So you’ve selected the optimal pressure or leak testing system for your application. Now the challenge is making sure your testing system matches up precisely to your equipment. Without a sound connection, the testing will be ineffective — and possibly dangerous. While it may take a bit more of an initial investment, taking the time to select the correct connector for your application — one that offers the reliability and repeatability your testing demands — can save you more money in the long run. To choose the most effective connector for your system, look for these five connector traits that are essential to ensuring its dependable performance under the most challenging conditions
- Pressure-assisted gripping: A connector that features pressure-assisted gripping offers the assurance that the connector will maintain its grip on the equipment being tested. This capability also results in a more effective seal than a simple fitting or plug could provide.
- Pressure-assisted sealing: Often referred to as dynamic sealing, pressure-assisted sealing delivers a better connection by stepping up the connector’s sealing capabilities as pressure increases. With this design, the connector will exert additional force to the seal, ideal for achieving very low leak capabilities, such as with helium mass spectrometer testing.
Self-adjusting design: Many connectors are operator-adjustable, and if they are adjusted improperly, the connector could become undone under high pressure — turning the connector into a dangerous projectile. Engineers, especially those in charge of plant safety, are touting the benefits of self-adjusting connectors, which automatically find the optimal adjustment for the application at hand — with no room for human error.- Fastening without wrenches or thread sealant: A connector that is fastened using wrenches or sealant may cause thread distortion on the mating part — which damages the product and can hinder equipment certification in some applications. For example, hot water heater and air compressor tanks are inspected by a independent agency to ensure these products will stand up to the stated operating pressure. If a product’s threading is damaged from the wrenches or sealant used to seal the pressure vessel’s threaded ports, the product is deemed used — and therefore unable to be certified as new.
A connector with the above traits can provide the same reliable seal without requiring wrench tightening or thread sealant while withstanding some of the most demanding applications—1,000 psi in refrigeration applications and even up to 10,000 psi in high-pressure lifting devices — without damaging your equipment.
- Option to modify/customize for a specific application: While many standard connectors with these traits can perform effectively in a broad range of testing applications, the final component of an effective connector is the ability to modify/customize it to your specific application needs. For example, if you’re testing equipment in numerous configurations from various manufacturers, one connector style may be better suited for one manufacturer’s part than another.
Working with your connector supplier to determine the correct style for your needs—whether you’re testing for leaks in automotive fuel, transmission or cooling systems, a dishwasher pump housing or a refrigerator ice maker—will ensure your connector is fitted precisely for your specific testing system. And since it will require no fittings, wrenches, or sealants, your pressure or leak testing system will optimize your test equipment performance without compromising the equipment’s integrity.