Keg Line Length Balancing Question

[JONNYROTTEN]

I have flow control Perlick faucets. I also had heard that they can exhibit a sulphur note when used to dispense high PH product like cider or wine. I have dispensed cider and never noted any sulphur taste or odor in cider or any of my beers. Been using them for a year.

I would think the percentage of issues is so low its barely worth mentioning.Youll never find someone who downgrading from flow control to longer lines.Yet endless have gone the other way..theres a reason..they work. They almost have a Taboo vibe around here which is asinine.

 

[PeteNMA]

No people just prefer simpler solutions, especially when people have already purchased perfectly good faucets. But you clearly have a drum to beat for whatever reason

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

No people just prefer simpler solutions, especially when people have already purchased perfectly good faucets. But you clearly have a drum to beat for whatever reason

I actually don't have a drum to beat whatsoever.I fully understand that people with an existing system usually are just trying to make it work.(reference my second sentence in post #6) The very fact the you refer to my mentioning the flow control as "a drum to beat" sorta proves the point it has a Taboo vibe.They should be mentioned in every Line thread.You could do "this" or "this".There are options,Isnt that the very essence of the forum to spread credible information.

 

[wapitiscat]

Do you have pre-made lengths that you use or do you custom build? Practically, how do you handle this?

I guess it would be a custom build. I don't think you would ever have more than a few different lengths. I only have one "spare" line that has an extra liquid disconnect on it.I keep my temp constant and have a manifold with three mini regulators on it. So when I have a beer that I want to carb at appreciably higher or lower volumes, I can adjust the psi and then swap out a liquid line to get the pour right. It's overkill but I'm a sucker for flexibility.

I'd probably do OK if I just slapped 10 footers on all the kegs and just dealt with the slow pour.

Todd

 

[dmcmillen]

I guess it would be a custom build. I don't think you would ever have more than a few different lengths. I only have one "spare" line that has an extra liquid disconnect on it.I keep my temp constant and have a manifold with three mini regulators on it. So when I have a beer that I want to carb at appreciably higher or lower volumes, I can adjust the psi and then swap out a liquid line to get the pour right. It's overkill but I'm a sucker for flexibility.

I'd probably do OK if I just slapped 10 footers on all the kegs and just dealt with the slow pour.

Todd

Thanks Todd. By mini regulator are you referring to the small co2 cartridges that folks use as a portable tank. I think they make them with fixed pressure or adjustable. The adjustable ones are a bit pricey.

My keezer set-up is an external co2 tank with primary guage and two inside secondary guages, each feeding a 4-pos manifold so I can have 4 kegs at one pressure and 4 kegs at a second pressure. Right now I only have four taps and four 5' lines. I like my beer cold so I keep my keezer at 35 but I'm starting to brew beers that are better served at warmer temps. (I know--I'm going to get comments about losing taste at colder temps and they're right for certain beers. That's why I wish I could dedicate 2 freezers) The 5' lines work pretty well at that temp and there is some variability with flow rate and volumes to make the 5' lines work. If I warm things up I'm going to have to go with longer lines. Like you I like flexibility so I appreciate you sharing what has worked for you.

I don't want to be removing barbs from hoses and reinstalling on another hoses. Hoses won't last long and I'll spend a lot of time working on my language skills. So my idea is to pick up more line hardware to build some more hoses. So I'm trying to figure out what lengths I can anticipate.

I already have my faucets so it's not practical to replace with flow control faucets and in-line flow control valves are too expensive. Now if I add more taps I would probably go with flow-control faucets assuming that they work. For the difference in price that solution just provides too much flexibility.

 

[wapitiscat]

Thanks Todd. By mini regulator are you referring to the small co2 cartridges that folks use as a portable tank. I think they make them with fixed pressure or adjustable. The adjustable ones are a bit pricey.

I guess they'd be secondary regulators. It's a three way manifold with an adjustable regulator on each feed.

I don't want to be removing barbs from hoses and reinstalling on another hoses. Hoses won't last long and I'll spend a lot of time working on my language skills. So my idea is to pick up more line hardware to build some more hoses. So I'm trying to figure out what lengths I can anticipate. .

Yeah. Probably the way to go is to get extra barbs and swivel nuts for the keg disconnects. I haven't added any extra hardware on the back of my taps. They're repurposed from a tower and the barbs are part of the construction so I cut those ends when I switch a line.

Don't get too crazy and spend all your time managing your liquid line inventory.

Todd

 

[jmcquesten]

Just put long lines on each faucet. No need to change to shorter lines when switching to a lower pressure. Seems like too much trouble to get a new line for each new serving pressure. Longer lines don't really have any major drawbacks, at least non that would warrant changing them over a couple psi.

 

[wapitiscat]

Just put long lines on each faucet. No need to change to shorter lines when switching to a lower pressure. Seems like too much trouble to get a new line for each new serving pressure. Longer lines don't really have any major drawbacks, at least non that would warrant changing them over a couple psi.

Exactly what I (we) will end up doing but I have to mess around a bit on my way to the preferred solution.

Todd