safety valve tester.

xlchainsaw · safety valve tester.

i finally got around to making a better tester for myself. im aware that jeff has made one similar but here is my "rough" one. also pictured is my safety valve that i made and ive set it to blow at 40 psi.

to use........ screw in the safety valve and hook up to a airline. having preset the regulator to the desired pressure the safety valve is dipped into a bowl of water to check for air bubbles.

by screwing the regulator up or down on the compressor and checking for leaks its possible to determine the "blowoff" pressure or for adjustable valves to set the pressure. the pictured valve is adjustable. mamod valves "blowoff" at 18 to 20 psi. all "toy steam" valves must blow at or before 20 psi to comply with the law !!!!! on certified boilers ... must blow before 40 psi.. after that!!! steam tickets are required and boiler certificates. depending on what country you are in but im reasonably sure its about that worldwide from what i understand.

whistleman

great work ,Glenn!

metalhead100

Outstanding Idea!

I must make one!

I have had my PM boiler to 60 PSI...But i adjusted it to around 40.

Im not sure about our "laws"......My house/my toy......its factory 60 PSI on the supplied SV.Quick shim lowered the spring tension and blow-off.

Jim

tmuir

Great idea, takes the guess work out of it, now all I need is an air compressor........

IndianaRog

Glenn, that is a clever piece of work! Like Jim, I don't concern myself with "laws" regarding blowoff pressure on a toy steam engine I operate only within my home (not sure such laws even exist in the states).

I "set" my SV's by replacing with new springs and adjusting amount of compressing the spring permits. Your tool would be handy for such setting, but I usually swag it til I get a particular engine running well, but well within what I consider safe (and checked with a PSI gauge screwed into the boiler).

My highest PSI is on my Jensen 51 replica's boiler which I have adjusted to about 30 PSI blowoff. The rest of my collection ranges between 20 and 25 PSI given lighter weight boilers. I don't think of those pressures as reckless knowing all these boilers are tested to higher levels.

Then again, I always where safety glasses!

Rog

xlchainsaw

thanks guys. at home i do what ever i like.

steam pressure that is.lol

hense the 40 psi steam valve ! but!!!!!! when i display at petrie and in public !!!!!!!! and with other shed members who are qualified its a different story!!! our safety officer (he just made a whistle for clinton.

) is a fitter and turner, owns a scale engine,has a full size roller, and has some madods and wilescos!!!

he keeps a very strong eye on whats what!!! the same guy went and checked out whistlemans boiler ect!!! greg who makes boilers for a living is also a member and he is qualified to "certify" a boiler so........i must stay under 20 psi . there is no doubt that our mamods performance is up graded by increasing the operating pressure