Can anyone propose an alternative pressure balancing loop?

[umchem]

Hi Everyone,

First time poster, long time reader.

Im hoping someone can help me out- I cant seem to find locally or online a copper 4 way /cross fitting to create the pressure balancing loop below. Unless someone can point me in the right direction, are there any alternative designs to the below pressure balancing loop I can use as an alternative which do not require the 4 way fitting?


Any help is appreciated, thank you.

 

[Jim Mills]

http://www.pexsupply.com/Copper-Crosses-1267000

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Vegas_sparky]

I needed a 3/4" cross tee for my new shower. I found (1) threaded brass fitting after calling seven different supply houses in town. I would have never thought they'd be so hard to come by.

 

[hj]

tee at the bottom of the drop pipe, with stubs to to additional tees at their ends. From there, one stub up and one down to drop ear elbows, on each side, (visualize it as an "H"), will accomplish the same thing. It is the only way I do them.

 

[umchem]

tee at the bottom of the drop pipe, with stubs to to additional tees at their ends. From there, one stub up and one down to drop ear elbows, on each side, (visualize it as an "H"), will accomplish the same thing. It is the only way I do them.

Thanks for the help. I saw the crosses at pexsupply but they are not rated for potable water, due to lead. It's probably not a big deal for a shower, but I'd rather stay on the safe side and see if there are alternatives before I go down the road.

As for the alternative design, do you have any images of this setup? Trying to draw out what you said, I conflicted at the H design and dont see how the "one stub up and one down" fits into the picture.

Thanks

 

[MikePlummer]

build the "loop" out of copper pipe and fittings... then connect to it with a TEE in the center cross piece

 

[Jim Mills]

Curious, what's an application for this?

 

[umchem]

It's for a Kohler K-98740 WaterTile 2.5 GPM Single Function Rain Shower Head.

Mike, thats a smart idea, thank you.

 

[MikePlummer]

I installed one of these and that's how I built it - note: I believe each of the 4 heads on the shower tile are 2.5gpm...I used a moen 3330 valve with 3/4" supply

 

[umchem]

This Kohler unit is actually the baby brother of the one your speaking of. This unit has a 0.6 gpm maximum flow rate from each sprayhead for a maximum combined flow of 2.4 gpm, making my hot water tank a little bit happier. I am installing it above a big soaker tub, so I didn't need something crazy, just a quick rinser.

 

[umchem]

Mike,

Did you end up using a drop ear tee ?

 

[MikePlummer]

no I used a sweat tee with a copper sweat x MIP adapter....you have to know the length required for drops to do that tho...or be able to raise or lower your loop

 

[hj]

Make an H using with a drop ear elbow on EACH of the four ends. Then cut the crossbar in the middle and put a tee there with a riser into the valve. I would think is was intuitive.