of the o-ring. There are many types of fittings out there that await very similar, and then if you lot are experiencing a leak it may just be downward to incompatibility.

What are Quick Release Couplings?

Quick-release couplings allow y'all to easily connect and disconnect airlines from either the air compressor or air tool. As mentioned above, quick couplings are designed to seal when disconnected via an internal o-ring, eliminating the demand for a shut-off valve. These connections are made upwards of a male part and a female part which incorporate the internal pressures when properly connected.

The connection also allows the joint to motility, meaning less kinking and twisting of the hose, improve suited for a busy workplace, to proceed the area rubber.

What is a PCL coupling?

A PCL coupling is asunder only by pulling back on the collar whilst holding the air hose, or tool continued. This can cause the air hose to whip as the compressed air escapes, then information technology's best non to practise this in a busy environment. However, it's best to utilize this pattern as a single action coupling, platonic for use in a stock-still application, such every bit directly fixed on to the compressor. While they may look similar, a PCL fitting volition not properly connect to a BSP fitting.

What are Hose Tails?

Hose tails can be used to connect couplings to hoses, or (potentially), to connect two hoses together. It's of import to make certain that the right hose tail size is called, based on the internal diameter of the hose, and and so secured using a jubilee clip.

What to consider when choosing your coupling

The type of coupling you demand. Is information technology ¼" BSP, ¼" PCL or another type?
The maximum pressure (in PSI) the air coupler/plug can withstand
Some couplers require the use of PTFE tape to form a seal
Couplers may come with dissimilar temperature ratings
Will it last? All SGS couplers come up with two-year warranties!