Long Draw Salt Water Chilled Beer Tower

[mrklueber]

bump so I can subscribe to this awesome thread. Great job. Hope it is stilling working for you.

 

[runningweird]

it is still working, though it now resides outside and I have switched from salt water to rv antifreeze/glycol. works great so far and no complaints

 

[psarsama]

Just letting you know that I created an account after an infinite amount of time lurking just to say thank you for this. I'm opening a small taproom and nanobrewery and have been trying to figure out how to avoid paying 8k to have 8-10 taps available. This is how we're going to do it.

 

[runningweird]

Just letting you know that I created an account after an infinite amount of time lurking just to say thank you for this. I'm opening a small taproom and nanobrewery and have been trying to figure out how to avoid paying 8k to have 8-10 taps available. This is how we're going to do it.

awesome, I switched to rv antifreeze, its working great.

 

[psarsama]

awesome, I switched to rv antifreeze, its working great.

That's just propylene glycol, no?

Is it any different than buying something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KUZ9PM/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[runningweird]

it has propylene glycol in it, I think there are some other additives that make it not 100% food safe, but the stuff will never touch food so it isn't an issue. I thought about using mineral oil instead, but was convinced on this site to go with RV antifreeze. I would have used food safe propylene glycol but I couldn't abide the high cost for my little six tap system.


yes, that pail looks to fit the bill

 

[bbshopplf]

Are you still using the same pump with the glycol, or did you have to upgrade to a new pump?

I have a 12' vertical I need to account for. Do you have an opinion whether your pump would go the distance?

Thanks for all the effort in keeping us all updated. This thread has been invaluable to my build.

 

[milldoggy]

My pond pump handles a 13 ft vertical, but I had to prime the system for it to work

 

[runningweird]

The pump i have will do that height, i had to prime it first, and yes it is the same pump i started with.

 

[bbshopplf]

The pump i have will do that height, i had to prime it first, and yes it is the same pump i started with.

Thanks for the quick reply. So I asked this question believing you'd included a link to your specific pump earlier in the thread. If it's there, I cannot find it. [shrug]

I'm looking at approx. 100 gph pumps, as this is in your reported price range (~$30 pump at Lowe's). Is that right?

Also I've read in other threads that a constant flow vs a variable flow can have positive/negative effects. Just curious whether you've experimented with that, or if you're still leaving it on all the time.

 

[bbshopplf]

Nevermind; I found the pump info in your original thread.

I had no idea until now that the other thread was yours - a precursor to this one. Hysterical.

Thanks again for all the info/insight.

 

[runningweird]

sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. Glad you found my other post, I thought I had it linked in this post.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Beckett 1/64 HP Submersible Shut-Off Fountain Pump

 

[runningweird]

Thanks for the quick reply. So I asked this question believing you'd included a link to your specific pump earlier in the thread. If it's there, I cannot find it. [shrug]

I'm looking at approx. 100 gph pumps, as this is in your reported price range (~$30 pump at Lowe's). Is that right?

Also I've read in other threads that a constant flow vs a variable flow can have positive/negative effects. Just curious whether you've experimented with that, or if you're still leaving it on all the time.

I have no idea about variable flow, in the winter it could be nice since that is when I tend to get frozen taps. I just leave it on all the time, the pump has run 24/7 for all this time and hasn't had an issue. I guess I could put it on a timer, which I think I have from my grain germination project, and it would only run a few hours a day, but then the glycol mix might slush.....presenting other issues.

Beckett 1/64 HP Submersible Shut-Off Fountain Pump, linked to on the last page

 

[e_chicharro]

Hi, I´m new in this homebrew world and I think it is the best hobby of all. I´m going to use the same system you created (I think is the best idea). Just wanted to know, how do you controll the fridge temp in both compartments and in the freezer which temperatur you set and which you actually get on the glycol? As far as I know, must fridges uses same motor for both, passing by air from one to another.

 

[barnaclebob]

nvm, already answered...

 

[thippe]

are you guys using 1/2 in INNER diamater hose for the chill line? trying to order up all the parts i need to do this.

 

[milldoggy]

I use 3/8s

 

[mheitt]

When we redid our kitchen two summers ago I did this set up and it's been pretty awesome. I tried salt but didn't like that (don't recall why), then tried an antifreeze solution and that got gunky/slimy, so for the past year I've run a high concentrated solution of rubbing alcohol and water and haven't had slime.

The one thing I'd do differently if I had to do it again is that I cheaped out on the cooling lines: I used vinyl tubing rather than a nice diameter copper tubing. The vinyl tubing really doesn't allow for sufficient heat exchange and thus my first pour comes out like this: about an ounce or two of beer followed by a high pressure "burp" of about 4 ounces of foam (that sometimes splashes the minimal beer out of the glass), followed by cool beer. I don't understand why I get that high pressure burp of foam. Any ideas???

 

[milldoggy]

What temp is your cooling solution? What temp is the kegerator? Sound like a difference in temp is causing gas to escape. I use the semi rigid tubing that is part of my prefab trunk line, think it us vinyl. My beer lines are accuflex. Neither have thick walls. My run is 25 ft and my beer temp matches my cooling water temp for the first pour. 25 ft of 1/4 hold around 12 Oz's. If you use the standard thick walled vinyl, I bet you might have temp transfer issues

 

[mheitt]

What temp is your cooling solution? What temp is the kegerator? Sound like a difference in temp is causing gas to escape. I use the semi rigid tubing that is part of my prefab trunk line, think it us vinyl. My beer lines are accuflex. Neither have thick walls. My run is 25 ft and my beer temp matches my cooling water temp for the first pour. 25 ft of 1/4 hold around 12 Oz's. If you use the standard thick walled vinyl, I bet you might have temp transfer issues

Good question! I'll have to check for a differential. I set up the chiller pump to go on and off with one of those cheap STC-1000 units.

michael

 

[thippe]

Good question! I'll have to check for a differential. I set up the chiller pump to go on and off with one of those cheap STC-1000 units.

michael

I think you're better off just having the pump run for 12 hours or for whatever hours of the day you may want a beer. I just built a setup using a blower fan and it works 'ok' (beer is 40 degrees when first poured) but i decided thats not good enough for me.
I found on a different thread someone suggested this for the glycol lines: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Watts-1-...ethylene-Tubing-SPIG25/100186093#.UlSA6lBvNpV

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=436223

 

[milldoggy]

I run my pump 24/7. It is a small 5 volt DC submersible.

 

[jackers252]

Runningweird, do you still run this setup? Any issues or changes? I'm looking to replicate your build and was wondering if you had problems keeping your beer cold enough while keeping your salt water warm enough. If you had to do it again, would you do a chest freezer and a diy glycol chiller for better temp control?

 

[runningweird]

A final update for those wondering:

I ran this straight 24 hours a day until just recently. The pump never once had an issue and I am planning on selling it with the rest of my brewing stuff(yes sad, but I have drifted from the hobby and have to make room for other projects)

I found the glycol to be an okay solution, the alcohol water mix may be the best option as glycol slushes in the freezer and salt water is a pain to maintain with evaporation.

Sometimes this project worked too well- frozen taps and condensation on the tap tower that caused some issues. I would change this project a bit by running the chilling reservoir at the same temp that the kegs are kept - not from the freezer.

I'm so glad others were able to get some benefit from this and I really appreciate all the replies!

Cheers everyone.