New Keezer

[Neon_Nightrider]

Having a strange issue....

I built a Keezer got it running a while back, and the first 2 commercial kegs (Shiner and Miller) as well as 2 corny keg home brew went perfect!

No Issues with back-feeding CO2 or dispensing issues on the ball lock Corny, or the D-style commercial coupler.

The Inkbird is keeping the temp in the delta I want; and the temp probe is coupled well with the heat sink and reads within a degree of a merc. thermo.

Then all of a sudden without warning.

Now its just foam.

All pressures are set right according to temp and manufacture recommendation.

~15psi at 38-45 degree F

Picnic tap is a Stainless Steel Torpedo Keg model that has been cleaned thoroughly.

Regulator is rebuilt and reading correctly +- 0.5 to the bench gauge.

Tap is a D System Keg Coupler from Krome Dispense (new, as I thought the coupler I had was bad.)

I have checked everything. What do you think it is before I replace the regulator, as that's the only second hand part I still have, and want a dual reg.

Edit : I rest the beer 2 hours after transport before taping, lock coupler, purge valve, match pressure, purge valve.
CO2 system has no leaks.

 

[Happy Tails Brewing]

Looking at your pictures, your beer line looks very short. Do you know that is the correct length for the diameter of the line and the pressure you are running. I know you said you have put a couple of kegs through without a problem, but at a quick glance at your setup, I would expect a lot of foam. That should be an easy test, and cheaper than a new regulator if it is your problem.

 

[Neon_Nightrider]

With 1/4 ID lines I have tried the 1.5 foot, 3 foot, 5 foot, and 7 foot lines, all clean.

The calculator I am using recommends...50 feet?

That's insane? I am not saying its wrong but that seems hyper excessive.

I can turn down the CO2 pressure to 6-7 psi but I am worried the CO2 will come out of solution and get flat beer.

I guess the other option is just foam.

Maybe I had the pressure much lower when I started.

 

[day_trippr]

I suspect you used this calculator - which is good because it's the only beer line length calculator worth using:
https://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/
It's accompanied by our favorite carbonation table. If you use the table to set your CO2 pressure it should never be over-carbonated. Then if you use Mike's calculator with the pressure from the table your pours should be near perfect.

fwiw, in the past you'd be advised to use 1 foot of 3/16" ID beer line for your desired CO2 pressure (from the table, again). You'd typically end up with between 10 and 12 feet of tubing. But now with oxygen-barrier EVABarrier tubing available in 4 mm ID you can use as little as 5 feet of tubing and end up with higher quality beer over time because the tubing keeps oxygen away from your beer...

Cheers!

 

[Happy Tails Brewing]

I suspect you used this calculator - which is good because it's the only beer line length calculator worth using:
https://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/
It's accompanied by our favorite carbonation table. If you use the table to set your CO2 pressure it should never be over-carbonated. Then if you use Mike's calculator with the pressure from the table your pours should be near perfect.

fwiw, in the past you'd be advised to use 1 foot of 3/16" ID beer line for your desired CO2 pressure (from the table, again). You'd typically end up with between 10 and 12 feet of tubing. But now with oxygen-barrier EVABarrier tubing available in 4 mm ID you can use as little as 5 feet of tubing and end up with higher quality beer over time because the tubing keeps oxygen away from your beer...

Cheers!

I was going to give the same link. 1/4 is pretty large for a short run. If you downsize to 3/16 you would only need 12.78 ft for 15 psi, or 4MM as suggest above and you would only need 5.44 ft @ 15 psi. If you lower your pressure, you would also need less, but you want the pressure to the correct setting for the carbonation you want in your beer. I normally run mine at 10 - 12 psi and have 6ft of EVABarrier line. No issues with foam ever.

 

[Neon_Nightrider]

I have decided to go with the 3/16 line and go with 13 feet of Bevlex, seems very good and what I have been using so far.

As nice as a tower tap is, I like the picnic taps.

Thank you for the help.

I need to get more batches ready and share my fun.

 

[Neon_Nightrider]

Tube showed up and WOW the wall thickness.

For me; comparing the "despising end" to that of a capillary tube makes me better understand the length, and I.D. for pressure and restriction.

Thinking of some hard line 3/16 Stainless coils.....

Going to keep it at 10psi for now at 13Ft of 3/16
and set the Delta on the keezer from 34-42 Degree F

Perfect pours, thank you all very much!

Edit: Its super hot you beer nerds figured out all the math to this.

 

[Happy Tails Brewing]

Glad to hear it was an easy and relatively cheap fix.

 

[day_trippr]

We get by with the help of many folks. The trick is figuring out who to line up behind

Cheers!