Clear beer draught system in a sanke

[DC-Brewer]

Anyone know if the clear beer float will fit in the neck of a sanke keg? Going to use it as a fermenter if so.

http://www.clearbeerdraughtsystem.com/

 

[day_trippr]

[edit] I don't see it happening.

The other problem is fitment: this design is predicated on the typical cornelius style dip tube so it's an easy thing to install. One would have to come up with a reliable alternative connection method for a sanke (one that didn't come undone in the midst of dispensing)...

 

[hezagenius]

The Clear Beer doesn't come anywhere close to fitting through a sanke opening.

I've wondered if this would fit but one of the comments on the page says it does not fit into a sanke.
https://www.morebeer.com/products/r...t-60-cm-silicone-dip-tube-fermentasaurus.html

 

[DC-Brewer]

I've heard that the fermentasaurus float is close but no cigar as they say. I was hoping the clear beer had a chance but apparently not! I've made a float system but it wants to sit on its side and with any more counter weight, it sinks about halfway down the keg.

I got this component:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/npt12tokegpostliquid.htm

I exchanged the dip tube it came with with a slightly longer one I cut from a liquid pick up tube. I have tubing that will fit on it perfectly (as would the clear beer's).

I may end up getting a cask widge when they get back in stock. Building a low clearance sanke fermenter conversion kit and the floating pickup is the last piece of the puzzle!

 

[hezagenius]

What sort of floatation system did you build? I'd be curious to see that. I ferment in a pony keg (sanke) and use SS mesh around the dip tube system I built. I'd love to get a floatation system in there and not have to deal with the potential of sucking up hops and yeast.

I've heard that the fermentasaurus float is close but no cigar as they say. I was hoping the clear beer had a chance but apparently not! I've made a float system but it wants to sit on its side and with any more counter weight, it sinks about halfway down the keg.

I got this component:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/npt12tokegpostliquid.htm

I exchanged the dip tube it came with with a slightly longer one I cut from a liquid pick up tube. I have tubing that will fit on it perfectly (as would the clear beer's).

I may end up getting a cask widge when they get back in stock. Building a low clearance sanke fermenter conversion kit and the floating pickup is the last piece of the puzzle!

 

[DC-Brewer]

I bought one of these:

https://www.naugatuckmfg.com/1-1-2-X-1-Tubed-Magnetic-316-Stainless-Steel-Float-010-121TM0.htm

I added a section of cut dip tube through the middle (fits fine). Added a stainless shaft collar that I bought at Ace that fit the OD of the tubing below the float as a counter weight. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019978Q28/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I had silicone tubing that fit over the dip tube and I ran it onto the 1/2" ball lock fitting. I cut the top of the dip tube I had borrowed from earlier to be a touch longer than the one that came from brewhardware.com to have an excellent seal with my tubing.

The parts for the sanke conversion were:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc2npt_tapped.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc2gksingle.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/12nipple.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tee12.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/npt12tokegpostgas.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=NPT12toKegPostLiquid


I positioned this T side down with the gas and liquid ball lock posts to the side. This only added a few inches to the top of the keg. I ran the silicone tubing through the fittings, attached it to the dip tube pressed through the 1/2" keg to liquid post fitting with the top post removed. I was able to tighten the fitting and the dip tube didn't spin with tightening. I then simply placed the liquid post on it.


The biggest problem I'm having now is balancing the flotation with the counter weight to keep it at the top but not tipped over if that makes sense. If I can't get that to function, may have to use a cask widge. Anyone have experience with that device?

 

[hezagenius]

You need something to provide just enough ballast to keep the opening facing down without pulling the whole thing to the bottom. I guess you could try some thin washers between the SS collar and the float. Or maybe 2 collars?

 

[DC-Brewer]

Got a handful of washers and I'm balancing it out. The collar is a little heavy unfortunately, so I burnt another dip tube and put it in reverse so the flange holds on the float. Then adding washers until I get the correct weight.

 

[hezagenius]

You think the weight of the silicone tubing is probably too heavy to keep the float upright? The Clear Beer float is quite large and it has a brace underneath to hold the tubing there. With a float like you have, I don't know if it has enough buoyancy to keep the silicone tubing underneath it.

 

[DC-Brewer]

That thought had occurred to me. I was modeling the system after this guy.
http://think.gusius.com/diy-keg-floating-dip-tube/

Maybe his filter contraption kept it below the surface even with an oblong float?

 

[hezagenius]

@DC-Brewer
What is the diameter of the opening in that float you bought from Naugutuck?

Does a liquid ball lock dip tube pass through it easily?

Does the silicone tubing pass through it easily?

 

[DC-Brewer]

Don't have a caliper to measure the opening and it wasn't listed on their site. A ball lock liquid dip tube fits through easily but not loosely. The silicone tubing will not pass through however.

Testing my system today again, the weight of the tubing is a big issue and I'm not sure the real life implications in a keg. With a lot of tubing, the weight of it is greater than the counterweight and the float inverts. With the collar, the system is nearly perfectly balanced but the float sits about halfway down in a bucket of water. This may be ideal since for my application, pulling from the top is less important than being low profile but I would like the best of both worlds.

 

[hezagenius]

@DC-Brewer
Are those floats magnetically attracted to the sanke keg?

 

[DC-Brewer]

Don't seem to be.

 

[isomerization]

Has anyone racked into their keg (through liquid port) with the Clear Beer system in place? I’m wondering if it’s worth trying (after cold crash) or whether I should just rack through the open lid (would prefer the former). Thanks!

 

[hezagenius]

Has anyone racked into their keg (through liquid port) with the Clear Beer system in place? I’m wondering if it’s worth trying (after cold crash) or whether I should just rack through the open lid (would prefer the former). Thanks!

I always rack into my keg with the CBDS in place. I don't know another way to do a liquid purge and no oxygen transfer.

 

[isomerization]

I always rack into my keg with the CBDS in place. I don't know another way to do a liquid purge and no oxygen transfer.

Awesome, that’s what I wanted to hear!

 

[DC-Brewer]

I finally got my floating pickup tube to work. Needed just a little weight on the bottom in the form of a dip tube and stainless screen.

Question I have is the stainless steel hose clamp I bought at Lowe’s to hold the screen on safe for fermentation? Especially a Solera?

Awesome, that’s what I wanted to hear!

 

[day_trippr]

Dunk one in Star San for a few days and see if any part of the clamp changes color.
I picked up some allegedly stainless steel worm clamps from Lowes and the screws turned black.
Not sure what that means but it can't be great...

Cheers!

 

[govner1]

Has anyone racked into their keg (through liquid port) with the Clear Beer system in place? I’m wondering if it’s worth trying (after cold crash) or whether I should just rack through the open lid (would prefer the former). Thanks!

I use a CO2 transfer system for moving my beers from fermenter to keg and I leave my Clear Beer System in place. I have not had any issues. I do purge my kegs thoroughly with CO2 before transfer.