FloJet Tubing Diameter

[skyryders90]

My new setup is on the way (Bricoletta, Mini E Doserless), and I will be putting it all on my new kitchen cart. This cart has a cabinet space that is just perfect for a 5g bottle, FloJet, filter, and smaller drain bottle. Right now I'm working on the plumbing, and I notice that the tubing that comes with the FloJet is 1/4". Can it use 3/8"? The docs don't say, and I was planning to use 3/8" everywhere else.

Thanks!

[JonR10]

Congrats on the new setup!!

The Flojet does come with 1/4-inch tubing but it will work best for you with 3/8-inch because the pump will struggle to keep up using the small tubing for an espresso machine (I'm sure the small tubing is perfect for ice makers).

The Flojet outlet is a Quick-Disconnect (QD) and it has a 1/4-inch adapter stuck into a 3/8-inch QD so all you have to do is remove the plastic part that has the red plug in it by pressing on the outer ring and then pulling the piece out.

[HB]

Below is a picture of a typical setup:

Exits Flojet as 3/8" OD (right) and connects to Andreja Premium as 1/4" OD (left)

I got the Flojet second hand and there was no adapter, just the 3/8" OD quick connect shown above. The 1/4" OD tubing will work, but I did notice some chattering during boiler refills on the Elektra A3. My assumption was that the draw was too fast for the Flojet (imagine a huge pump sucking on a teenie straw), so I switched to 3/8" end-to-end as Jon advises and indeed that eliminated the noise.

By the way, the Flojet website has a nice downloadable installation and maintenance document. I bet that few follow its good advice in the sanitation section on page 5.

[skyryders90]

Congrats on the new setup!

Thanks! Congrats on your Lyra, too!

The Flojet outlet is a Quick-Disconnect (QD) and it has a 1/4-inch adapter stuck into a 3/8-inch QD so all you have to do is remove the plastic part that has the red plug in it by pressing on the outer ring and then pulling the piece out.

OK. I'm feeling like a dolt here, but nothing that I am pressing on gives at all - it just gets dented or even gouged. Here's a picture of what I have. Does that WHOLE grey piece come out? Or just the part that the red plug is in?

[skyryders90]

Exits Flojet as 3/8" OD (right) and connects to Andreja Premium as 1/4" OD (left)

Thanks Dan - is there a reason that setup has it exiting the FloJet with 3/8 and connecting to the Andreja as 1/4?

[HB]

Does that WHOLE grey piece come out? Or just the part that the red plug is in?

Yes, the whole grey adapter comes out. Press on the bigger (lower) grey rim. The quick connects are sort of like those "Chinese finger cuffs" -- the harder you pull, the tighter they get. To release them, there must be no water pressure. Then press down firmly on the rim. It doesn't give much, maybe 1/8", but trust me, they'll let go.

BTW, keep the adapter in case you want to tee off a 1/4" facet line from the 3/8" tubing.

Thanks Dan - is there a reason that setup has it exiting the FloJet with 3/8 and connecting to the Andreja as 1/4?

No, that just happen to be the connectors I had handy since the rest of my filter system is 1/4". I've since installed a second 3/8" system for test machines. If I were to do it again, I'd go 3/8" all around. At the time I figured a couple ounces isn't enough to get excited about, but I wasn't considering bigger machines with high flow rate rotary pumps. Ooops.