Everything You Need to Know: The Benefits of Using BS341 No. 3 & 4 Extended Nut Cylinder Connectors
What is an Extended Nut Cylinder Connector?
An extended nut cylinder connector is a fitting that conforms to BS341 standards, just like regular BS341 cylinder connectors. The key difference is the presence of an extended nut – and in some cases, an extended stem too, depending on the nut size.
Standard Nut – 10mm
Medium Nut – 35mm
Long Nut – 50mm
Why Choose an Extended Nut Connector Over a Short Nut Connector?
There are two primary reasons why extended nut connectors are often preferable:
- Improved Grip and Reduced Damage
Shorter nuts can make it difficult to get a secure grip on the connector. This often results in rounded edges on the hexagon nut, particularly when:
- Cylinders are frequently changed.
- Incorrect spanner sizes or adjustable spanners are used.
- The connector has been overtightened.
Extended nut connectors allow technicians to apply force more effectively. This will assist in making a leak-proof seal and minimise the risk of the spanner slipping which rounds the corners of the hexagonal nut and can cause injury to the technician.
- Easier Access in Confined Spaces
Many cylinders have protective guards around the valve. While these guards offer safety, they can obstruct the installation of short nut connectors. Technicians often find their spanners colliding with the cylinder guard, regulator gauge, or flexible hose.
With an extended nut connector, the additional length provides more space for manoeuvring the spanner. This reduces the chance of accidental damage to the cylinder guard or attached equipment.
Damaged nut caused by spanner slips
Though both fittings are functional, these images highlight how the extended nut offers significantly improved access—making it easier to position the spanner squarely on the connector without clashing with the cylinder guard. This allows the technician better grip, easier handling, and a more secure seal with reduced risk of slips, damage, or hand injury.
What Our Customers Say
“Connecting cylinder hoses and pressure regulators to gas cylinders can often be quite awkward due to the protective collar around the cylinder valve. On our customers’ sites, this is often reflected in the condition of the standard BS3/BS4 nut, as the spanner used to tighten the nut can often be at an awkward angle, thus full-face contact isn’t achieved. This often results in the spanner slipping off the nut and causing damage to it, such as rounding off. In our opinion, a simple way around this problem is the extended nut. It gives a greater surface area for the spanner to contact while making access to the cylinder nut a whole lot easier.
Another plus is from a Health and safety perspective. It isn’t unknown for operatives to injure their hands when a spanner slips off a cylinder nut!”
Steve Bastable, Specialist Gas Engineering Services
Where Can You Buy BS341 No. 3 & 4 Extended Nut Cylinder Connectors?
At GES Gas Equipment Services Ltd, we offer a range of nut lengths for both stainless steel and brass BS341 No. 3 and No. 4 connectors. This allows our customers to select the length of nut that best suits their specific needs.
Here’s a quick overview of our options:
- Standard Short Nut
- Stem Length: 100mm
- Hexagon Nut Length: 10mm
- Premium Medium Nut
- Stem Length: 100mm / 130mm
- Hexagon Nut Length: 35mm
- Premium Long Nut
- Stem Length: 130mm
- Hexagon Nut Length: 50mm
All our cylinder connectors conform to BS341 standards and are sourced from trusted UK manufacturers.
Get Yours Today!
Many customers are unaware of the significant advantages offered by extended nut connectors. Explore the range and find the perfect fit for your needs.
Visit our website to purchase or learn more:
www.gasequipmentservices.co.uk
GES Gas Equipment Services Ltd – Providing Reliable Gas Solutions You Can Trust.
Contact us for expert advice and quality equipment today!
