"Sticky" Manometer fluid problems

[stef-1]

Hi All,

Although I have had my bench up and running for a few years now I have always had a few problems with the manometer fluid "sticking" in the tubes and leaving blobs which don't help accuracy when testing.
I have been using variations of distilled water, different types of soap and Fluorescein dye. All seem to leave blobs in the tube.
I wonder perhaps if this is a common problem, if it's to do with the tube material (ordinary aquarium tube) or if I should change to a proper manometer fluid??

Anyone else have similar experiences and have you solved it? If so please post and share

[jfholm]

Hi! Long time no hear here is what I would try. Buy some of that "Jet Dry" or what ever the certain brand name is for the stuff you add to your dish washer to keep it from spotting the dishes. It cause the water to sheet off and not leave spots. Add a little to your manometer fluid mix.

I guess you could treat the inside of all your tubing with RainX

John

[stef-1]

Good idea, I will give that ago. Thanks

[Tony]

If all else fails, a larger bore manometer tube should make a big difference.

[jfholm]

If all else fails, a larger bore manometer tube should make a big difference.

Tony,
that is actually what I am going to do on my build. I will use .250" i.d. tubing. I will also use a digital Manometer. I like being redundant just ask my wife


I was just thinking and wondering if static could cause the water to stick. You may just want to try rubbing some anti-static fabric softner sheets along your tubing and see if that helps. If all else fails then you could at least wash the dishes and do your laundry.

John

[Tony]

Not with water, water is conductive.

But I suppose manometer oil could stick to things with static electricity.
I really do not know.