BrewLou
Well-Known Member
Ok, so after reading some posts on here I took the plunge and bought a chest freezer off craigslist for 30 bucks. I have build my wood collar, weather sealed it, stained it, poly'd it, ect... I am in the final steps of wrapping this up and getting beer into the kegs. I do have a few questions along the way...
Quick info on my setup...
2 Coke Pin Lock cornies
Dual regulator
5lb CO2 tank filled (keeping at RT not in Keezer)
Splitter for main CO2 line to go to each corny
Gas in/Beer out Post Lock connectors
1. My keg kit came with O-Rings, keg lube, all that good stuff. I can easily see where 2 of the 3 different sized O-rings go, but am having trouble telling where the 3rd goes. There is a large o-ring for the actual main opening = check. There are the actual pin lock o-ring fittings = check. I am left with 2 rather small o-rings remaining. They are to small to go over the threads on the pin lock connectors, so I am at a loss where these go.
2. Actually running the lines... My kit instructions are laughable and next to nothing. They say hook gas in connector to gas in, and gas out to gas out. If I want to pressurize 2 kegs at once, can I simply go from my splitter to the gas in post connectors? Do I need the gas out post connectors attached? I would think so, or if I try to attach these once the kegs are pressurized I am going to be shooting beer all over the place = not a happy wife and alcohol abuse on top of it. On the flip side, if I hook up both posts prior to attaching all lines to the actual shanks, wont beer shoot out of those open "out" post connectors?
3. This is more of a does it sound ok comoment. My pressurizing plans are to seal keg, purge O2, top off CO2 to dial it in initially at 30psi. Disconnect and shake. Leave RT or chilled for 24 hrs (Ive read both) Releave pressure and dial it in ~13psi according to my carbonization sheet. Leave it hooked up at chilled temp for about a week, or leave hooked up at room temp? Adjust pressure after testing initial pour.
4. If I want to keg less than the full 5 gallons is this ok? I would like to have at least 12-18 bottles of my batches that are still hanging out in their carboys. Is there anything I need to account for with this differing volume, or will I be good to go since there will be a constant CO2 feed?
5. Finally has anyone had any "headspace" cooling issues after adding a decent size (~8inch) wood collar. I read one build in which the builder added an electric fan to circulate air since he was getting 8+degree differences in the top/bottom of his Keezer. Has anyone else encountered this?
I am working on getting some pictures lined up to show my setup once it is all dialed in.
I know I am probably over thinking this process a ton, but it is my 1st time kegging, and I really do not want to mess up the process and waste any of these beers I have waiting to keg. Thanks for your help in advance!
Quick info on my setup...
2 Coke Pin Lock cornies
Dual regulator
5lb CO2 tank filled (keeping at RT not in Keezer)
Splitter for main CO2 line to go to each corny
Gas in/Beer out Post Lock connectors
1. My keg kit came with O-Rings, keg lube, all that good stuff. I can easily see where 2 of the 3 different sized O-rings go, but am having trouble telling where the 3rd goes. There is a large o-ring for the actual main opening = check. There are the actual pin lock o-ring fittings = check. I am left with 2 rather small o-rings remaining. They are to small to go over the threads on the pin lock connectors, so I am at a loss where these go.
2. Actually running the lines... My kit instructions are laughable and next to nothing. They say hook gas in connector to gas in, and gas out to gas out. If I want to pressurize 2 kegs at once, can I simply go from my splitter to the gas in post connectors? Do I need the gas out post connectors attached? I would think so, or if I try to attach these once the kegs are pressurized I am going to be shooting beer all over the place = not a happy wife and alcohol abuse on top of it. On the flip side, if I hook up both posts prior to attaching all lines to the actual shanks, wont beer shoot out of those open "out" post connectors?
3. This is more of a does it sound ok comoment. My pressurizing plans are to seal keg, purge O2, top off CO2 to dial it in initially at 30psi. Disconnect and shake. Leave RT or chilled for 24 hrs (Ive read both) Releave pressure and dial it in ~13psi according to my carbonization sheet. Leave it hooked up at chilled temp for about a week, or leave hooked up at room temp? Adjust pressure after testing initial pour.
4. If I want to keg less than the full 5 gallons is this ok? I would like to have at least 12-18 bottles of my batches that are still hanging out in their carboys. Is there anything I need to account for with this differing volume, or will I be good to go since there will be a constant CO2 feed?
5. Finally has anyone had any "headspace" cooling issues after adding a decent size (~8inch) wood collar. I read one build in which the builder added an electric fan to circulate air since he was getting 8+degree differences in the top/bottom of his Keezer. Has anyone else encountered this?
I am working on getting some pictures lined up to show my setup once it is all dialed in.
I know I am probably over thinking this process a ton, but it is my 1st time kegging, and I really do not want to mess up the process and waste any of these beers I have waiting to keg. Thanks for your help in advance!