Calculating beer line length

[h22lude]

Ok so I have searched, read a bunch of posts, read some articles and used calculators and I am still confused.

I'm building my keezer and want to make sure I get the right length.

If I use 3/16" which has a resistance of 2.5 lbs/ft and I use 12 psi with a height from the middle of the keg to the shank of 2 feet. I get a 4 foot hose and from what I have read, that isn't the best.

How is everyone using 3/16" hose at 12 psi at 10 feet? To me, that seems like the formula people have created is no good. Using the formula, you would need 27 psi.

The only two options are to go to a 1/4" hose which if I used the formula I would need 16 feet of hose. Or raise the psi but even raising it to 20 psi would mean a 7 foot hose.

Am I missing something or do people just say go with the formula with a minimum hose length of 10 feet?

 

[CPooley4]

Go to the thread down a ways titled line length... Or something close to that. I posted a formula in there that you can use. What it will come down to is what flow rate your system will work best with. Most calculators assume a flow rate of 1 gallon per minute which is too high for most homebrew setups. Start with a flow rate of .75 and see what that length comes up as. Then buy line 2 feet longer than that and adjust the length to your system as needed. When I get home I'll try to remember to run the calc for you. Don't have access to my calc right now on my touch.

 

[h22lude]

If it is the formula I saw before, it is...

(1800 * diameter of line^5/flow rate^2*(PSI-(.44*height of tap above middle of keg)))

Using that with .75 gpm I got 8.25 feet of hose with 3/16", 12psi and 2 feet of height.

With that formula I would say the "10 foot rule" is very close.

 

[CPooley4]

OK, I would recommend a hose length of 8.5 feet based upon your parameters above. However, I would also recommend buying 10.5 feet of line so that you can cut it down to proper size (if needed) for your system once you have it up and running.

Good luck.

cp

Edit - Saw that you posted just before me while I was typing this up. Keep in mind, the 10 foot rule is good for some systems, not all. Not everyone has their taps 2 feet above the middle of their kegs, uses 3/16 line, needs .7 gallons per minute flow rate, etc.... The other thread had a more difficult system to balance, but that is why the formula is a good starting point and allows for dialing things in a bit easier than just a general rule of thumb. Where the formula tends to go a bit awry with some calculators is that they are assuming a 1 gallon flow rate which is typically too much for a homebrew setup.

 

[h22lude]

Thanks for the help. I will be doing a lot of research tonight to figure this all out lol

 

[Nuggethead]

When I started, I tried all different calculators and all different line lengths. In the end, what worked on my keezer with perlick f/s faucets was just what the some experienced keggers on here were saying all a long, 10' of 3/16 line. This length turned out to give me perfect pours from 10-14 psi on all styles that I have kegged including higher carbed Hefe's. All the formulas look nice, but they don't work in all situations. If I were to put together a new system, I would start with 12' 3/16 line and cut off a foot at a time until the pours were right. So you lose a couple feet in the end at what, maybe .50 cents.

 

[h22lude]

When I started, I tried all different calculators and all different line lengths. In the end, what worked on my keezer with perlick f/s faucets was just what the some experienced keggers on here were saying all a long, 10' of 3/16 line. This length turned out to give me perfect pours from 10-14 psi on all styles that I have kegged including higher carbed Hefe's. All the formulas look nice, but they don't work in all situations. If I were to put together a new system, I would start with 12' 3/16 line and cut off a foot at a time until the pours were right. So you lose a couple feet in the end at what, maybe .50 cents.

I'm glad you posted this because I was having a hard time thinking these formulas were the best way to go.

I'll go with 12 feet, start there and cut 6 inches off each time if the pour isn't right.

 

[Nuggethead]

I'm glad you posted this because I was having a hard time thinking these formulas were the best way to go.

I'll go with 12 feet, start there and cut 6 inches off each time if the pour isn't right.

Hope it works out for you. Good luck!