Re: Quick connects for steering balloons

From: <leop_at_lyradev.com>
Date: 26 Mar 2018 18:18:11 +0000

The John Guest brand fittings and the Wicks brand fittings are sold at the big box hardware stores. Either brand works well and the plugs are easily removable.

 I like to drill a hole in the fitting itself (on the edge of the push-in surface) to attach the line rather than using the plug as the line attachment. This way the balloon is always attached to the line. An added benefit is that the balloon can be emptied without needing to hold the balloon. I also attach the plug to the attachment line on the fitting. That way the plug is always handy and, usually, not lost.
 

 Again, I use the slightly heavier 5/16" fittings as they empty and fill faster. I also remove the keeper from the side of the fitting in the balloon so as to save a bit of weight. In fact, if the line is attached directly to the fitting, the keeper can also be removed from the fill side. The friction of the o-ring is more than enough to keep the plug from coming out when the balloon is filled.
 

 LeoP
 

Received on Mon Mar 26 2018 - 18:18:15 CEST