Auto Pouring Kegerator

[duncan.brown]

Well I just ordered 100Ft of Tubing

In the first picture, it looks like you're using vinyl tubing.

Search the forum for EVA Barrier tubing (loved by @day_trippr and others) or BevSeal Ultra (my preference, but harder to work with than EVA) before you hit submit on that order.

 

[Wolffie]

Hey everyone,

Got pretty close to finishing my COVID project, so I wanted to share my Kreezer creation and a Iittle about it. My initial goal was to create a self pouring Kegerator with a minifridge. As I went through design iterations, I decided the bigger the better and landed on using a 7 cu ft kreezer that would be able to hold 4 sixtels.

This Kegerator is fully automatic in the sense that it will pour any of the 4 taps (I only have 3 currently) through google home or an app on the phone.

I used an arduino Mega for the brains of the automation and I also used an arduino uno and thermistor to control the temperature of the freezer (think of it as a DIY inkbird)

I have a L brackets locket in place that holds the pint glass. The L brackets tilt ~45° for when the beer is poured. This tilting is completed with a small servo.

I use a distance sensor that is right beneath the tap to monitor how much beer is in the glass and when it should stop. (In the video attached, I had the pour based on time as the sensor was not completed yet, also I'm aware the tilt wasn't long enough and we got some foam issues)

Another Servo pushes the tap handle to pour the beer. Tap handles allow for the Kegerator to be fully functional even if the automation were to fail.

A gearmotor is used to move the plank the taps are connected to left and right in order to line up the correct tap over the glass.

Also inside the kreezer, I have put weight scales under each keg so that I can view how many beers are left on my phone through the app.

This was my first build and I think it turned out pretty great so far! Still some more work to be done to perfect but let me know what you guys think!

Video File showing automation - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MNZHjYwXTwwaazMPSrKvtynU2wMgbg2E/view?usp=sharing

P.S. I live in an apartment so some of the construction was difficult but we managed to get it all done. And yes, the Kreezer is in my closet, the girlfriend wouldn't allow it out.

I think you did a fine job, yes better than watching Netflix. something to keep in mind you won't see many of them. good job.

 

[Genuine]

That is awesome! Great job!

 

[3dB Brewing]

Search the forum for EVA Barrier tubing

Sounds like good stuff.
4 mm ID is 0.15625 in.
Any idea where to find "e" the roughness of the interior wall, for use in this line length calculator?

 

[IslandLizard]

Search the forum for EVA Barrier tubing (loved by @day_trippr and others) or BevSeal Ultra (my preference, but harder to work with than EVA)

Before I make the switch, I'm still using BevSeal Ultra 235 line, 19' per tap in an upright keezer. Why do you prefer it over EVABarrier line?

 

[duncan.brown]

Why do you prefer it over EVABarrier line?

Price and length. I picked up a 500' roll of 0.25" ID BevSeal Ultra 235 for $104 from Installation Parts Supply. Although that was only half the price of the 4mm ID EVA Barrier per foot, I could only find EVA Barrier in thirty-ish foot lengths at the time. Since I was building a long draw draught system, this would have meant a lot of short cuts (or a lot of John Guest connectors) increasing the price per foot even more.

I had about 225' left of the 500' roll after the beer-line build, but I use it for everything cold-side (pressure transfers, filtering, gas lines, long lines from lagering freezer to keezer for no-lift kegging, etc.) as it is so easy to clean and sanitize. I'm down to 130' left after cutting various lengths for transfers.

Obviously, the beer flavor is great. I can have a light lager sit in the beer line for a week with no issues at first pour.

 

[IslandLizard]

@duncan.brown Thanks for the reply!
That's surely the right line for long draughts like that.

I agree, the Ultra 235 line performs very well for beer dispensing and is easy to clean. I see some discoloration from use over the years, but it's quite minimal, and the beer from the line is as good as from the keg.

It's the handling of the wide stiff springy coils and the large bending radius that are always a challenge.