Storz on draft hose

[firebill911]

We are considering using storz fittings on 6" draft hose, however reducing to 5" storz from a 6" draft hose can you still reach pump capacity? (1500 GPM single stage pump)
Talked to a dept that does that on they dont do there own annual pump test, i would think you could reach capacity however just want to make sure. ALso was told you have to use a different gasket on storz fittings to draft with.

[neiowa]

Why reduce to 5" on your suction line? Your 1500gpm pump has 6" intake? Use intake appliances (valves etc) with 6" x 6" Storz. Suction hose then 6"S. Add a 6"S x 5" S adapter to your intake valve when you use 5"LDH supply.

Yes you need Storz gaskets for draft. Gaskets have a raised "bead" on mating surface.

[kuh shise]

Velocity head change required to move 1500 gpm across the transition from 6" tube to a 5" tube is 2.09 psi. There is a good possibility that you won't be able to reach 1500 gpm while being necked down to 5" fittings.
I recently worked with a vacuum tanker that uses 6" fittings much like Storz, but there were fold down handles built into the fittings with 3 lugs instead of the two on the Storz. Sorry, but I do not know the name of the manufacturer. I agree that is it a pain in the butt to remove the 6 x Storz relief valve to connect hard sleeve.

[IronsMan53]

I recently worked with a vacuum tanker that uses 6" fittings much like Storz, but there were fold down handles built into the fittings with 3 lugs instead of the two on the Storz. Sorry, but I do not know the name of the manufacturer. I agree that is it a pain in the butt to remove the 6 x Storz relief valve to connect hard sleeve.

Are you talking about a camlock fitting?

They are great for quick fills and I have seen them used on vacuum trucks.

[Catch22]

Are you talking about a camlock fitting?

They are great for quick fills and I have seen them used on vacuum trucks.

I think he's actually talking about folding handles, as opposed to rigid handles like you find on a lot of larger fittings. I've seen them as options, particularly with suction hose.

[kuh shise]

Sorry about the delay, had to run a Rural F.G. Water Movement Class over the weekend. Yes & No ... I am talking about a fitting just like Storz, but it has 3 lugs and 3 slots; tighter gaskets and a pair of fold down handles on a hinge arrangement. This allows the 6" light weight suction hose to be slid into the trays from the rear. Each piece was specifically designed to fit this vacuum tanker and was 18 feet long. There were trays for 4 hoses or a reach of 72 feet from the tanker to a water source. Not for high lifts, but for covering a long horizontal distance to the creek. The particular live burn where it operated next to me at the fill site, they needed 54 feet to reach the lake. The vac tanker self filled at about 600 gpm. I don't see any reason that an engine could not be fitted with this type of suction hose.

[firebill911]

Thanks for all the replies, I thought we would stick to the 5"storz connections because we are a small career dept that covers from extreme rural to large commerical complexes. There is a chance that in the future we might goto 5" LDH and there are some senarios that we might need to relay pump 5" LDH in mutual aid. Just trying to keep in simple and universal. THanks.

[efd1524]

Do you guys tie directly to pump intake or can you go thru jaffery gate valve? I would think your going straight in since not sure about negative pressure inside the valve.

thanks,

[TVFR9923]

Bill we draft with hard suction with 5" storz fittings and still move a lot of water. You do need to make sure you get "drafting gaskets" on storz fittings if you go that route.

[neiowa]

Sorry about the delay, had to run a Rural F.G. Water Movement Class over the weekend. Yes & No ... I am talking about a fitting just like Storz, but it has 3 lugs and 3 slots; tighter gaskets and a pair of fold down handles on a hinge arrangement. ...

All 6"Storz has 3 lugs. 5"S and smaller has 2 lugs.

Kochek has PVC Storz hard suction with no handles (rocker lug), with folding handles or in 5"S with fixed long handles.

[firebill911]

We have no storz now, question are the folding or rigid handles there to help get them tight and not have to use a storz wrench?
Most storz do not have these handles just curious. Thanks

[neiowa]

We have no storz now, question are the folding or rigid handles there to help get them tight and not have to use a storz wrench?
Most storz do not have these handles just curious. Thanks

Yes so you don't need wrenches (which I think are a minor PITA). But I have not tried a long handle storz anything.

[ponebutton2]

We have found it best to use a long handle hydrant wrench with Storz on one side since it is very difficult to compress two Storz suction gasket beads enough without the leverage afforded by the long handle Storz hydrant wrench. This is even more apparent in colder weather when the beads seem to harden a bit. We also use a light coating of Vasoline on the bead to lubricate the surfaces a bit. Red Head makes the type hydrant spanner we have used since 1991.

[BlitzfireSolo]

If you go with Storz suction hose with drafting gaskets:

1. Buy the folding long handles. They are by far the most practical option.

2. Use 6" Storz couplings for the suction hose, and then reduce down to 5" for your LDH. The Storz couplings are already enough of a flow restriction - don't limit yourself even further unless you never want to get full capacity at draft.

3. Buy your intake valves with RIGID (non-swivel, unlike usual) 6" Storz connections and then buy your 6"x5" Storz adaptor with a full-time swivel. This will make it MUCH easier when making your suction hose connections.

4. Make sure your intake valve has an elbow (e.g. 30 degree) - the strain from a 6" suction line coming off a straight connection is more likely to cause (un-fixable) leaks with Storz couplings.

5. Carry duct tape, just in case.

[txgp17]

You will not be able to flow 1,500 GPM through a 5" Storz coupling at draft, unless the lift is only 3' maybe.

The suction gaskets on the Storz couplings can be a pain to make/break.