Can this be done? DIY gas manifold?

[Fingers]

If you don't fill your kegs above the level of the gas-in tube, you shouldn't get any beer into your regulator. Other than that, what else are the check valves good for that the shut-offs can't do?

 

[BierMuncher]

If you don't fill your kegs above the level of the gas-in tube, you shouldn't get any beer into your regulator. Other than that, what else are the check valves good for that the shut-offs can't do?

I use check valves. Learned my lesson.

I don’t over fill my kegs, but I do fill them up with very little room to spare regarding the gas dip tube. It only takes a small amount of beer getting sloshed up into that tube (shaking, moving, jostling…) and then a slight imbalance in your keg pressures for that drop (or more) to get pushed backwards in the system. At $3.00 apiece, they’re a nice safe guard.

 

[olllllo]

As an added measure of safety, use clear tubing. If you use the opaque kind, you'll never know how close you've come to averting disaster.

 

[AlchemyBrewing]

Nothing like flogging a dead thread but ChiCompany has great prices on these manifolds. About $38 for the four port with check valves. Also expandable.