sarink
Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2013
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- 23
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Hey guys, I'm working on an automatic soda dispenser...
I've got an arduino uno (running a node.js web interface that sends serial commands to the board as the UI), a simple aquarium pump (for now), and a bunch of cheap solenoid valves to select/dispense a measured amount of bag in box syrup into your glass on demand. This portion all works fine.
Where I'm having trouble, is on the soda side. I've got a 2.5 gal corny keg at 50psi full of carbonated water at room temperature (it's been carbed for about 2 weeks now, and I shook the hell out of it the first 15 min). Coming off the corny keg I've got about 3' of tubing, at the end of the tube I have this solenoid valve http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-Electric-Solenoid-Valve-12V-DC-Air-Gas-Diesel-B20N-/290721876966? which is also controlled by the arduino.
Now there are two big problems... One, the soda comes flying out like a fire hose, and two, it loses all its carb and goes flat the second it violently splashes into your glass.
Side note: I plan on keeping the keg at room temperature and just leaving the co2 on+hooked up all the time. I figure by over carbing a bit and maybe using a bit more syrup or something I can balance out the fact that you have to water it down with ice. Eventually I'd like to get a fridge, but that just can't happen at this time.
I've read a lot of stuff, such as using epoxy mixers, and using a ton of tubing (probably like 35' in my case) to fix this. But I'd love to get some more info. Also, let's say I purchased a bunch of tube and some epoxy mixers, will that reduce it enough so that valve will work and not create a ton of bubbles? Will those two things certainly fix it? What other concerns are there? Is there any way to accomplish this without a huge run of tube? What about some sort of flow/pressure regulator? (I used to work at a dive shop when I was younger and I remember we had to dispense pure o2 verrrry slowly off of needle valve - I'm imagining something like this?) And I'm not opposed to the huge run of tube, but if there's another way that's great!
Thanks!!
I've got an arduino uno (running a node.js web interface that sends serial commands to the board as the UI), a simple aquarium pump (for now), and a bunch of cheap solenoid valves to select/dispense a measured amount of bag in box syrup into your glass on demand. This portion all works fine.
Where I'm having trouble, is on the soda side. I've got a 2.5 gal corny keg at 50psi full of carbonated water at room temperature (it's been carbed for about 2 weeks now, and I shook the hell out of it the first 15 min). Coming off the corny keg I've got about 3' of tubing, at the end of the tube I have this solenoid valve http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-Electric-Solenoid-Valve-12V-DC-Air-Gas-Diesel-B20N-/290721876966? which is also controlled by the arduino.
Now there are two big problems... One, the soda comes flying out like a fire hose, and two, it loses all its carb and goes flat the second it violently splashes into your glass.
Side note: I plan on keeping the keg at room temperature and just leaving the co2 on+hooked up all the time. I figure by over carbing a bit and maybe using a bit more syrup or something I can balance out the fact that you have to water it down with ice. Eventually I'd like to get a fridge, but that just can't happen at this time.
I've read a lot of stuff, such as using epoxy mixers, and using a ton of tubing (probably like 35' in my case) to fix this. But I'd love to get some more info. Also, let's say I purchased a bunch of tube and some epoxy mixers, will that reduce it enough so that valve will work and not create a ton of bubbles? Will those two things certainly fix it? What other concerns are there? Is there any way to accomplish this without a huge run of tube? What about some sort of flow/pressure regulator? (I used to work at a dive shop when I was younger and I remember we had to dispense pure o2 verrrry slowly off of needle valve - I'm imagining something like this?) And I'm not opposed to the huge run of tube, but if there's another way that's great!
Thanks!!