Features:

  • Estimated rate of flow up to 1.5 gpm at 60 psi
  • PVC for corrosion resistance
  • Tank mount with extended threads on inlet side of valve for mounting through tank wall
  • Note: MA052 has a 1/2 NPT pipe thread. This is extremely common in the plumbing world. The thread measures about 3/4 of an inch in diameter, this is a common mistake to those who are unfamiliar with pipe threads and plumbing
  • 1/2" NPT male threaded inlet and free-flow outlet
Simple to use and works as expected

Using this float as a backup system for my hydroponics auto-filler. If the electronic valve fails open, then the float valve will cut off the flow before my reservoir overflows and causes a flood. It was easy to install and comes with a nice rubber gasket and plastic mounting "nut" which tightens around the 1/2" MPT inlet. You can adjust the height of the water using the wingnut on the armature. Be careful, though; it's kind of of tight and the whole thing is made of plastic. So don't break it. The mechanism is remarkably simple: a small rubber plug is pushed against a hole when the armature is lifted to a certain point, stopping the water flow.

Reliable and cheap.

My supply pipe coming out of the pool, flush on the wall tiles is 1/2". So I buy a 1/2" barb fitting male NPT, 70 cents lowe's. Soften the barb fitting on a trial scrap 1/2" pipe to reduce the barb diameter, or you can sand the barb with drill chuck to the id of barb fitting, around .010 bigger over the 1/2" pipe ID. (Do Not Drill the pool pipe ID to make it bigger, you need a smooth weld when you apply a primer and glue on pipe for water pressure application integrity, wait about 2 hrs. Connect a 1/2" elbow then the kerick valve, so the whole unit is parallel to the wall of the pool for less obstruction. I have it installed for about a 2 weeks now, set about halfway or middle of the mouth of the skimmer, with stable height the whole two weeks. Usually my pool go down 1/2" every 2 days, then I fill it up, about 30-45 minutes with timer, until the middle of mouth of skimmer. The water ball valve on the faucet is set on the low opening to avoid overfill just in case this kerrick valve malfunction. The thread on this is not a standard 1/2" NPT, but that 2 turn is enough, with the help of a provided nut, no leak, so no problem for me.

look no further for auto pool filling!

auto pool fillers are expensive and most of them are unreliable. a quick glue job with a few PVC elbows and a hose connection from home depot and you have an automatic pool for under $15! this is a must for auto filling pool instead of doing it yourself with the hose, sometimes letting the pool get too low for the skimmer and then forgetting the hose is running overnight and overfilling the pool! modern convenience for sure but a must!

Great little project valve.

Great little valve for your projects. I have used several of these for automatic chicken water trough fillers. They work great. What I like most is the hinge for the float is not "indexed" like some others. You are not locked into a preset setting for the float level. It is infinity adjustable. The only drawback that you might find is the flow rate. The orifice on the inlet is rather small so the flow rate is somewhat slow depending on the pressure behind it.

Automatic Pool Filler

This has got to be the best purchase I have ever made for my pool. I used to worry all the time about the water level going below the skimmers and potentially damaging my pump. Additionally, it would take a few hours to fill the pool up to a good level so I would have to wait around and hope I didn't forget to turn off the water before going to sleep. This float valve has eliminated all of that. With a quick trip to home depot to get some PVC fittings, I was able to hook it up to a garden hose to create an automatic pool filler that is set it and forget it. I was worried that my large pool (36,000 gallons) might be too much for the valve to keep up with in the middle of summer, but it works perfectly. This would be my first recommendation for anyone with a pool.

Works perfectly

This worked so good that I bought a second one! I got this valve to use in a self filling self watering container I made to grow vegetables in on my patio. I have had such bad luck with vegetable gardening in the past that I wanted to take the human watering element out of the equation and build my own self watering container garden (akin to a commercial earthbox). I wanted to also make it self filling so that I didn't have to worry about adding water and having an overflow hole, so I put in this valve, added a hose bib adapter and connected it to a faucet timer (just in case I had some blow out, I didn't want to just leave it turned on all the time). Now the timer comes on once a day and the valve fills the reservoir until the float shuts it off to keep the water level topped off. I planted two tomato plants and they are going crazy with more tomatoes than I have ever had from my previous in ground gardening. I have the container for the second valve, but haven't installed it yet. Hopefully I can finish it up to have even more vegetables this winter.

Excellent value

This thing is much smaller than I had pictured in my mind. The whole assembly is barely longer than my open hand, so it can fit into tight spaces for a fountain project, or in a sump to maintain water level in a swimming pool. The description here at Amazon.com is nonsense, giving its length as 1 inch: The actual overall length is about 7.5 inches, or 6.5 inches from the mounting flange to the tip of the float, worst case. (See the second vendor-supplied image with the valve photographed against an inch grid for a better understanding of its actual size.) With allowance for installation and adjustment, the valve could be squeezed into a space as small as 8 inches by 2 inches. If installed in a bulkhead, the mounting surface should be flat and no thicker than about 0.25 inch, to allow enough thread protrusion on the outside to attach a threaded pipe fitting. Bulkhead mounting is optional: The male pipe thread on the valve is slightly tapered and can be screwed into any female pipe thread fitting, using Teflon tape on the threads for a watertight seal I gauged the valve orifice with a drill rod at 0.094 inch (3/32 inch) diameter, which accounts for the low flow rate specification. You may not want to fill a swimming pool with it from scratch, but for a typical backyard pool it will allow more than enough water to flow to compensate for evaporation loss. The float arm pivots on a stainless steel cotter pin, so it could easily be disassembled, should the need arise, although at the low cost of the assembly it may be more economical to replace it entirely. Depending on the placement of the valve, the float can be adjusted over a liquid level range of at least 4 inches, possibly as much as 6 inches, by loosening the stainless steel wing nut. One of these valves was successfully used to maintain the water level in a neighbor's swimming pool last summer during a month-long absence. See the customer photo that I posted, showing the minimalist installation with a few pieces of PVC plastic plumbing, an ordinary brick and a garden hose. The only problem I encountered was the hose of the automatic pool sweep once getting hung up on the valve, keeping it open continuously. Because of the restricted flow, no flooding occurred by the time I discovered the problem the next day. If I use it next summer again, I'll mount the valve with some sort of bumper or "fence" around it to keep the pool sweep hose clear, and I'll replace the leaky plastic hose fitting with a sturdier brass fitting.

Works great!

I used this to make an automatic water dish for the dogs. It is easy to set the level and has positive water shut off when the float gets to the pre-determined level you set. Now the dogs never run out of water and its always fresh. I purchased two so I would have a spare, haven't needed it yet. Get a low profile plastic container 4-5 inches tall, cut proper size hole on side near top, install float valve and hook up to hose, presto unlimited water supply for animals! Some auto-watering dishes are $25 or more.

Looks like it's going to do just what I need.

Using this for an auto-fill for my waterfall. Used a standard 5 gallon bucket for the housing. I did decide to put a pressure regulator on the upstream side just to make sure it does not see too much pressure. I just bought a standard drip-line (1/2 inch) pressure regulator. You can see the completed unit in the picture I've attached. Made my own pump vault too (bucket next to it). Tested it all and it works like a champ. I bought 2 just in case this one fails at some point in the future.

Perfect for RGGS water level control

This valve works flawlessly and is adjusts easily to desired water level. I am using it on my Rain Gutter Grow Sysem.

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