Well, the anniversary party is 3 1/2 weeks away and I'm on the hook to bring and serve up three kegs of beer (Cream Ale, Irish Red Ale and maybe my sterling Gold).
A while back I posted this concept...wanting something better than just the usual picnic taps and cornies in an ice bucket.
Well I have time to decide on exactly the model of garbage can I use but primary to the project was putting together a good CO2 dispensing system. Rather than dismantle one of my two CO2 systems at home I figured that the Kobalt Portable CO2 system would work well, and owning a pneumatic stapler and brad nailer, I could put it to good (normal) use around the house anyway.
Anyway, here's Phase I of the Rolling Kegerator system:
The basic kit comes with one empty 9Oz bottle inside the package, and then they give one 9Oz full bottle included in the price ($84.00)
I went ahead and purchased a one pound bottle as well, knowing I'd use it one way or another.
I also picked up some fittings for the hose connection:
Picked up a barb fitting and an additional male quick connect.
I'm not worried about different serving PSI so I just installed a splitter for three gas lines. I also installed a check valve in the main line. Note the black electrical tape around the ends. I didn't like the tightness of the fit I got when I clamped down the otikers, so I built up the thickness of the hose with about 8" of tape. The clamps have a nice solid bite now.
Here, everything is ready to hook up. Notice the thread tape on the splitter. I actually decided against this, thinking that I would lose the "bite" of those barbs and didn't want to risk a disconnect.
Here are the lines completely assembled. I gave everything a good underwater test once I hooked up the gas:
Now it's time to test dispensing. I hooked up to a room temperature, flat keg (one of six) that is conditioning in the brew shop.
Notice the PSI reading is zero. I actually know that these regulators don't read real accurate at low PSI's, so I just dialed up the gas until I heard it flowing and held it there....but the gauge did not register.
Regardless of a non-reading on the gauge, you can see it's a nice smooth pour from a flat keg.
I decided to move the rig over to the kegerator and try serving off of a chilled, carb'd keg. Again....a perfect pour. (My next project is to swap out these 4' lines for 8' )
I use oetiker clamps, they are really nice, but I don't know what the black stuff is, maybe he had clamps that were too large so put another piece of thin hose over the connections before clamping?
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Primary: Nothin Secondary: Shady Lord RIS, Water to Barleywine, Pumpkin wine, burnt mead Kegged: Crappy infected mild Bottles: Apfelwein, 999 Barleywine, Oatmeal Stout, Robust Porter, Robust smoked porter, Simcoe Smash
I was wondering what the black stuff was also. I usually get hose that's just one size too small for the barb so it's really tough to get on and off and then clamp it if it's permanent.
BierMunchers Rolling Kegerator (BYO Published)
but primary to the project was putting together a good CO2 dispensing system. Rather than dismantle one of my two CO2 systems at home I figured that the Kobalt Portable CO2 system would work well, and owning a pneumatic stapler and brad nailer, I could put it to good (normal) use around the house anyway.
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