Keggle: coupling position

[Yavid]

Not sure if this has been asked before but I am looking for advice on where to position my couplings in a new keggle. I did a quick search of the forums and didn't find anything. Hopefully I am not creating a re-post. If I have please accept my apologies.

Anyway, on to the question: I have 3 kegs that I am about to convert. I am wondering where best to put my couplings. How many should I have in the MLT, HLT and kettle? How high above the bottom rim should they be? Should they be vertically aligned or is it better to have one in front and one on the side?

I was thinking of welding one into the boil kettle on the side and near the middle, angling the hole so that the coupling enters the keg nearly tangent to the side (I hope this description makes sense). I thought I could recirculate the wort through this coupling to create a whirlpool and group all of the trub, hops and other crud into the center before transferring the wort to a fermenter. I plan to use a whirlpool immersion chiller so this is probably unnecessary. Thought I'd see what others thoughts are.

 

[menschmaschine]

For the ones at the bottom, it's best to have them away from the ventilation holes in the skirt (I centered mine in between vent holes). As far as positioning up from the bottom, you just want to allow enough room so that everything clears the skirt weld.

 

[SweetSounds]

For the ones at the bottom, it's best to have them away from the ventilation holes in the skirt (I centered mine in between vent holes). As far as positioning up from the bottom, you just want to allow enough room so that everything clears the skirt weld.

Is that because the heat from the burners will warm the fittings (And burn your fingers)? I wouldn't have thought of that, and be cussing with a hand under the faucet no doubt!

Great post! I'm sure there is a LOT of preference involved, but are there any general guidelines? I haven't seen this mentioned in the forums either...

 

[menschmaschine]

Is that because the heat from the burners will warm the fittings (And burn your fingers)?

Particularly for weldless fittings, there is a silicone ring on the outside that could melt with direct flame shooting up from the burner. Also, there is inevitably some teflon tape hanging out the threads too. But, yeah, I'd imagine one could burn himself if he needed to open the valve shortly after the burner was on.

 

[mmurray]

I have the same question... I bought this

and was wondering how high I should put the coupling with the rigid line.

 

[BigJay13]

Not to be a smart ass but I'm sure with a tape measure you could figure out where to drill the hole for that false bottom dip tube. At the very least you could drill a pilot hole from the inside where the dip tube will connect to the coupling through the keg wall. Or you could just eye ball it--worked for me.

As for the OP, I have one coupling and I put it as close to the bottom as I could without getting into the curved portion. It is about an inch, IIRC, above the weld line between the skirt and the keg body.

 

[mmurray]

I'm sure I can when it comes in, I was just being lazy and figured this could be a good opportunity to see if anyone who has used this same piece could give an exact measurment. to save me some time...