1/2" vs. 3/8" tubing

DrugCoder · Dec 10, 2008

I'm drawing up the plans for my ideal brewing system, and I read in a thread somewhere that it is a good idea to keep your tubing size consistent throughout the system.

My initial plan is to have a keggle BK, a kettle HLT, and a converted cooler MLT. Once that is up and working I am going to slowly piece it together to have a 3 keggle RIMS system.

Here's my issue. Right now my keggle doesn't have a port. I just got the keg and had the top cut off by a friend with a plasma cutter last week. Most of the keggle conversions I have seen use a 1/2" port on them, but the cooler conversions I have seen are using a 3/8" port.

Should I use different size tubing for now and eventually move to an all 1/2" system? Should I put an adapter on the port of the cooler to convert it to a 1/2" now? Is there anyone else out there worrying about if all their tubing matches?

defenestrate · Dec 10, 2008

check out my thread it might help https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/help-ag-upgrade-92217/

The Pol · Dec 10, 2008

If you are building a system, why not just convert your coolers using 1/2" components from the beginning?

I built a complete HERMS around 1/2" fittings, HERMS coil and tubing. I highly recommend it, do not waste time or money using 3/8" conversions. My coolers are converted with 1/2" components and I would want nothing less.

The cooler conversions you see with 3/8" components can be upgraded to 1/2" without any modification to the cooler. All you need to do is upsize all of the parts by 1/8" and you are good to go. I built mine before I even realized that most are using 3/8" stuff....

I have used 3/8" and 1/2" both and the flows with 1/2" are far superior.

DrugCoder · Dec 10, 2008

Sounds good! I figured I'd want the 1/2" when complete. For the cooler conversion, I was going off the parts list from This Link. All the parts were 3/8" and I was going by that because no modification had to be done to the cooler itself. Will the 1/2" parts fit with no mods to the cooler?

drunkatuw · Dec 10, 2008

I'm going with all 3/8" tubing on my system for three reasons:

1. The CFC is built with 3/8" copper tubing, so I won't benefit from a higher throughput of 1/2" tubing with the CFC being 3/8".
2. My MLT cooler already has a 3/8" ball valve.
3. 3/8" silicone tubing is about $1/ft cheaper.

I believe the 3/8" quick disconnects are a little cheaper too, but I haven't ordered those yet.

The Pol · Dec 10, 2008

DrugCoder said:
Sounds good! I figured I'd want the 1/2" when complete. For the cooler conversion, I was going off the parts list from This Link. All the parts were 3/8" and I was going by that because no modification had to be done to the cooler itself. Will the 1/2" parts fit with no mods to the cooler?

Correct, there is no modification required to convert these coolers to 1/2" components. They just slide right in. If you are ever going to run a HERMS or RIMS system, you will be glad that you used 1/2" components, as I said, the flows are much greater. 1/2" is pretty standard on these types of systems, which is why I also went with the 1/2" copper coil for the HEX on my HERMS.

If I can be of any further assistance, let me know, happy to help during a build!