How do you guys keep the silica beads in your filter from absorbing moisture when not in use?

[OatmealMu]

I recently received (a surprising amount of) desiccant and silica beads from Wiseorb. To help me know when to change the dessicant, I wanted to add silica beads to it. So, I emptied the old dessicant from the Tuxing filter, put in the salted stuff and sealed the filter with those black rubber caps. I had some extra dessicant/silica left, so, out of curiosity I left a bowl of the stuff out in the living room. To my surprise, the silica started changing color within hours. The next day, all of the silica beads had turned pink. This begs the question: what's the proper way of sealing up the Tuxing filter when not in use? Are rubber caps enough?

 

[Squirrelmageddon]

The rubber caps have been working for me on the male fittings. The steel plugs for the female quick disconnect works perfectly.

 

[JimD]

I have a one way valve on the output of my extra filter filled with color change dessicant. It came with an extra cartridge so I filled it up and put it in a zip lock bag. The extra cartridge changed color quickly (weeks) but not the cartridge protected by the valve. The other end of that line is at the vent of the YH which I leave open. But still the dessicant stays good for months. I guess there is nearly zero flow past the vent, down the line, through the YH filter and into the dessicant.

 

[AlanMcD]

I have a one way valve on the output of my extra filter filled with color change dessicant. It came with an extra cartridge so I filled it up and put it in a zip lock bag. The extra cartridge changed color quickly (weeks) but not the cartridge protected by the valve. The other end of that line is at the vent of the YH which I leave open. But still the dessicant stays good for months. I guess there is nearly zero flow past the vent, down the line, through the YH filter and into the dessicant.

You don't need flow for moisture to move down the line - it will do so via simple osmosis. This can be made worse by the likely presence of liquid water in the line at or near the compressor evaporating and then the vapor moves down the line into the desiccant.

While you are getting a satisfactory service life from your filters, it will probably be extended further if you seperate it from the compressor and cap it with a good seal after use (maybe a deadhead?).

Just a suggestion . . .