Question about soda dispensing

KCBrewer · 03-19-2010, 02:29 AM

I posted in the soda section, but that forum doesn't seem to get many visitors, so I thought I'd post in a more active and somewhat relevant forum in hopes that someone has some soda dipsensing knowledge. I'm wanting to add a wunder bar soda dipsenser to my home bar setup. I found a wunder bar dispenser and carbonator, and I have a spare 20lb co2 tank with regulator. If I understand correctly, the only other parts I need are a syrup pump for each flavor, and a cold plate. I have a refrigerator 4-5' from the spot the soda will be dispensed at, so can I just store the syrup in the refrigerator and insulate the lines rather than using a cold plate? Are there any other components to the system I am overlooking?

BrewNinja1 · 03-19-2010, 04:41 AM

I can tell you from experience that the refridgerator probably wont be cold enough to keep the carbonation in suspension. I had my cold plate in my kegerator at 40* and my soda always tasted flat. I found a reference on one of the carbonator sites that said you had to keep your soda dispensing below 40* or you would have that problem. What was happening is that the plate isnt cold enough to chill the water down quick enough when dispensing. I ended up buying a plastic bin that just fit my cold plate and ice down my cold plate every other day. It works fine now.

The other problem I had was that my water had to be filtered. I put an in line filter in. The carbonation really brings out any flaws in your water.

The only other thing I can think of you will need is a brix cup.

marzsit · 03-19-2010, 09:24 PM

you will need 2 regulators, a primary for supplying gas to the carbonator at 90-120psi, and a secondary for supplying gas to the bib pumps or corny kegs at 35-45 psi. your extra regulator could be used as a primary or secondary depending on what pressure it's designed to operate at, most beer regulators won't operate at 100psi.

you'll also need bib connectors. coke and pepsi use different connectors on their bibs generally coke products use their connector and everybody else uses pepsi's connector, much like ball-lock and pin-lock kegs...

also, all carbonated water lines must be plastic or stainless steel. no brass or copper which can be hazardous...

KCBrewer · 03-20-2010, 02:57 PM

Thanks for the responses. I didn't know about the brix cup to calibrate mixture, good to know.

The regulator I have is the type from a welding setup that goes up to 150psi. So it looks like I'd need another for the pumps.

I pretty much have to have a cold plate then? I was hoping to find a way around it since the soda won't get used every day. It would be a pain to keep it iced even when not using it just to make sure it's cold when I do need it. I may hold off on the soda setup for now then. It would be nice, but it sounds like more work that it would be worth for the expected amount of use.

Thanks again for the repsonses

DavidP · 03-20-2010, 03:18 PM

Real-time mixing sounds pretty complicated for a home bar setup. How about simply making a soda in a keg and carbonating/dispensing like usual?

KCBrewer · 03-20-2010, 06:09 PM

I may end up having to go that route. I wanted to go with the syrup boxes since you can get a lot more soda out of one box versus 5 gallons in a corny. I don't have any room left in the keezer, but I have a fridge close by that is basically unused which I could turn into a "sodarator". I have put a lot of work and money into my home bar setup, and the wunder bar dispenser would be a great addition. Hmmm, I suppose I'll keep the wheels turning on this a little longer.

KCBrewer · 03-20-2010, 06:25 PM

I may have come up with a solution. If I were to run a water line to a storage tank kept inside the fridge, as well as the syrup boxes, would that eliminate the need for a cold plate?
We have one of those big reverse osmosis setups under our kitchen sink that noboby ever uses (it was here when we bought the house) that has 2 filters and a big storage tank. The wife wants a soap dispenser there anyway and it would give us a lot more room under the sink. This would also work to filter the water so I'd be killing two birds with one stone.
Any thoughts?

BrewNinja1 · 03-22-2010, 04:24 AM

Probably not. Your carbonator holds a bunch of carbonated water which wouldnt be cold (unless you kept that in the fridge too).

If you had it all in the fridge, it may work (or at a minimum the carbonator). Again though, your fridge would have to be like 38* or lower (not below freezing though).

marzsit · 03-22-2010, 07:56 PM

i have seen a system that used a 3 gallon corny keg in place of a cold plate or ice bank chiller, the outlet of the carbonator connected to the gas-in post on the keg and basically refilled the keg as the soda was used.

KCBrewer · 03-23-2010, 01:13 AM

Thanks, this is the kind of info I was looking for. Like I said, I'm new to soda dispensing, so I'm learning.
The 3G corny sounds perfect. The soda may get used for a couple soda's each morning, and during the day on the weekends, so it's doesn't need to have a high recovery rate as far as cooling. And keeping the fridge under 38* shouldn't be a problem.
Thanks again, looks light I just might get my wunder bar after all!