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Tag Archive: Schroeder

Parker 50P filter will be discontinued soon

Just got a feedback from one of my Parker suppliers about 50P series filters: this series will be discontinued soon. I used them in a lot of my projects in the past and still continue to use them now. The supplier informed me about the next:

  • These filters are a pretty old design, from middle 1960’s and this is why this is a time to stop using these filters.
  • The suggested replacement for new projects (by pressure and flow rate) is WPF series
  • The price for 50P filters will be increased soon to stimulate customers to start to use WPF.
  • No more expedite option even with the price increasing for 50P filters.

The main problem with WPF filters is a design: Base-ported (50P) vs head-up (WPF):

Parker 50P vs WPF filters

In some applications where I use 50P filters now, will not be so easy to replace filters with new WPF series. There are a lot of factors like access to replace filter element in the current place, different mounting brackets will be required, extra hours for our mechanical engineers to design these brackets and etc.

Moreover, in the applications, we have already done for the years this replacement will not be possible at all.

This is why the best way if 100% replacement can be found.

Take a look at filter Schroeder KC50:

Schroeder KC50

  • Mounting dimensions are 100% the same (5″ x 4.5″):
    Parker 50P vs Schroeder KC50
  • Schroeder KC50 is approx. 2.5″ higher
  • The same rated pressure 3500 psi (240 bar)
  • The same flow rating: up to 100 GPM
  • BONUS: Filter elements are interchangeable!
    You can check Parker’s filter elements for 50P series here and you will be surprised: they matched Schroeder’s KC50 series!

So, if you take a look closer on Parker 50P and Schroeder KC50 you can find these products are 99% identical and we can use Parker’s filter elements in Schroeder filters and opposite.

Really, these filters are suspiciously similar! Therefore I made a request to Schroeder about KC50 filters and got a confirmation they were designed to be interchangeable. The only thing they noticed to be aware is the 50P had an option where they have a reverse flow check option for hydrostats in the housing and the Schroeder version of that filter assy is a KFH50. Also, for 3000 psi pressure (210 bar) you can save a little bit money and use identical filter KF30 series (with the same flow rate).