Incorrectly sized hydraulic hose can severely impact the function and efficiency of your hydraulic system. At the very worst, using the wrong hose size can cause irreparable damage to parts of your hydraulic system.
Therefore, before you purchase a replacement hose, read through this article to help you understand how to measure hydraulic hoses to ensure proper performance and avoid any problems in the future.
Understanding Hydraulic Hose Size
There are 4 main elements to consider when it comes to sizing hydraulic hoses. These are:
- The dash size. This element of sizing a hydraulic hose takes into account the system pressure requirements such as flow rate, flow velocity, pressure drop and pressure rating combined with the hydraulic hose id.
- The inner diameter of the hose, also known as hydraulic hose id and nominal diameter or ND.
- The outer diameter of the hose. This includes every bit of the hose assembly, including the entire cross-section, the tube, and the reinforcement, such as the wire braids and the cover.
- The hose length is usually measured in one of two ways: the cut length or the overall length. The overall length is the most useful. The hose length should be long enough but not excessive to avoid pressure loss. To identify hose length, you can simply use a tape measure.
Step-by-Step Guide: How To Measure Hydraulic Hose Size
To avoid mistakes in the measuring of hydraulic hose size we always recommend getting a qualified and experienced hydraulic engineer to correctly measure hydraulic hose.
1. Gathering necessary tools and equipment
You will need a tape measure, vernier callipers, a dash size chart from your hose manufacturer, a hose sizing chart, and all the information about your system to calculate system pressure requirements.
2. Measuring the Outside Diameter (OD) of the Hose
Use your vernier callipers to measure the outside of the hose diameter, including all parts of the hose assembly, such as reinforced rubber and wire braids.
3. Determining the Inside Diameter (ID) of the Hose
Use your vernier callipers to measure the inside diameter. This is the most important measurement to get right; oversized or undersized inner diameters of hydraulic hoses can cause pressure losses, spikes in system pressure, excessive heat, and ultimately dangerous working conditions, as well as the potential for damage to the system.
4. Understanding the Dash Size System and Converting Measurements
The dash size system is simply a way of measuring the diameter of a hydraulic hose relative to a sixteenth of an inch. You can use a dash-size calculator to work this out.
Tips for Ensuring Accuracy
Always consult a professional hydraulic engineer if you are unsure about your ability to measure your hydraulic hose accurately.
Make sure you measure more than once to allow for mistakes.
Consult the manufacturer’s handbook to ensure the hosing is suitable for the system’s maximum flow rate and desired flow rate as well as the working pressure.
Conclusion
When purchasing a new hose for a hydraulic system, it is essential to get the sizing right as well as get the proper hose for the job with regards to the wall thickness and the hydraulic system’s pressure and velocity; otherwise, it can affect performance or even damage the hydraulic system. Always seek the advice and support of qualified and professional hose installers.