Beer line length - Thoughts

[dttk0009]

So I've decided to build a keezer with three taps and have been reading up on how to make sure that I'll get some nice pours with it.

I found a website that calculates proper hose length for the beer line and plugged all of my information in.

Given that it's a keezer, I can't see the tap being much further from the keg than about 3-3.5 ft. Nevertheless, I end up with a suggested beer line length of about 3-4 ft per keg, which seems awfully short. This is with the flow rate set to 6 seconds.

http://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/

Reading on what other people use, I see line lengths of around 10ft or so. Did I set my flow rate too low? Is there a "safe" length to use for keezers? I don't want to end up just filling glasses with foam.

Thanks!

 

[thekraken]

I used that calculator also and used their suggestion of 10 second pours and got a line length of 10-11 feet. It works well for me.

 

[day_trippr]

Mike's calculator is literally the only one worth using.
As for pour rate, I also use 10 seconds in the calculator as that happens to correspond to the minimum flow rate that establishes a full round flow from my Perls...

Cheers!

 

[jmcquesten]

So I've decided to build a keezer with three taps and have been reading up on how to make sure that I'll get some nice pours with it.

I found a website that calculates proper hose length for the beer line and plugged all of my information in.

Given that it's a keezer, I can't see the tap being much further from the keg than about 3-3.5 ft. Nevertheless, I end up with a suggested beer line length of about 3-4 ft per keg, which seems awfully short. This is with the flow rate set to 6 seconds.

http://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/

Reading on what other people use, I see line lengths of around 10ft or so. Did I set my flow rate too low? Is there a "safe" length to use for keezers? I don't want to end up just filling glasses with foam.

Thanks!

You should plan for your "worst case scenario" beer serving pressure, which for me was like 18 psi for 3 - 3.5 volume wheat beers. I tried to make all 4 of my lines long enough to handle this pressure, which is like 15 ish feet. That is keeping the flow rate at 10 seconds, which I think is the fastest you really want to go. If you really want to be cautious about the foam, you can slow it down a little more (11-12 second pour).

The only real downsides to longer lines are the little extra cost, and maybe a slight reduction in head foam.

Keep it at 10 seconds and enter whatever pressure gets you to like 3.5 volumes at your set temperature and use that length for your lines. Then, if you have a beer that only needs 2.5 volumes you're good, the lower pressure will cause a slightly longer pour time and the slower moving beer will create less foam, but your beer will still be properly carbonated.

 

[dttk0009]

Thanks for the info, guys. If I set it to 10 seconds I end up with about 10 ft of tubing, so that's what I'll go with.

I have a follow-up question though, unfortunately, it's fairly hard to come by a retailer in the UK that sells taps with 3/16 end pieces. In fact, they all seem to only carry 3/8. I've been suggested to simply use a John Guest connector (3/8 to 3/16), but I'm worried this will crap up my measurements.

Anyone have any experience with this or perhaps even knows a retailer in the UK that ships 3/16 barbed faucets?

 

[dyqik]

There are some other options for reducing the line length you need, and adjusting the flow resistance for different carb levels while using a short line.

I use some epoxy mixing inserts in the beer out dip tube to replace about 10ft of line - between 2 and 4 inserts provide enough resistance.
See: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=100151

You can also get flow control inline inserts or flow control taps that can provide adjustable restriction - e.g. http://www.kegconnection.com/inline-flow-control/

 

[dttk0009]

There are some other options for reducing the line length you need, and adjusting the flow resistance for different carb levels while using a short line.

I use some epoxy mixing inserts in the beer out dip tube to replace about 10ft of line - between 2 and 4 inserts provide enough resistance.
See: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=100151

You can also get flow control inline inserts or flow control taps that can provide adjustable restriction - e.g. http://www.kegconnection.com/inline-flow-control/

Yeah, those are quite common here and I've seen a few on the German sites, such as the below, for example:

https://www.ich-zapfe.de/bierzapfen/kompensatorschankhahn-zapfhahn-verchromt/a-5023/

But then I'd be completely clueless on what width I'd need for the beer line. 7mm is popular here (about 1/3") but that seems awfully big compared to 3/16".

I might just go with a 2" piece of 3/8 line from the faucet to lead into the 3/16 line via the John Guest connector. Technically the impact should be negligible, although a bit of a hassle to set up that way.

 

[dyqik]

With flow control in any form, you can use big line with no worries, because the flow control part does the restricting you need to avoid foam.

 

[thekraken]

I was under the impression that even with flow control you still want to get your line length in the ball park and use the flow control to fine tune your pour. No?

 

[dyqik]

I suspect that depends on how the flow is controlled and how extreme a setting you need.

Using four epoxy mixer sticks in a dip tube can give a very strong resistance with out foaming - I just finished a tripel carbed to 15psi with 5ft 1/4" line that was a little slow if anything.

I imagine an extreme setting of the flow control faucet might well cause foaming, because the pressure drop is pretty localized. The inline flow control is probably better for that, particularly if it's at the keg end of the line, because the line will give some back pressure.

But that last part is all conjecture in my part though.

 

[dttk0009]

I actually ended up going with the flow control faucets. I also checked with some local homebrewers in Germany and the taps should definitely be able to handle a shorter and bigger line according to them. Thanks for all the answers and insight.

Construction of the keezer is already underway at this point. Can't wait!