I’m getting ready to spiff up my system and one of the first things I want to do is add quick disconnects to my pump, tubing, and kettles. So, polysulfone, brass, or SS? Good sources?
It’s about time you spent some money on that cheap ‘n’ easy brew system of yours! 
I used to use the polysulfone quick disconnects, but I found they got brittle and started to break over time/usage. Now I just use brass garden hose fittings with rubber gaskets for all of my connections. Cheaper than brass or SS QDs and nearly as easy to use.
I use polysulfone QD’s but if I weren’t so far into them I would go with the stainless stell QD’s.
I started with polysulfone, the ones with the springy-things in them to seal off when you disconnect so nothing spills out. At first I loved them, but soon found that the springy things just serve to clog up with hop (even when using a false bottom) during whirlpooling. Major PITA. Eventually I drilled out the springy things so it’s a straight shot through, and this solved the clogging problem. But then the liquid will spill everywhere when you disconnect; to solve this I put a quarter-turn stopcock just upstream of the disconnect. It works great now. A little wonky with the stopcocks in there, but it works. There’s probably a better solution for disconnecting and stopping flow so I’m hoping to see other responses here. But overall the polysulfone are just fine. Just keep some keg lube handy for the O-rings.
I almost went with poly, but decided to spend the extra money and got stainless camlocks. Easy to use and easy to clean and they should last for ever. I was going to order them from http://www.bargainfittings.com/, but my LHBS had the for about the same price.
I’ve been very happy with SST camlocks. Mine came from Proflow Dynamics or Bargain Fittings.
I use 1/2" barb fittings. ID on the male barb fittings is kind of small and I thought they would restrict flow too much. But I did what any good engineer would do and calculated the headlosses due to the small ID. It turned out that it wasn’t a big deal. By the way, this is with a March 809HS pump.
I’m hoping I don’t ruin my reputation! Thanks, Gary. I may try those before I spend more $$ on something else.
Thanks everyone! I feel smarter already!
This doesn’t sound like the Cheap ‘n’ Easy Denny Conn we have all come to know.
It’s the new “A Little Less Cheap ‘n’ Even Easier” Denny.
I bought polysulphone fittings and in retrospect I should have gone with cam lock fittings. No “O” rings and universal fit. Plastic and heat don’t last as long as I’d like and the o-rings are thin and fragile.
I have used perhaps the simplest and cheapest method of QD’s, a SS nipple, silicone hose and band clamp, with my handy dandy drill driver set up permanently with the right size socket. Hoses on and off in seconds. everything is interchangeable and robust. KISS!
That’s what I’ve been doing the last few years. I want to try something else and see how I like it.
I have stainless cam-lock disconnects from www.bargainfittings.com.
They also have high temp plastic ones.
I use the brass qd’s from Mc Master. Part numbers available on Brews Bros site.
Nice thing about the polysulphone (or however the hell you spell it) is they don’t conduct heat like the stainless. dam the stainless get HOT - like, permanent scarring hot. The polysulphone do wear out eventually though.
Obviously you really should just bit the bullet and go tri-clamp for the upgrade.
Dude, i’m trying to find a balance between something decent and the fact that I won’t live long enough to really get the utility of top of the line stuff!
LOL! I really like the polysulphone QDCs. And don’t die on me until I get to try that Wee Shroomy!!!
Don’t forget about aluminum, I have been using aluminum camlocks for the past 3 years with great success. Got them from proflowdynamics.com.
good luck with your up-grade
tom
p.s. what’s next, a new SS braid : )
Whoa, those aluminum cam locks are a lot less expensive than the stainless.
Edit: Millstone, I’ve heard that aluminum doesn’t play well w/ hard cleaners, such as PBW, Oxiclean and Starsan. Not sure if this is true or not, but have you had any issues using these cleaners with your aluminum cam locks?