Kegerator build: need help deciding how many taps

[Summa_Brewologica]

Is there a duotight connection that replaces the barb on a tap rite regulator?

edit: never mind I should have just looked at it. No barb.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

Thanks to all of you who responded. I know these kinds of threads are so common but I really appreciate it. All responses were very helpful.
Got 3 nukatap and assemblies, all Evabarrier and duotight fittings for both gas and liquid. Ditched the manifold and got the inline regulators. I’m excited to get this thing built.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

I’m so certain that no one cares at all but I decided to do 4 taps instead of 3 because I found this on more beer and I figured if I couldn’t keep 4 kegs filled I could get this growler filled with something good and keep it on that fourth tap. Plus 4 taps just look better then 3. I’d do 5 but I have to draw the line somewhere. This is becoming more expensive than I anticipated.
https://www.morebeer.com/products/corny-keg-64-oz-ball-lock.html

 

[Beer666]

@grampamark Love your tap handles.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

You mean like this?

Hey @Knightshade do you see any issues with putting the regulators inside the fridge? Since Im using Evabarrier tubing I could possibly forego drilling a hole for the gas. If I put the regulators outside like you have them I would have to drill into the side.

 

[grampamark]

Do you have a manifold or are you using multiple regulators?

I missed this when it was posted a couple of weeks ago. FWIW, I use a single regulator and a manifold. I don’t see a need to use multiple regulators. When carbonating a new keg I only have the pressure set higher on that keg for 24 hours. During that time, the pressure in the headspace of any other kegs on tap will serve more than a few pints. As always, YMMV.

 

[Knightshade]

Hey @Knightshade do you see any issues with putting the regulators inside the fridge? Since Im using Evabarrier tubing I could possibly forego drilling a hole for the gas. If I put the regulators outside like you have them I would have to drill into the side.

I don’t think so? I had some inside for a short period of time and they didn’t fog up or anything. Just put them out, so I could have a cleaner setup.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

I don’t think so? I had some inside for a short period of time and they didn’t fog up or anything. Just put them out, so I could have a cleaner setup.

And a good clean setup it is. It’s great.

 

[jseyfert3]

Hey @Knightshade do you see any issues with putting the regulators inside the fridge? Since Im using Evabarrier tubing I could possibly forego drilling a hole for the gas. If I put the regulators outside like you have them I would have to drill into the side.

My tank and regulators are inside. There's no issue with it, they work fine. Many others here do the same.

 

[Beernik]

I’m in the same boat. I’m the only drinker and seldom have company. I guess its one of those things where if you go with two taps you’ll wish you had more but if you go with three or four you’ll never keep it stocked.

I’m not the only beer drinker in my house but I don’t drink a lot anymore & my wife drinks even less.

I’m working on my build. My freezer is large enough to hold 3 kegs + 1 fermentor bucket or 5 kegs.

My plan is to start with 3 taps on a tower with the ability to expand to 6 taps with one being warm seltzer water. One tap may also be soda.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

I’m not the only beer drinker in my house but I don’t drink a lot anymore & my wife drinks even less.

I’m working on my build. My freezer is large enough to hold 3 kegs + 1 fermentor bucket or 5 kegs.

My plan is to start with 3 taps on a tower with the ability to expand to 6 taps with one being warm seltzer water. One tap may also be soda.

I am having a hard time deciding between 3 and 4 taps. I’m probably going 4 because I know I can keep at least 2 beers at any given time, I can always make a mead or cider because it takes like 5 minutes and some nutrient additions to make, and thinking about doing soda on the other one. This, of course, if I cant keep 4 beers on tap.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

I have an MFL on my regulator, just to confirm if anyone knows: when connecting the duotight fitting to mfl that does NOT have the plastic on it like ball locks do, I need that little white washer, correct?

 

[Tom R]

Not used on this type of fitting. The fitting itself deforms slightly to make a seal when fully tightened.
Here are installations instructions from the Morebeer site:
duotight Female Flare Fittings.pdf

 

[Beernik]

I am having a hard time deciding between 3 and 4 taps. I’m probably going 4 because I know I can keep at least 2 beers at any given time, I can always make a mead or cider because it takes like 5 minutes and some nutrient additions to make, and thinking about doing soda on the other one. This, of course, if I cant keep 4 beers on tap.

If I was you, I think 4 would also be my plan.

I guess I should clarify on my post, my first 3 taps are planned for 2 beers & a cider. My expansion would be 2 session beers, 1 heavy beer, a cider, a soda, & a seltzer water.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

This Evabarrier is incredible. It’s small enough I can feed the co2 line between the door seal without having to drill another hole in the fridge. It can also bend 90 degrees without kinking. I just cut a small styrofoam block to go over the line to cover and insulate that little bit of gap left in the door seal from the line.

Absolutely amazing.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

@Knightshade have you ever had any leaks in your duotight regulators? Mine are hooked up and I have 2 kegs carving. No leaks that I can tell. Hit it all with some starsan and didn’t see anything leaking. But those things just look like they would leak. So many connections. Guess I’m paranoid.

 

[Knightshade]

@Summa_Brewologica I haven't. I suspect that like you, my faith wasn't there until it just finally was...but I still kind of wonder from time to time. After my initial hookup, I sprayed with Star San, Soapy Water, etc., watching, waiting to see bubbles and I never did.

A couple of weeks ago I actually turned off gas at the tank for a couple of days and just waited for the regulators to show some movement and they never did even after tap, tap, tapping.

I suspect that this is why I bought the polypropylene board very recently, along w/the stupid precut tubing. I figured with everything just so, and aligned perfectly vs. my done by hand, some tubing not quite the same length..my faith is just a little off, although the setup has yet to fail. It is still sitting off to the side, because I'd have to unhook everything and then the board itself is just a little bit bigger so it wouldn't be flush anymore.....blah, blah..

Williams Brewing did mention to me that if you suspect a leak, to remove the valve and make sure that the o-ring has some keg lube on it, or re-apply as you think necessary for periodic maintenance. I did this when I changed them out for lower PSI gauges.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

@Summa_Brewologica I haven't. I suspect that like you, my faith wasn't there until it just finally was...but I still kind of wonder from time to time. After my initial hookup, I sprayed with Star San, Soapy Water, etc., watching, waiting to see bubbles and I never did.

A couple of weeks ago I actually turned off gas at the tank for a couple of days and just waited for the regulators to show some movement and they never did even after tap, tap, tapping.

I suspect that this is why I bought the polypropylene board very recently, along w/the stupid precut tubing. I figured with everything just so, and aligned perfectly vs. my done by hand, some tubing not quite the same length..my faith is just a little off, although the setup has yet to fail. It is still sitting off to the side, because I'd have to unhook everything and then the board itself is just a little bit bigger so it wouldn't be flush anymore.....blah, blah..

Williams Brewing did mention to me that if you suspect a leak, to remove the valve and make sure that the o-ring has some keg lube on it, or re-apply as you think necessary for periodic maintenance. I did this when I changed them out for lower PSI gauges.

I opted for that board as well. I read that those pieces were 50mm so I cut some 8mm tubing to that length. Seems to be good but like I said everything just seems so sketchy.

I didn’t change out the gauges but I did pull each one out to change the orientation. I did not think to apply keg lube or anything. Nothing Is leaking, that I can tell. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see and hope for the best.

On the morebeer site, someone mentioned using m4 x 16 screws. I can confirm that they work for installing the gauges, in case you didn’t see that already. Pack of 12 at Lowe’s was $2.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

Here’s the final product. I’m thinking about covering the water and ice dispenser on the freezer side with a chalkboard of some kind to list the beers. It isn’t hooked up to water and is inoperable. I’ll also put a drip tray on at some point. Other than all that I’m pretty happy. All the gas is hooked up and lines are cut for the beer but I haven’t hooked those up yet.

 

[Knightshade]

Veddy nice!

Is there any need/desire to for seltzer water? Not certain how to tie that into water dispenser, but a thought?

Otherwise, like the idea of covering with a tap list of for no other reason to clean it up a bit.

 

[Summa_Brewologica]

Veddy nice!

Is there any need/desire to for seltzer water? Not certain how to tie that into water dispenser, but a thought?

Otherwise, like the idea of covering with a tap list of for no other reason to clean it up a bit.

That’s a great idea but I’d have to plumb a line to the fridge. We bought that used from a friend to replace our other fridge but it didn’t fit upstairs so it’s been sitting downstairs. I have used it as a ferment chamber and more so to store my kegs and serving with a picnic tap. I wish the taps weren’t as high for aesthetics but that’s where they felt more natural for pouring.


Maybe if I put some kind of background between the taps and the future drip tray. Or I’m overthinking it. Here are the innards

 

[Knightshade]

If you ended up going with four, you could just do a triangle pattern with one at top. Or if you decide to do 4 now, do a diamond pattern. Spacing could be even with either to fill that need to confine to a defined shape.

Having said that, I have a 4 tap kegerator and have only once had all 4 operating and I think that was only for a few days. I utilize the space to accommodate 4 kegs more often than the 4 taps, but it is nice having that option.

I've had 4 beers on tap for almost 2 weeks now! Longest period of time for sure. One of my kegs is close to kicking..figure over Thanksgiving weekend it will definitely disappear as it is my Dad's fave so far. I've got a 1.5G full of ginger beer for the kiddos, but...def not interested in hooking up such a small quantity to the kegerator..picnic tap for that one!