new hlt

[lord groan]

Ok I thought I'd just finished my new hlt when I fitted the sight glass

Chuffed to bits I was, as the sight glass goes lower than the tank bottom it means I can read the level right down to empty. Except when I open the tap the glass level drops to zero instantly. Grrrr Then it goes back up to the correct level when I close the tap.
I have tried fitting a silicon disc inside the compression fitting after making a small hole to allow restricted flow, it has improved things but not cured it.

Does anyone have a simple cure for this problem please?

[chastuck]

The depressed level in the sight glass is because of the Venturi effect. Have a look here on the 'Other Place' to see how I solved it: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewt ... 23&t=43444

[lord groan]

Thanks Chastuck, I'll try replacing the straight compression connector with a 15mm isolating valve, I'm pretty sure I've got an odd one floating around somewhere, see how that works

[subfaction]

Nice hlt, was it once a buffalo boiler?

[lord groan]

Hi subfaction, it was a Burco F33L wash boiler/urn, I'm in the process of further mods before getting it into use, chastucks valve trick hasn't worked for me so I'm putting a separate tap in. I'll post full pics of the conversion later when I'm satisfied with it!

[chastuck]

Hi subfaction, it was a Burco F33L wash boiler/urn, I'm in the process of further mods before getting it into use, chastucks valve trick hasn't worked for me so I'm putting a separate tap in. I'll post full pics of the conversion later when I'm satisfied with it!

Sorry to hear that a valve in the sight glass did not work for you. The adjustment of this valve, if fitted, can be quite difficult to get the fluid friction just right to counteract the Venturi effect. It took me several attempts before I could get it to work. I found the easiest way was to fill the HLT about 2/3 full with the sight glass mini ball valve fully open. Then I shut the sight glass valve to isolate the water in the sight glass. Now open the HLT ball valve to let the water drain out. The water in the sight glass should not drop at this point. While the HLT is still draining, very slowly open the sight glass valve until the water in the sight glass just begins to drop. You should find the level of the water in the sight glass is dropping at a rate that is behind the dropping level in the HLT. Consider this setting to be the start point for adjusting the valve in the sight glass. Now close the ball valve draining the HLT, but do not touch the position of the sight glass ball valve. Fill the HLT with water again. When full, open the HLT ball valve again to drain it. Note the rate of fall of the level in the sight glass and if it is not keeping pace with the level of fall in the HLT, open the sight glass valve a miniscule fraction more until the falling levels more or less correspond. Mark this setting with a permanent marker. You may have to repeat all the above several times, but hopefully eventually you will find the sweet point for the sight glass ball valve in your setup.