Electric shower pipe connection

neilmcl

Can I use a speedfit tap connector on the plastic inlet of an electric shower rather than using a traditional compression fitting?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/jg-speedfit-plastic-push-fit-straight-tap-connectors-15mm-x-2-pack/29175

grumbler

Not sure about the push-fit side of this connector, but what are you going to do with the threaded side?

nofoollikeold

1. Check the fitting instructions for your particular shower, but generally no you can't, they nearly always specify compression fitting.
2. If you are talking about the plain (unthreaded) white plastic spigot, 15 mm in diameter, which most electric showers have, then the fitting you refer to is the wrong sort anyway.  The fitting is designed to screw onto a tap with a 1/2" BSP male thread.  

Another_Level

neilmcl said:

Can I use a speedfit tap connector on the plastic inlet of an electric shower rather than using a traditional compression fitting?

Generally no but as mentioned by nofoollikold, specific information advice is in the shower makers installation instructions.

Which electric shower do you have ? 

neilmcl

Thanks for confirming. I kind of thought the threaded side would connect to the male thread of the existing compression fitting on the copper pipe, clearly not the case. I'll stick with using the compression fitting.

Jeepers_Creepers

What make of shower is it, Neil? And can you show a pic of what you are trying to connect to?

If the question is - 'can I use a plastic push-fit instead of a brass fitting on the inlet?', the answer is 'yes - if it fits...'  

'Speedfit' connectors are just as secure as brass compression fittings when used on plastic and copper - the only obvious exception is on Stainless Steel pipe where they won't 'bite' into the hard surface enough.

travis-powers

Jeepers_Creepers said:

What make of shower is it, Neil? And can you show a pic of what you are trying to connect to?

If the question is - 'can I use a plastic push-fit instead of a brass fitting on the inlet?', the answer is 'yes - if it fits...'  

'Speedfit' connectors are just as secure as brass compression fittings when used on plastic and copper - the only obvious exception is on Stainless Steel pipe where they won't 'bite' into the hard surface enough.

I have 10mm heating pipes and have been replacing the visible tails with chrome plated copper using 10mm to 15mm push fit elbows will they be ok?

neilmcl

Jeepers_Creepers said:

What make of shower is it, Neil? And can you show a pic of what you are trying to connect to?

If the question is - 'can I use a plastic push-fit instead of a brass fitting on the inlet?', the answer is 'yes - if it fits...'  

'Speedfit' connectors are just as secure as brass compression fittings when used on plastic and copper - the only obvious exception is on Stainless Steel pipe where they won't 'bite' into the hard surface enough.

It's a Triton shower with a plastic inlet. The current connection is a compression fitting so I had this zany idea of using that speedfit connector to screw onto the compression fitting thread and push-fit onto the plastic inlet of the shower.

Jeepers_Creepers

I'm confused.

The current connector is a what? Compression fitting designed to take a 15mm pipe directly? If so, why don't you shove the 15mm pipe - copper or plastic - straight in there? What benefit would there be in first going 'push-fit'?

(I'm obviously missing something )

Jeepers_Creepers

Or is the existing connection on the shower a 15mm rigid plastic 'pipe'? In which case a Speedfit will push straight on.

neilmcl

Jeepers_Creepers said:

I'm confused.

The current connector is a what? Compression fitting designed to take a 15mm pipe directly? If so, why don't you shove the 15mm pipe - copper or plastic - straight in there? What benefit would there be in first going 'push-fit'?

(I'm obviously missing something )

Because I didn't fancy messing around with olives and potentially overtightening and getting leaks plus I'd have to mess about removing the olive from the old shower to reuse the nut.