Ball Lock Tap

[HopOnHops]

first of all i must say, hot damn learning about kegging is like learning homebrewing from the ground up again... maybe i underestimated it a tad :cross:

So i got one of these keg faucet adapters (http://www.homebrewing.org/Keg-Faucet-Adaptor-Assembly_p_909.html) to get away from the tacky picnic taps. Even at low keg presures i am just pouring foam. I recently learned about the epoxy mixer trick but people say they use those with 3-4' picnic taps. This thing is prettymuch 0'. Is there any hope of using this thing and pour a decent pint as well?

 

[divi2323]

Bottom out your serving pressure to 1-2 psi. You'll get good pours from it.

 

[carlisle_bob]

Hi

The alternative is to put a reasonable amount of beer line on the setup and leave your pressure up where it keeps the beer happy long term.

Bob

 

[y6y6y6]

I've never used one of those, and always wondered how they could possibly work. You need beer line. Having the tap directly on the keg seems like a device specifically designed to produce foam.

 

[BrewThruYou]

I use one, but only on my 2.5G keg. Attach, bleed off all head pressure, give a tiny shot of co2 with co2 injector cartridge and it'll pour with very little foam. Tiny shots of co2 periodically will keep it pouring. If you are using a co2 tank and regulator, you need ultra-low psi. There is almost zero resistance.

This is a device that you don't want connected to your keg(s) at all times because the keg will eventually get flat when hooked up to that low of a pressure. If I'm using a picnic tap in my chest freezer and it's hooked up to normal pressure (12 psi for me), I need about 10 to 12' of 3/16" beer line for good pours. The faucet adapter is really for portable kegs IMO. I think it works great on my mini keg with the co2 injector.

 

[Shooter]

I use one, but only on my 2.5G keg. Attach, bleed off all head pressure, give a tiny shot of co2 with co2 injector cartridge and it'll pour with very little foam. Tiny shots of co2 periodically will keep it pouring. If you are using a co2 tank and regulator, you need ultra-low psi. There is almost zero resistance.

This is a device that you don't want connected to your keg(s) at all times because the keg will eventually get flat when hooked up to that low of a pressure. If I'm using a picnic tap in my chest freezer and it's hooked up to normal pressure (12 psi for me), I need about 10 to 12' of 3/16" beer line for good pours. The faucet adapter is really for portable kegs IMO. I think it works great on my mini keg with the co2 injector.

Agreed, this is a portable solution and not really meant for a permanent kegging setup.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

0 = (P -(.5*.5)-1)/2.7
P=1.25 PSI assuming the height is half a foot above the liquid level. maybe try a little higher to ensure you can push it out as the keg empties.


Beer Line Length Formula:

L = (P -(H x .5) – 1 ) / R

Where:
L = length of beer line in feet
P = pressure set of regulator
H = total height from center of keg to faucet in feet
R = resistance of the line from the following table
1 = residual pressure remaining at faucet (this can be increased to 2 if you need to increase pressure to increase dispense rate)

1/4” ID plastic beer line .7
3/16” ID plastic beer line 2.7

 

[carlisle_bob]

0 = (P -(.5*.5)-1)/2.7
P=1.25 PSI assuming the height is half a foot above the liquid level. maybe try a little higher to ensure you can push it out as the keg empties.


Beer Line Length Formula:

L = (P -(H x .5) – 1 ) / R

Where:
L = length of beer line in feet
P = pressure set of regulator
H = total height from center of keg to faucet in feet
R = resistance of the line from the following table
1 = residual pressure remaining at faucet (this can be increased to 2 if you need to increase pressure to increase dispense rate)

1/4” ID plastic beer line .7
3/16” ID plastic beer line 2.7

Hi

That's a fine formula. Since it *assumes* a specific flow rate (tube only drops pressure when there is a flow / drop increases as flow goes up) it's utility is somewhat limited.

Bob