RoaringBrewer
Well-Known Member
So, I'm getting into kegging as we speak and the kit I ordered came with a dual-body (3 guage) regulator, because I desire to serve my different styles at the appropriate carbonation levels.
Anyway, after doing some reading and research, this actually may be a little more difficult than just having the 2 regs, setting two different PSI, and serving my beer. I think I now realize (or I suppose this is my question!) that there is more involved than this... On with the questions and discussion:
1) I'll need to balance my set-up between the PSI of the keg and the serving of that keg. Correct?
1a) This is going to require different length beer lines for the different styles in addition to the dual regulators. Does this sound correct?
Based upon my reading, I think I'm on the right track. For this discussion lets assume my beer tower sits 2ft above the center of the keg and I serve at 40F through 3/16" beer line (with 2.7 pressure drop per ft).
For this first example/discussion let's assume I want to put an ESB on tap and a Belgian Wit - I want the ESB carbonated at 2.0 volumes and the Wit at 3.0 volumes.
2) I can't serve these out of the kegerator without different lengths of beer line I assume? The Wit at 3.0 volumes is probably going to be wayyy foamy compared to the ESB if I do this, no? Or maybe the ESB won't even make the tap? So, in order to have them served how I want them, I need to have the appropriate pressure and line length...
My calculations to "balance" the system:
ESB - Length of Line = 6.8PSI - (2*.5) - 1 All Divided by 2.7
Length of Line = 6.8 - 2 Divided by 2.7
Length of Line Needs to be: 1.77ft
Wit - Length of Line = 17.7PSI - 2 Divided by 2.7
Length of Line Needs to be: 5.81ft
Likewise, if I wanted to serve a normal American IPA at 2.4 volumes CO2:
IPA - Length of Line = 11.2PSI - 2 Divided by 2.7
Length of Line Needs to be: 3.4ft
3) Does this seem correct? If so, I guess I better stock a 1.75 ft, a 3.5 ft, and a 5.8 ft beer line and switch them out when I switch between different styles, no?
4) If I balance like this, do I ever have to change the PSI on the kegs - other than when switching styles? I mean, I've seen people talk about turning the PSI to 12 for a couple weeks, but then serving at 6PSI.
5) Is this b/c there system is only designed to serve at 6PSI without foaming?
6) If you turn the pressure down like this, wouldn't the keg eventually equalize at the 6PSI and be undercarbed?
I guess this should get the ball rolling... Thanks in advance for the help.
Anyway, after doing some reading and research, this actually may be a little more difficult than just having the 2 regs, setting two different PSI, and serving my beer. I think I now realize (or I suppose this is my question!) that there is more involved than this... On with the questions and discussion:
1) I'll need to balance my set-up between the PSI of the keg and the serving of that keg. Correct?
1a) This is going to require different length beer lines for the different styles in addition to the dual regulators. Does this sound correct?
Based upon my reading, I think I'm on the right track. For this discussion lets assume my beer tower sits 2ft above the center of the keg and I serve at 40F through 3/16" beer line (with 2.7 pressure drop per ft).
For this first example/discussion let's assume I want to put an ESB on tap and a Belgian Wit - I want the ESB carbonated at 2.0 volumes and the Wit at 3.0 volumes.
2) I can't serve these out of the kegerator without different lengths of beer line I assume? The Wit at 3.0 volumes is probably going to be wayyy foamy compared to the ESB if I do this, no? Or maybe the ESB won't even make the tap? So, in order to have them served how I want them, I need to have the appropriate pressure and line length...
My calculations to "balance" the system:
ESB - Length of Line = 6.8PSI - (2*.5) - 1 All Divided by 2.7
Length of Line = 6.8 - 2 Divided by 2.7
Length of Line Needs to be: 1.77ft
Wit - Length of Line = 17.7PSI - 2 Divided by 2.7
Length of Line Needs to be: 5.81ft
Likewise, if I wanted to serve a normal American IPA at 2.4 volumes CO2:
IPA - Length of Line = 11.2PSI - 2 Divided by 2.7
Length of Line Needs to be: 3.4ft
3) Does this seem correct? If so, I guess I better stock a 1.75 ft, a 3.5 ft, and a 5.8 ft beer line and switch them out when I switch between different styles, no?
4) If I balance like this, do I ever have to change the PSI on the kegs - other than when switching styles? I mean, I've seen people talk about turning the PSI to 12 for a couple weeks, but then serving at 6PSI.
5) Is this b/c there system is only designed to serve at 6PSI without foaming?
6) If you turn the pressure down like this, wouldn't the keg eventually equalize at the 6PSI and be undercarbed?
I guess this should get the ball rolling... Thanks in advance for the help.