Racking Adapters
(patents pending)


Introduction
The BetterBottle SimpleFlo™ Valve and Racking Adapters make up the first valve system that truly addresses the specialized needs of home winemakers and home brewers. The components are made of an incredibly tough, proprietary PET that does not stain or impart flavors and is easily cleaned and sanitized. BetterBottle Racking Adapters use a Teflon-encapsulated, Viton O-ring to make a clean, tight seal against the inside wall of carboys and pails, so the Racking Adapter's screw threads and tightening nut are outside of the container (see Installation below). BetterBottle Racking Adapters are also very simple to install and remove, making thorough cleaning and sanitizing especially easy. Now, it is possible to rack and bottle professionally, without siphons or pumps.

General purpose tank valves are designed in exactly the opposite fashion, with the seals being made against the outside wall of carboys or pails. This leaves all the crevices associated with the threads and nuts on the inside of the container. Such valves are not designed for racking; they will not drain the last 2 inches (5 cm) of liquid from a carboy without tipping the carboy and potentially disturbing the sediment layer, because they cannot be installed any lower. Furthermore, they are difficult to attach or remove from a carboy, they can be difficult to disassemble for cleaning and sanitizing, and there is a good chance they are made of materials that will be damaged by the detergents and sanitizers used in home winemaking and beer brewing.

General Purpose Tank Valves
- They Seal against the outside walls of carboys and have internal threads and nuts -

Additional Information - Use the pop up menus associated with the SimpleFlo Valve and Racking Adapter tabs at the left side of this page for random access to all the specific information relating to the BetterBottle SimpleFlo valve and Racking Adapters. Scrolling down this page will access the information for Racking Adapters in sequential fashion. For materials specifications, please refer to the Technical tab at the top of this page.

Chemical Resistance - In general, avoid very strong caustics, such as KOH and NaOH (lyes), and concentrated aliphatic ketones (e.g., essence oils). For additional materials specifications, please refer to the Technical tab at the top of this page.

Carboy Racking Adapter
Description - BetterBottle Carboy Racking Adapters couple SimpleFlo™ valves to any ported BetterBottle carboy, and the combination makes professional racking and bottling quick and easy.

Operation - The Carboy Racking Adapter uses a Teflon-encapsulated Viton O-ring to make a tight hydrophobic seal against the inside wall of a BetterBottle carboy. This very special O-ring also makes it possible to rotate the body of the Racking Adapter, without the need for lubrication. Racking is accomplished by simply rotating the Adapter so the tip of its intake stem is just above the sediment layer, opening the SimpleFlo valve, and letting gravity go to work - there is no need for siphons or pumps. During filling and fermentation, the stem of the Racking Adapter should be tilted slightly downward (about 3:30 or 8:30) to prevent sediments from settling inside it. The external pointer makes it possible to adjust the position of the stem even if the stem cannot be seen through a dark wine or beer.

The Carboy Racking Adapter is especially popular with winemakers and brewers who ferment on shelves, because carboys can be racked without having to move them to a surface with head room for racking canes. For more detailed information about the use of the Racking Adapter refer to the How-To Tips tab to the left of this page.

Installation - The BetterBottle Carboy Racking Adapter has been designed so it is easy to install and service. Be certain all of the component parts are installed in the correct order. Do not attempt to drill ports in unported BetterBottle carboys, because the special PET from which the carboys are made is very tough and specialized tools are required to make sufficiently smooth holes.


Carboy Racking Adapter
- Sequence of Components -
Note: SimpleFlo Valves are not included as part of Adapters - order them separately.

Installation in 5 & 6 Gallon Carboys - BetterBottle makes a plastic installation tube for installing Carboy Racking Adapters in 5 or 6 gallon BetterBottle carboys (See images below). In a pinch, it is also possible to use a 50 cm (20") length of 1/4" diameter steel (plated or stainless) rod or running thread or a 44 cm (18") length of 3/8" inside diameter (clearance) rigid tubing, both of which can be purchased at most hardware stores.

1. With the Teflon-encapsulated O-ring in place, use a tube or rod to slide the Racking Adapter body into the neck of a carboy. 2. Guide the threaded portion of the Racking Adapter body into the hole in the side of the carboy.
3. Hold the Racking Adapter body in place with the rod or tube and install the three Teflon slip washers, the pointer (if desired), and the locking O-ring in that order. Apply a little water to the threads and install the nut. 4. Finger tighten the nut, using enough force so the Racking Adapter makes a good seal and can be comfortably, but not easily, rotated by hand. A sticky pad (jar opener) can make tightening easier. Observe the position of the pointer with respect to the stem of the Racking Adapter. Assuming the pointer and stem are not aligned, loosen the nut and reposition the pointer, so it will line up with the stem when the nut is re-tightened. Re-tighten the nut. It may be necessary to repeat this last step a number of times in order to achieve adequate pressure on the seals and line up the pointer.
5. Slide out the tube or rod and double check that the Outlet assembly rotates smoothly, but with enough resistance to indicate a good seal. Adjust the tightness of the nut as required.

Installation in 3 Gallon Carboys- A rod or tube is not needed to install a Racking Adapter in a 3 gallon BetterBottle bottle, because the stem of the outlet will contact the bottom of the carboy and prevent the Adapter from rotating continuously in one direction.

  1. Drop the body of the Racking Adapter, with the Teflon-encapsulated O-ring in place, into the bottle and guide the threaded part of the body through the hole in the side of the bottle with a stiff piece of wire or something like a small screwdriver inserted through the hole from outside the bottle.
  2. Once the thread pokes through the hole, pull it all the way into the hole and install the three Teflon slip washers, the pointer (if desired), the locking O-ring, and the nut in that order. Apply a little water to the threads and install the nut.
  3. Finger tighten the nut, using enough force so the Racking Adapter makes a good seal and can be comfortably, but not easily, rotated by hand. A sticky pad (jar opener) can make tightening easier. Observe the position of the pointer with respect to the stem of the Racking Adapter. Assuming the pointer and stem are not aligned, loosen the nut and reposition the pointer, so it will line up with the stem when the nut is re-tightened. Re-tighten the nut. It may be necessary to repeat this last step a number of times in order to achieve adequate pressure on the seals and line up the pointer.

Pail Racking Adapter
Description - BetterBottle Pail Racking Adapters couple SimpleFlo valves to any plastic pail, and the combination makes racking from a pail into a BetterBottle carboy for secondary fermentation clean and simple.

Operation - The Pail Racking Adapter uses a Viton O-ring to make a tight, static seal against the inside wall of a pail. Racking simply requires opening the SimpleFlo valve, and letting gravity go to work - there is no need for siphons or pumps. Usually, the Pail Adapter is installed so that a level pail will drain to just above the expected level of the sediment layer. If some usable liquid remains above the sediment layer, the pail can be tipped slightly in order to recover this liquid. For more detailed information about the use of the Pail Adapter refer to the How-To Tips tab to the left of this page.


Installation - The BetterBottle Pail Racking Adapter has been designed so it is easy to install and service. Be certain all of the component parts are installed in the correct order. Hold the body of the Pail Adapter in place and install the Teflon slip washer and locking O-ring in that order. Apply a little water to the threads and install the nut. Finger tighten the nut, using enough force so the Pail Adapter makes a good seal. A sticky pad (jar opener) can make tightening easier.


Pail Racking Adapter
- Sequence of Components -
Note: SimpleFlo Valves are not included as part of Adatpers, order them separately.

Most pails used for winemaking and brewing are made of HDPE and it is easy to make a 3/4" (2 cm) hole in their sides for a BetterBottle Pail Adapter.

Refer to the figure to the right and decide where to position the hole in the wall of the pail. The depth of liquid (BLUE) left in a pail, when it is level and drained through a Pail Adapter and SimpleFlo valve, will be 1/8" (0.3 cm) below the center of the hole (RED). The center of the hole must be at least 3/4" (2 cm) above the bottom of the pail so the wall can flex and seal with the Pail Adapter O-ring. At this height, the residual liquid will be 5/8" (1.6 cm) deep. The sediment produced by most wine kits started in 30 liter pails is approximately that deep. If the center of the hole in the pail is 1" (2.5 cm) above the bottom of the pail, the residual liquid will be 7/8" (2.2 cm) deep. Because the bottoms of pails vary in thickness and are usually recessed, it is best to make the measurement for the center of the hole from the inside of a pail and press a sharp pointed tool through the wall to locate the center from the outside.

A 3/4" hole saw or an electrician's knock out punch will make a clean hole. Drill slowly with the hole saw.

If you do not have these tools, you can use an inexpensive (~$4.00) spade wood drill bit. Most hardware stores stock the #88812 Irwin Speedbor bit or an equivalent. The bit has a hex shank that will fit nicely into an electric screwdriver. You can use a drill, but the low speed of a screwdriver is ideal for this purpose. The bit has points (See #1 arrows) that are the right length to just cut through the wall of most pails before the broad part of the bit begins to cut. Do not attempt to drill all the way through. Once the points of the bit have cut through the wall, you can press the plug (See #2) out of the hole and leave a clean edge (See #3)



Cleaning / Sanitizing
The special PET from which BetterBottle Carboy and Pail Adapters and SimpleFlo valves are made has a non-porous, hydrophobic surface, making these parts extremely easy to clean and sanitize. In theory, it should not be necessary to remove and disassemble Carboy or Pail Adapters and SimpleFlo valves to wash and sanitize them between batches, provided care is taken to expose all of the internal parts to wash and sanitizing solutions. However, a major advantage of BetterBottle fittings is the ease with which they can be completely disassembled and reassembled, so it makes good sense to spend the few extra minutes it takes to be sure everything is absolutely clean and sanitized. Prior to storage, rinse and dry everything carefully.

BetterBottle Adapters and SimpleFlo valves may be damaged by temperatures exceeding 75° C (167° F). Read the Wash/Sanitize section, under the Technical tab at the top of this page, for important informaton. The PET is very tough and will not scratch easily; however, use caution not to scratch the precision, smooth, sealing surfaces of Carboy and Pail Adapters. Always rinse Adapters thoroughly in clean water before storing them.

Abrasive scouring pads and cleansers should never be required, or used.

Soaking metal parts in cleaning or sanitizing solutions can cause corrosion - they should be removed.

Service - The adapters and SimpleFlo valves are very rugged, but dropping them on a hard surface may cause them to chip or crack, so take reasonable precautions. Should it be necessary to remove the O-ring from the groove in an Carboy Adapter body, do not use sharp tools that might cut the Teflon encapsulation of the O-ring. Press a thumb nail down between the rim of the groove and working your way around the groove, push the O-ring up and out of the groove. In general, when removing O-rings take great care not to scratch the walls or base of the O-ring grooves. Plain O-rings can usually be removed rather easily by holding the fitting in one hand with your thumb nail across the O-ring to keep it from moving in the groove, while you push a wave of the O-ring toward your nail to make a bulge that you can roll out of the groove. Use only BetterBottle O-rings and washers for replacement; they are made of special materials that cannot be easily obtained through hardware suppliers and other materials may not function correctly.

If a SimpleFlo valve leaks at point #2, refer to the SimpleFlo valve tab to the left of this page for service suggestions.


If a SimpleFlo valve and Adapter assembly leaks at point #1, there are a number of possible causes: 1) The large O-ring on the SimpleFlo valve has been damaged or its groove is scratched or dirty (see the SimpleFlo valve tab to the left of this page for pertinent service suggestions), 2) The bore of the Adapter is scratched where it seals with the large O-ring on the SimpleFlo valve, or 3) The Racking Adapter is not sealing against the inner wall of the carboy or pail and liquid is creeping along the thread of the Racking Adapter to the first point where it can escape, which is at point #1.

The large O-ring on a SimpleFlo valve only penetrates about 1 cm (0.4") into the bore of a Racking Adapter, so it is easy to inspect the bore for scratches visually with good lighting. For confirmation that the valve seals of a SimpleFlo valve / Carboy Racking Adapter assembly are in good condition, use a hose to connect the stem of the Adapter to a faucet and apply water pressure. A pressure of between 1 and 2 bar (15 and 30 PSI) is recommended. Higher pressures may cause the valve to pop out of the Racking Adapter. Open the SimpleFlo valve to let the connecting hose fill with water and then close the valve, dry off the parts, and check for leaks.

If the Racking Adapter is not sealing against the inner wall of the carboy or pail, remove the Adapter and inspect the sealing O-ring and its groove for nicks, scratches or debris. Also, inspect the port in the carboy or pail. Is the hole round and is it a close fit for the thread of the Adapter? Is the inner edge of the hole smooth and free of burrs that might prevent a good seal? In the event that there is no apparent cause for the leak at point #1, carefully clean the inner surface of the carboy or pail around the hole, rinse off the sealing O-ring and its groove, and reinstall the Adapter (see above), making sure that the nut is sufficiently tight.

Part Numbers
Carboy Racking Adapter (SimpleFlo Valve not included, order separately) - BB-ADAPT(RK)
  • Tool for installing Racking Adapter in 5 & 6 gallon BetterBottle carboys - BB-ADAPT(RK)-IT
  • Replacement locking O-ring, Teflon slip washers, and pointer for Racking Adapter - BB-ADAPT(RK)-SERV(A)
  • Replacement Teflon encapsulated O-ring for Racking Adapter - BB-ADAPT(RK)-SERV(B)
    Pail Racking Adapter (SimpleFlo Valve not included, order separately) - BB-ADAPT(PL)
  • Replacement set of O-rings, and Teflon slip washer for Pail Racking Adapter - BB-ADAPT(PL)-SERV

  • Packaging
    BB-ADAPT(RK) -
    Individually packed in a hang-hole, zipper bag
    Bags of 20 individual packages - 2.19 lbs (0.99 Kg)
    BB-ADAPT(RK)-IT -
    Individual parts are not packaged
    Boxes of 88 parts - 18" X 6" X 4" (45.7 cm X 15.2 cm X 10.1cm) 11.5 lbs (5.22 Kg)
    BB-ADAPT(PL) -
    Individually packed in a hang-hole, zipper bag
    Bags of 20 individual packages - 1.03 lbs (0.47 Kg)