Hoosier

Recipes 

I am having an issue with figuring out the line length needed for my higher carbonated styles. I keep the fridge at 42F and use 3/16 ID line with picnic taps. According to ProMash I need to keep the gas at 24psi for 3.5 volumes of CO2. How do I calculate the line length using 3/16 ID tubing?
Reading what is posted on Northern Brewers website you need a 5ft length for 10psi to have a "perfect pour." Clearly this is not a linear equation. I tried a 12ft line and still had significant foaming issues. How can I solve this issue?

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GilaMinumBeer

Recipes 

Teach a man to fish and all that;

http://www.micromatic.com/direct-draw-draft-beer-system-cid-1751.html

Hoosier

Recipes 

Perfect, thank you. I didn't see this in the sticky, it should be added.

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Scimmia

Recipes 

Their examples use 3PSI/foot on 3/16 tubing. Everything else I've read says 2 PSI/foot. I know the material makes a difference, so be aware.

Even figuring 2 PSI/foot doesn't seem to work for everybody.

Hoosier

Recipes 

that is what I am running into now. Based on the calculations @ 2psi resistance I need an 11ft length for 24psi with my system. I have a 12ft line that is still pouring too fast. i have more tubing and may just add another 5ft w/a connector and see where that gets me.

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IrregularPulse

Recipes 

I agree this should be stickied.

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Tap Room Hobo

I should have stuck to four fingers in Vegas. :o - marubozo

malkore

Recipes 

I read once in a soda making post, they had a cold fridge, close to 30psi, and it took 22feet of tap line to balance it.
hopefully this gives you some idea of how long you might have to go.

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Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10

IrregularPulse

Recipes 

Ok, I'm trying to set my lines up for top performance. going to 2.5 volumes at 41 degrees. 3.2 foot distance from keg bottom to tap, giving my hose length of 3.2 ft. Now I've not heard of anyone using less than 5 ft! Whats the deal here. Am I way off?

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Tap Room Hobo

I should have stuck to four fingers in Vegas. :o - marubozo

IrregularPulse

Recipes 

Just went with 5 ft. Seems to be pouring well.

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Tap Room Hobo

I should have stuck to four fingers in Vegas. :o - marubozo

duffman2

Recipes 

And I have 5 feet of 3/16 tubing for 42F beer and 2.5 volumes and mine pours like sh*&t! Nothing but foam. I have picnic taps and approximately 4' vertical lift.

When my beer pours, the line at the beginning of the hose (closest to keg) is full of liquid beer. As it gets closer to its final destination (my glass) it becomes foam and is dispensed as nothing but foam. I have played with the pressure and it is doing nothing but giving me a lot of foam really quickly or a lot of foam really slowly.