Secondary regulator

elmetal · 09-15-2009, 12:25 AM

So I have a regular primary regulator connected to one of those 2 port distributors with valves.

I'm thinking a 3 gauge secondary regulator to take car of my 4 kegs

question is, if my primary is at say 14 psi, can the secondaries pull 12 or no?

Rick500 · 09-15-2009, 12:40 AM

If you're going to have a primary/secondary arrangement (I have one myself), you need to have as many secondary regulator bodies as you want different pressures. I have 4 kegs that I wanted to be able to keep at different pressures, so I have 4 secondaries. The output of the primary just feeds the secondaries. You can keep your primary at 20 or 30 pounds and keep your secondaries at anything less than that.

If you want to keep your manifold and then attach 3 secondaries to one of its outputs, yes, that should work as long as your 3 secondaries are set for less pressure than your primary, and you'll still be able to use the other output of your manifold directly off the primary's pressure.

elmetal · 09-15-2009, 01:04 AM

ok. the reason being that 3 is cheaper obviously and I already have it split for 2 coming off 1 reg. that way I can always keep my hefe heavily carbed.

so as long as the secondaries are equal or lower it should theoretically work yeah?

Rick500 · 09-15-2009, 01:10 AM

Yep, should be fine. You'll want to at the very least have one check valve on the output of the primary, if not a check valve on all 4 outputs, to prevent the possibility of beer getting into your regulator. A check valve on each output will keep your beer out of your other beer.

I highly recommend kegconnection.com . Call Ben and tell him what you want to accomplish and he'll get you set up for a good price.

elmetal · 09-15-2009, 01:21 AM

he's actually where I got my co2, lines reg and everything! haha

what in the world is a check valve?

**Brooklyn-Brewtality** · 09-15-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmetal

he's actually where I got my co2, lines reg and everything! haha

what in the world is a check valve?

it is a small valve that would keep any beer from getting pushed up into the regulator by accident. it happens, and can ruin a regulator in a hurry.

Rick500 · 09-15-2009, 01:34 AM

Yeah, a check valve is just a one-way valve. If you don't have any of them, if for any reason beer gets into your gas line, it can get into your regulator. Then you're looking at buying a new one. No fun.

elmetal · 09-15-2009, 01:42 AM

2 Port CO2 air manifold with 1/4" barb fittings, shutoff valves and check valves: www.kegkits.com

I have one of these in my single reg right now so I'm safe atm.
when I buy the three secondary one I gotta get some check valves.

now I see the checkvalves and they are all like 1/4 threaded to like nipple or the threaded stuff (I use all nipples)

elmetal · 09-15-2009, 01:43 AM

how do I connect the valve to the reg?

Rick500 · 09-15-2009, 01:59 AM

Just hook a gas line from one of your current manifold outputs to the input of your new 3 body secondary. The check valves for the secondary will be built in to the output ball valves. (Make sure you specify you want check valves.) And make sure you're dealing with kegconnection, not kegkits.