Posted by ChrisH at 2/6/2001 12:12 AM EST
Engineer on team #330, Beach 'Bots, from Hope Chapel Academy and NASA JPL, J & F Machine, Raytheon, et al.
In Reply to: Shouldn't leak that fast...
Posted by Joe Johnson on 2/5/2001 8:20 PM EST:
: Something seems wrong. Our table top set up (a.k.a.
: "the rats nest"
doesn't leak that fast.
: Check all your fittings for leaks.
: Joe J.
Our table top set up didn't leak at all, at least not noticably. First I'd run all of your tube ends through the fancy little tube cutter they gave you in the kit. Make sure the tube is in the bottom of the "V" before cutting it.
If this doesn't stop the leak(s), use some of my magic leak detector fluid. I'd sell you some for big $$ but I don't have time to go through all of the environmental paperwork to be able to market it. So I'll give you the recipe and you can make your own version of this hazardous material. (Don't laugh, I live in California, one of the "chemicals" on our controlled materials list is deionized water)
First find a coffee cup sized beverage container and label it "Leak Detection Fluid". Put in about a tablespoon of liquid hand soap, dishwashing liquid, or any other liquid detergent. Fill the rest of the cup with dihydrogen monoxide (H2O). Mix well. Apply the mixture to fittings suspected of leaking. If you see lots of bubbles forming you've got at least one of the culprits. Repeat as needed to eliminate leaks. If you want to get fancy use a spray bottle for ease of application.
We use this mixture regularly where I work for finding leaks in molds and related pressurized plumbing. And we always label it just to be safe.
Chris Husmann, PE
Over-regulated Engineer
Team 330 the Beach'Bots