Skrimpy

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The local HBS is running a deal on kegging systems right now and SWMBO has offered to purchase it for me for my birthday...but I can't have it until my birthday
I told her to wait until I learn a little more but time is of the essence as the deal will end soon. The system they are showing in the add has everything needed to serve one beer from one keg through one picnic tap. I told her that I need to find out about expansion. So my question is this...
If I buy this system would it have been a waste of money when I want to start adding 2-4 more kegs to the system? Do I need multiple regulators? Extra connections? Extra CO2 canisters? Or is there a regulator/system to dispense 4-5 beers to 4-5 different taps that I should invest in for the future expansion rather than this deal?

Rick_R

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Okay, I'm talking out of research and not actual practice as I've not moved to kegging yet.

That said, no it isn't a waste of money and, yes, you can expand from it. One question to ask is what style of keg it is, Sanke or Cornelius, though it is far more likely to be Cornelius. This determines the connection type used, and I'd imagine it's easier to stay consistent on the connection.

To expand to multiple kegs you will need to add a manifold which allows you to split the gas out line into multiple lines (you can use a tee connector if just adding one).

You don't need multiple regulators unless you are going to serve at multiple pressures; having at least one extra regulator is s handy, from what I've read, as you can use it for things like putting a higher pressure on a keg to get it carbonated faster. But it's by no means necessary.

Other handy things to include are individual on/off valves for each line and check-valves to keep the beer from flowing backwards into the gas lines, and perhaps a bigger CO2 tank than will come with the kit.

I'm sure others more knowledgeable and with practical experience can add to, refine, or even correct the above, but to sum it up you shouldn't be wasting anything if you purchase the kit.

Rick

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Blender

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You can buy a manifold which will distribute the gas to multiple kegs at the same pressure from one tank. You can also buy a splitter that comes off the single regulator to charge 2 tanks.

Additionally you can get a dual regulator which will pressure 2 kegs at different volumes independent of each other. I have a dual because it seems that I always have one carbing at a higher pressure while serving through the other. I only have a 2 keg system.

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Gary

Skrimpy

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Thank you very much! Very helpful. When I finally get the kegerator built I will post pics. Which leads me to my next question. I like the idea of using a chest freezer to be able to get 4-5 kegs in at once, but aren't they built to stay below 32 F? If so what needs to be done to them to keep them at a reasonable temp? Or is there such a thing as a chest refridgerator?

david_42

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Any freezer can be used with a temperature controller. Ranco & Johnson are two people like. I've got a Ranco on my kezzer and one for the fermentation cabinet.

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ajf

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Does she have a sister?

-a.

Bobby_M

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If you're interested in a chest freezer kegger, watch all three videos on the topic in the youtube link in my sig.

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Skrimpy

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Yup. Two.

Skrimpy

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I will be sure to watch them. Love the keggle conversion vid. It's not only informative but it's also very funny (dude you are so nuckin futs it's hysterical). G-Love and special sauce, cold beverages. Great tune. How much do these controlers go for, and are they easy to set up? I'm not all that mechanically inclined and don't need to go tacking 2-3 hundred bucks on top of a 2-3 hundred dollar chest freezer (gonna go as big as possible from craigslist, why?, cause I want to have at least 5 beers on tap )