Schedule 80 vs. Schedule 40?

[Doubledown]

I have reached my wits end trying to find the right fittings at HD or Menards and was going to order new parts from Savko. I have one true-union ball valve that is the grey color and really like the look. I want all my plumbing to match and be that color if possible.

What is the difference between schedule 80 and schedule 40 PVC? Is the outside diameter the same on both pipes and just the inside smaller on the 40? Should I have to, are the fittings for each interchangeable (can I screw a sch 40 male fitting onto a female sch 80?)

Are there disadvantages (other than cost and local availablity) to using shedule 80 for returns and drain lines?

Thanks
Chris

[RobTop]

Parts are interchangeable. I bought a 83lbs box of fittings off e-bay for $25(dude spent $50 to ship it, not sure what he was thinking) and have used them mixed in with schedule 40. The differance is 80 is a thicker pipi, the inside is smaller on 80. I wouldn't use them personally. I have due to the deal I got, which I mainly bought due to all the unions and valves in the box. All the caculaters we use to determin flow are based of of sch40. 80 with have reduced flow, increase expense as well. Silly as it may be, if the color of pipe is what matters why not paint it. There is that new fusion spary paint that bonds very well to plastic.

[mhurley]

Chris,

You don't need Schedule 80...that's serious heavy duty pressure rated stuff. Our pumps could never burst Schedule 40, let alone 80. Waste of money for our purposes. The only difference is inside wall thickness, all the fittings of 40's will fit 80 stuff.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pv...res-d_796.html

[Doubledown]

Thanks guys -

So the 80 is narrower inside and thus more restrictive to flow rates - that's out.

80 is more expensive and still suffers from the above issue - still out.

Plumbing is in the stand anyway - I'll get over the multiple colors.


Savko does have black schedule 40 PVC and fittings....hmmmm - next tank, maybe.

[AuroraDave]

I agree with the above, although I use schedule 80 bulkheads in many cases. There's a big difference in the quality. However, they typically need a larger hole than a sched 40 BH.

I use the Savko true union ball valves (GF) where ever I need a union and valve. They are a little more than a union & 1 valve separtely; but they take up less space (which can be a lifesaver) and the ball valves are much higher quality than those @ HD/menards, etc. Especially opening & closing.

The I.D. is the same for 40 & 80, so they all interconnect. Sched 80 is thicker & therefore the OD is larger than 40. Unneccessary for most of our plumbing needs.

[Vamp1975]

As everyone stated, Sch80 is for pressure rated applications which far excedes anything we will ever need. However if your going to have your plumbing out in the open, it look a lot neater.

The black pvc from savko is great however the black die bleeds out into everything.

[Papajin]

I'm in agreement with AD. The only thing I use Sch80 on is the bulkheads because I don't like those cheap thin-plastic black ones for any critical areas. The only other time I use 80 is when I can't get the same thing in 40. For instance I needed an elbow that was female threaded on both sides, and it was hard to find that in 40, but it was readily available in 80. Or since they're generally dark gray in color if there's a color preference.

So the short answer is there's nothing wrong with 80, in fact it's rated for higher pressures. You'll just tend to pay more for it.

[lovereefs1]

We ran the drain/return on our 75 & 90 in black 1-1/2" ABS. It costs a little more but looks clean and neat when finished. Menards stocks the fittings and pipe.

[CoralolisEffect]

Schedule 80 let's less light though the pipe, so you are less likely to have stuff growing in your pipes.
Look the through both pipes in some light and you'll see why you want schedule 80. The schedule 40 let's light in, the schedule 80 doesn't which means less things growing in your pipes.

[Reg the reefer]

Schedule 80 has a smaller internal diameter than schedule 40. Woundn't that restrict water flow?

[dendronepthya]

Schedule 80 is grey. Schedule 40 is white. I'm willing to bet that makes up 90% of the decision-making process between the two types as far as this hobby is concerned.