See thru hose?

[Randy S.]

Does anybody know of a see through hose that could be used for checking oil levels in certain screw machine oil separators? It would have to be skookum enough for 22.

[jayguy]

how about 2 refrigeration hoses and a sight glass?

i use 2 hoses and hooked them to a short piece of co2 tubing

[bunglebear]

Does anybody know of a see through hose that could be used for checking oil levels in certain screw machine oil separators? It would have to be skookum enough for 22.

I would normally use two 3/8 inch lines and a sight glass in the midle. Move the sight glass until you get the oil level. It will take a few minutes to find the level, but it's the way we did it at Carrier checking levels on the 30HXC, as there is no oil sight glass at the oil level switch level.

[fridg]

Here is a previous post we were talking about , don't know if it is on the same page as you but it might get you out of a pickle.

http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=87639

We have a place here called pirtek who does high pressure hoses and fittings that do the job just fine.

[Healey Nut]

I have two sight glasses that came from a company in the states called Lube Devices. They are meant to be used as hydraulic oil level glasses on oil tanks for hydraulic systems . They are about 12" long and I have adaptors on them down to 1/4" for a standard hose connection. I keep one for 22 and one for 134 machines so no oil mixing .
Instant oil level reading and no fooling around with the sight glass up and down trying to find the level .

[chillerguy81]

I like Grahams idea, I'll have to look into that. Right now I also use the standard 1/4" sightglass and reefer hose method.

[ChillerWisperer]

I like Grahams idea too. What I've done is take two Henry 1/4" M x F and one M x M sightglasses and screwed them all together, then glued a magnet on the back. That way, you just stick it on the separator and come back in a couple of minutes to check it, then move it up or down as needed. The three sightglasses give you a longer window, so you're more likely to place it at the proper oil level on the first try.

[always looking]

I have been using a clear hose for years. Have one for mineral oil and one for POE. Go to a hose shop and have them make it up for you. The brand of hose I have is Weatherhead. It is a clear reinforced hose like they use with soda machines. They can crimp on some good flare fitting to the hose. Make sure you tell them what pressures you will have on hose so they use the right fittings.

[Healey Nut]

Heres the link to the ones I have http://www.ldi-industries.com/013277.htm

[heavymetaldad]

Heres the link to the ones I have http://www.ldi-industries.com/013277.htm

thanks graham. you know if they sell direct?

[Healey Nut]

Not sure .I was actually given them by a customer who I helped out of a jam one summer .
I'm sure if you found a local hydraulics supplier they could get them for you .

[Randy S.]

Thanks, guys.

Several real good ideas.

That's what this place is all about.

[StayinCool]

You can buy clear reinforced tubing at many hardware stores. It looks like it has strips of fiberglass or fabric in it, crisscrossing its length. Some are good to 300 psi. Since the sitting pressure of R-22 in a chiller is around 120 psig this is suitable. 134A is much less. I have 3/8" tubing with 1/4" mpt x 3/8 fl. fittings attached with screw type hose clamps and have never had a problem. With isolation valves you can even return the oil to suction or save for an oil sample. over time you will need to replace the tubing as it gets brittle.