Perfect "Liquid Tight Fitting" for DIY'ers (56k!)

[scolley]

I may have found the perfect liquid tight fitting! I was looking because I wanted something that would let me put my new new temp controller probe, like the "fast-n-tight"s posted here. But it was a cable, not a rigid tube, so I spent a lot of time looking. Here's what I found.

A company called Heyco has got some awesome liquid tight tubing/cable products. Their sizes run small enough to accommodate wires, like my temp probe, thru 1/2" for pH probes, up to an beyond heater tube sizes, for making DIY alternates to Hydors. And they are tight! And really, really well constructed out of incredibly hard plastic. And very, very snug fitting. Here's some pics...

part 3200


inside fitting - look close and you can see the edge of the little cylinder that gets squeezed and ensures the "liquid tight" seal.


wide open


cranked down - how cool is that!


Problem is... they don't have any specific retail channel. I could not find a distributor that would talk to me, since I was not a retailer. So I called Heyco, and they asked me to use their website to order some "samples" that they sent to me for free! So...

1) The parts are killer! Perfect for DIY in-line heaters, pH probes, temp probes or anything like it
2) The maker, Heyco does not sell retail, and I could not locate a retailer
3) But they will send you a "free sample" if you request one through their web site. If you select regular mail as the shipping method, it doesn't cost a nickle.

I got part number 3200. It should fit my 1/2" pH probe, and it fits my temp probe cable perfectly.

I'm saving them for my new tank, so I won't have results for a couple of months. But if were considering a DIY in-line heater, pH probe, temp probe, or anything like it, I'd order quickly. It's my assumption that as soon as they get flooded with requests for these same fittings, they'll amend their current "free samples" policy.

So get yours now!

[gnatster]

A quick serch found some here

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/621/683.pdf

No min order size. Takes CC.

Other then that I know nothing of the company.

[scolley]

Wow. I made the mistake of looking for suppliers from the Heyco site. Should have just done a web search. Duh!

Not a bad deal though. $1.22 for the part and $5.95 for shipping for me. Less than $10 all told for a really nice little widget! Thanks Gnaster.

Still - "free" from Heyco cost a little less...

[jhoetzl]

My "samples" arrived today...just wanted to say thanks for the info!

More fun with PVC time...

[travdawg]

I got my fittings today, I will try to post pics later, so you all can see the size of this monster!

[scolley]

I've since found that you can get these things at Aquatic Eco Systems, which BTW has an awesome catalog. Well worth asking for.

I ordered a few different sizes of the Heyco fittings from them (didn't want to use up all my "free samples" at Heyco), just to have on hand.

And as I was assembling the plumbing for my new tank yesterday, my grounding probe came in. "Hey!", I thought, "I can but this in-line too with one of these Heyco fittings!". Works great. Really snug.

I love these things!

Please post pics if you get them!

[spinjector]

I think I've seen those buggers at Home Depot.

[spinjector]

Originally Posted by scolley

I've since found that you can get these things at Aquatic Eco Systems, which BTW has an awesome catalog. Well worth asking for.

WOW!!! That website rocks!

I've been wanting to build a central filtration system, and they have *everything* I've been looking for! I mean seriously - every stage of the system I have planned they have products for: sand filter, fluidized bed, uv, co2, pumps, flow guages, test probes... I mean holy cow I'm like all excited... hehe

[scolley]

Originally Posted by spinjector

WOW!!! That website rocks! I've been wanting to build a central filtration system, and they have *everything*

If you like the website, you really need to get the catalog. It makes their huge inventory really easy to browse through, and it provides a lot more product detail than the web site. Get the catalog, you won't be sorry.

It is aquatic DIY heaven.

[spinjector]

Originally Posted by scolley

If you like the website, you really need to get the catalog.

Already done!

[sailblue5]

Will that only work for circular wires? What if they are oval shaped?

Michael

[briandmiles]

I'm gonna say "NO". Just tested it out on the extra fitting I got and it didn't seem to work. However I don't know if a smaller one (mine is the 1/2" version) would work because it pretty much stopped closing just as it was getting tight on the wire. By the way here is a picture of my external pH probe housing. About 4 dollars worth of materials and it works like a charm.

Brian

[scolley]

Hey Brian - that pH probe arrangement looks great! It's just sooo easy, and beats the heck out of hanging that big yellow thing in the tank!

And Michael, Brian tried it, I haven't. But I'm not at all surprised at his findings. You may have stumbled on a basic limitation of these things - they work best with objects that have a circular cross-section.

I've got a really big heyco coupling though, part number 3460, that might work. The rubber sealing ring in it is a bit thicker, and may accommodate an oval ring better. But on some of them the sealing ring is thinner, and less able to accommodate non-circular shapes. I suppose you might be stuck finding multiple fittings that would accommodate the size and try them. Sorry.

[Nbot]

Hey, anyone mind explaining how these things work? Does the ring "close" in around the probe as you tighten the nut? And then loosens up when you uncork the nut? And, if this is the case, does it have a 'life expectancy' ie, does undoing it to calibrate the probe every month or so weaken the seal?

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Nbot

Hey, anyone mind explaining how these things work? Does the ring "close" in around the probe as you tighten the nut? And then loosens up when you uncork the nut? And, if this is the case, does it have a 'life expectancy' ie, does undoing it to calibrate the probe every month or so weaken the seal?

Here is where you can get one:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...Category_Code=
I have found this one to work better in a reactor though:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewIt...ct~OP3171.html
I have not calibrated my probes for over a year in the 3 reactors that have inline PH probes......DC