Intertap beer faucets

[CEO Keg King]

Like mentioned there are no "clones" They were all made in the same chinese factory except different people sold them under the same brand name and the main kegking in australia wasnt getting the proceds from the ones sold in the states. so they were legit products but not through legit middlemen whose name was used in marketing anyway.

Originally keg king australia had them made for australia and other countries ,not to be sold in the states... a couple employees apparently took it upon themselves to trademark the brand name in the US and start distributing them in the states and seller like Williams and atlantic as well as many others sold them here but supposedly this was not santioned by the real keg king company and they were not making any money off these sales and there fore should not have to support them as far as any warranty issues.. The people at kegking now went to a different manufacturer to make a new modified version of their taps and the old style are still being sold by Kegland if I have the story right...

Its not a modified version but a whole new design. Unlike the Intertap the Ultra Tap is a laminar flow tap (means less foam due to less turbulent flow).

 

[augiedoggy]

Brad Amidzich claims the invention of this type of forward sealing tap. We bought our rights from him.

Yes Ive read the long thread here a couple years ago... Ive also seen the drawings of other similar forward sealing taps before his..

 

[camonick]

I have 3 standard intertap faucets and have been scouring the interwebs for an answer about locks for these faucets. Has anyone had any luck with this? I keep looking at locks that fit a 500 series perlick and keep telling myself that it should work. I have a young teenage son who I’d like to keep from pouring “samples”. I’d rather not remodel my house or kegerator if I can help it.
This is the style I’m looking at...

 

[gnef]

I don't know if the geometry is the same, and the little bottom protrusion is smaller on the intertap. The only way to know though, is to give one a try. If anything, you might be able to modify it for your needs.

One thought to consider though, is to introduce your son to beer, and show him how to appreciate your craft and respect alcohol under your direct supervision with clear consequences for straying beyond proper established boundaries. My daughter is only 8, and my son 4, so I have some time to keep thinking about this, but as I have 14 taps, this is the only practical way for me to do it. haha.

Let us know if those locks work though!

 

[Robert65]

The locks for Perlick will not fit Intertap. I can personally attest. The faucets look nearly identical, with Intertap including that projection, but the Intertap is a little bit larger outside diameter, and the Perlick lock won't fit over it. I don't use Intertap anymore, just Perlick, but I did look around and am unaware of there ever having been a similar lock made for the Intertap. Which makes you wonder why they copied the projection. (Actually the projection is probably too small to work anyway.) This picture shows just how far you can get a Perlick lock over an Intertap faucet.

 

[day_trippr]

It isn't obvious that the Intertap designers understood the Perlick bump enabled their "wrap-around" faucet locks (eg: 308-40C for the 6XX sans FC). It's equally non-obvious that vestigial Intertap nub would hold that style lock.

There's a totally different style of lock out there that doesn't require a bump...

...but the manufacturer states it only fits the Perlick 6XX (even with FC!) but doesn't fit Perlick 5XX series nor Intertaps. Still, I wonder if that style could be adapted to the Intertap...

Cheers!

 

[Robert65]

Word of the day: vestigial [emoji106]

 

[camonick]

The locks for Perlick will not fit Intertap. I can personally attest. The faucets look nearly identical, with Intertap including that projection, but the Intertap is a little bit larger outside diameter, and the Perlick lock won't fit over it. I don't use Intertap anymore, just Perlick, but I did look around and am unaware of there ever having been a similar lock made for the Intertap. Which makes you wonder why they copied the projection. (Actually the projection is probably too small to work anyway.) This picture shows just how far you can get a Perlick lock over an Intertap faucet.View attachment 669013

Thanks, that’s what I was afraid of. Looks like I’m going to have to get creative.

 

[Robert65]

Thanks, that’s what I was afraid of. Looks like I’m going to have to get creative.

If you come up with a creative solution, be sure to share it. There will be plenty of interest.

One solution I've seen proposed somewhere is to do an end run around faucet locks. Put shutoff valves in line inside the keezer/kegerator (or just disconnect the lines when not pouring,) and put a lock on the lid or door.

 

[day_trippr]

Yup, solenoids. As found in the classic Kegbot.

There's an HBT member that has been working on an automated solenoid system among all his other brew-related projects, but it wouldn't take much to implement a simpler system, perhaps relying on a hidden reed switch to unlock...

Cheers!

 

[HopSing]

One solution I've seen proposed somewhere is to do an end run around faucet locks. Put shutoff valves in line inside the keezer/kegerator (or just disconnect the lines when not pouring,) and put a lock on the lid or door.

I agree with @Robert65. It would not take much for a creative teenager to get a ball lock adapter with a cobra tap and by-pass the faucet locks. The high-tech method is to use load cell scales to monitor keg weight and have a controller that sends alerts on any significant weight change. There are some early adopters using raspberry Pi boards to accomplish this and it has collateral benefits including knowing when to start working on the next batch as well as leak detection.

Of course this only helps when they're in your house. Having a few of those teenagers myself, with one being a freshman in college, it's important to work on what they do when you can't see them. Tap locks and raspberry pi's can only go so far.

~HopSing.

 

[augiedoggy]

What about just putting a lock on the kegerator itself and disconnecting the beer lines or putting inline shutoff valves in?

 

[Robert65]

What about just putting a lock on the kegerator itself and disconnecting the beer lines or putting inline shutoff valves in?

Yup. That's what I suggested above. I'm a decidedly low tech guy. And I'm pretty sure your teenager could hack the fancy electronics in their sleep while also doing three other things, but would have no idea how to go down to the hardware store and get a key cut. Like a stick shift for your kegerator.

 

[passedpawn]

I think the easiest security idea for teenagers is to aim a webcam at the taps, and put a little card above them that says Smile, You're Being Recorded by Camera. Probably could get away with a dummy camera with blinking LED - they exist.

 

[lump42]

I think the easiest security idea for teenagers is to aim a webcam at the taps, and put a little card above them that says Smile, You're Being Recorded by Camera. Probably could get away with a dummy camera with blinking LED - they exist.

I've seen well-rated security cameras for under $30. It likely just as cheap to get a camera. Or if someone's a hunter, just use a trail camera. My BIL has got some great shots with $60 trail camera.

 

[Yesfan]

I've got a ways to go before I have to address that problem. If your keezer/kegerator is in a dedicated room like a finished basement (like mine) why not just lock the door or (better) change the doorlock to where you have the only key?

 

[DanB_cdnbev]

I work at a wholesale commercial equipment distributor that shall remain nameless. I sell all manner of devices for this purpose. Best bet and least hassle is In-Line Shut Offs, and Combination padlocks.

 

[cfrazier77]

I think the easiest security idea for teenagers is to aim a webcam at the taps, and put a little card above them that says Smile, You're Being Recorded by Camera. Probably could get away with a dummy camera with blinking LED - they exist.

A version of this works for me. I use 2 Wyze wifi video cameras, $25 a piece. One is aimed at the kegorator and the other at the liqueur cabinet. When I arm them from my phone they send my phone video of whenever they detect motion. And I can talk back through a speaker. Our oldest is 6 so I am not worried about him yet, but babysitters are another story. I tell them, and their parents, about the cameras. I have had two different fathers thank me for having the cameras so their daughters would not be tempted.

 

[passedpawn]

I work at a wholesale commercial equipment distributor that shall remain nameless. I sell all manner of devices for this purpose. Best bet and least hassle is In-Line Shut Offs, and Combination padlocks.

lemme guess... Canadian Beverage Supply? haha

 

[camonick]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately this is a reactive action instead of a proactive one. After studying my situation and the fact that intertap faucets aren’t lockable, I am going to have to modify a basement storage closet with a lockable door and electricity and move my kegerator in there.

 

[Pkrd]

Can’t you lock your son in there and give your completely innocent kegerator the freedom it deserves?

 

[DanB_cdnbev]

lemme guess... Canadian Beverage Supply? haha

How ever did you guess? :-0 How do you know I'm not with the Ukrainian Fellows?

 

[DanB_cdnbev]

Can’t you lock your son in there and give your completely innocent kegerator the freedom it deserves?

"Raising boys is easy. You seal them into a barrel and feed them through the bung-hole. When they turn 18, you decide whether to let them out, or drive in the bung." - Robert Heinlein

 

[cfrazier77]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunately this is a reactive action instead of a proactive one. After studying my situation and the fact that intertap faucets aren’t lockable, I am going to have to modify a basement storage closet with a lockable door and electricity and move my kegerator in there.

Sorry to hear this. Hopefully this takes care of your situation.

 

[kiwipen]

I have to chime in about locking the kegerator or keezer.

Someone here on HBT wrote that they drilled holes to install a lock, and they hit a cooling line or some other important part. The kegerator was destroyed.

 

[augiedoggy]

I have to chime in about locking the kegerator or keezer.

Someone here on HBT wrote that they drilled holes to install a lock, and they hit a cooling line or some other important part. The kegerator was destroyed.

yes dont install the lock on the side but rather on the top of the door.

 

[okiedog]

Necessity is the mother of invention. I'm glad that I don't need faucet locks now, but I have been monitoring this thread for future reference. Currently, my kegs are in a locked fridge with picnic taps. When I do set up the bar hut that I'd like to build off my back patio, I will need to come up with something then.

 

[skidmark]

Anyone clever enough to design something for 3D printing?

 

[gnef]

If you are going to print in plastic, I don't think it is worth it, as the plastic would break or stretch too easily.

You could send it to one of the websites that does metal 3d printing, but I don't know how expensive that would be, or how strong that method would be either.

If you made the CAD files, you could potentially take it to a local metal fabrication shop or a CNC shop, but that is most likely going to be atrociously expensive.

 

[brew703]

Glad I don't have that issue. I do feel sometimes I need to find a way to keep my wife from draining my kegs.