Perlick Flow Control v Kegland Disconnects v Nukatap

[Clint Yeastwood]

I bought Perlick flow control faucets for my keezer for the following reason: they cost a lot, so they had to be better. Actually, a little more thought went into it than that, but not much.

I got my ale coming out pretty much as I would like. Two fingers of head at 12 psi. But I am reading that I'm MISSING OUT ON THE LATEST THING! I see people on the web saying Kegland's flow control disconnects are what I really want, because Perlick faucets create turbulence right at the end of the line.

Then I see people saying the flow control disconnects don't seal very well, so you have to make sure your O-rings are brand spanking new.

Finally, I see people claiming Nukatap is THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYERS! EVERYTHING ELSE IS INFERIOR!

So what is the truth?

Right now, the head looks good. Maybe slightly more than I need. I'm not totally positive the beer itself has enough gas.

 

[Bassman2003]

I purchased two Kegland disconnects and am having issues which appear to be what you mention - poor seals at the disconnect. I have new seals installed but they are buna-N from McMaster Carr. Not sure if I can get thicker versions but it kind of sucks. Although the flow control faucets are quite a bit more than the disconnects.

 

[sibelman]

My 2018 Perlick 650ss choice was based almost exactly on the kind of analysis @Clint Yeastwood did, plus they got a whole lotta love in HBT postings.

I've had virtually zero problems - one leak because the bonnet wasn't snugged. I've disassemble & reassembled a couple without incident. I did this just to see if there was any gunk accumulating - there wasn't. No need for any replacement parts yet, but I bought some just in case.

Other taps may be superior but these have been fine so far.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

It sounds like Kegland's machining company made the bores too big, and now they're running with it.

 

[Bassman2003]

I am not sure. They seem very difficult to go on to the post which would lead one to believe the bore is too small. Once on, I am getting a lot of foam and bubbles in the line. Changed back to my regular boring disconnects and the beer pours fine. Morebeer said I can return them but I would like to test some more to see if they can work. I like Kegland. I do not think they would run with a product that did not work?

 

[pvpeacock]

I had two Intertap flow control faucets. They never did what I expected them to in terms of controlling foaming.

I bought two plastic Kegland flow control disconnects for my two Jockeyboxes and they worked great (better than trying to dial in the CO2 pressure for a good pour). Then I decided to try one of them in my keezer. In my opinion, it worked better than the Intertap flow control faucets. I can't speak to the Perlick flow control faucets.

I have now replaced my two Intertap flow control faucets on my keezer with Nukatap faucets (non-flow control), and replaced all of my ball lock disconnects with plastic Kegland flow control disconnects. My set up now works much better at controlling foam and giving a nice pour.

I have not had any problem with leaks or the seals with the plastic Kegland flow control disconnects. I had one that would not pour at all, but it turned out to be the new, universal poppet spring I just installed in the keg post, not the disconnect. Once I fixed the poppet spring, it works fine.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I'm going to try the plastic disconnects and see what they do. Thanks for the info.

 

[camonick]

So what is the truth?

Proper system balancing.

 

[day_trippr]

^that^

 

[UdonPete]

It sounds like Kegland's machining company made the bores too big, and now they're running with it.

I use the Kegland flow control disconnects and have had no problems - always work perfectly 100% of the time

 

[UdonPete]

I had two Intertap flow control faucets. They never did what I expected them to in terms of controlling foaming.

I bought two plastic Kegland flow control disconnects for my two Jockeyboxes and they worked great (better than trying to dial in the CO2 pressure for a good pour). Then I decided to try one of them in my keezer. In my opinion, it worked better than the Intertap flow control faucets. I can't speak to the Perlick flow control faucets.

I have now replaced my two Intertap flow control faucets on my keezer with Nukatap faucets (non-flow control), and replaced all of my ball lock disconnects with plastic Kegland flow control disconnects. My set up now works much better at controlling foam and giving a nice pour.

I have not had any problem with leaks or the seals with the plastic Kegland flow control disconnects. I had one that would not pour at all, but it turned out to be the new, universal poppet spring I just installed in the keg post, not the disconnect. Once I fixed the poppet spring, it works fine.

I agree with your findings

 

[Ballaratguy]

My understanding is that the nuktaps are a knock off of the perlick taps (also made in breach of patent rules)

 

[JoeSpartaNJ]

I had the original Perlick flow control faucets (545 model), which have since been discontinued. They were good until they weren't. They started leaking from every seal. Probable lasted 2 years at most, but when they worked, they did what they were supposed to do.

I have no experience with them, but the Kegland flow control disconnects to me seem more like a logistical PITA. Trying to adjust the flow from the disconnect (assuming my situation which is a 2 tap kegerator with tower) while trying to pour a pint at the same time to get it right? Not to my liking.

I have since used the standard Perlicks, which also started leaking after about 2 years, and replaced those with standard Intertap faucets which have been going strong for 5 years.

It was just easier to balance my lines then deal with flow control. They only time it is an issue is when I try to bottle from the tap, which is not all that often. In that case, I purge and lower keg co2 volume to 2 psi and fill the bottle. Not ideal, but it works.

Anvil now has the Ultratap twist, which has the flow control built into the tap handle itself. I like the design, but have no need for them yet.

https://www.anvilbrewing.com/ultratap-twist

 

[11thStBrewing]

I got a couple of the flow control disconnects and they don’t work well on any setting. Foaming up way too bad. You can see it in the line. Don’t recommend.

The fit was fine here, though.

 

[Bassman2003]

It is strange how user experiences differ since keg posts are pretty standardized. The manufacturing must have some wide tolerances. I am seeing it in the line too (on the keg side, not towards the tap) which points to the disconnect letting air in. I have one of the stainless steel Kegland flow control disconnects and it works just fine. There may be some small differences between a disconnect based approach vs a tap based approach, but in the end, it is just pouring a beer. They both get the job done with some variability for different CO2 volumes/styles. I just want a range so I can run an English ale at 13 PSI or a hefe at 20 PSI.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Yeah, but that's not really an answer. It's a goal, not a solution.

Proper system balancing.

 

[Bassman2003]

The solution is always to just get the wallet out!

 

[camonick]

Yeah, but that's not really an answer. It's a goal, not a solution.

It most definitely is a solution. When a draft system is properly balanced, the need for all the extra gadgets is unnecessary. All you need is a keg disconnect, the proper length of beer line and a standard faucet.

 

[grampamark]

Yeah, but that's not really an answer. It's a goal, not a solution.

Actually, that is the solution. The beer doesn’t care about the bling through which it’s being served. All it needs is for the carb level to be at equilibrium with the beer temp and that the path from keg to faucet is smooth and unobstructed.

 

[grampamark]

So, great minds, and all like that.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

It's not a solution. A solution would involve a method. You can balance a system by fooling with the lines, the faucets, the disconnects...

 

[grampamark]

It's not a solution. A solution would involve a method. You can balance a system by fooling with the lines, the faucets, the disconnects...

Umm…that’s a method. As with most things brewing related, process matters more than hardware.

 

[Bassman2003]

I would disagree. Not because you are off base, but because the point of flow control is to be able to serve different carbonation levels through the same balanced lines. If I make my tap lines a certain length and the system pours a 12 PSI @45F beer well, if I then brew a hefe and try to serve it using 20 PSI @45F it will be a mess.

 

[sibelman]

This:

to serve different carbonation levels through the same balanced lines

If one is prepared to swap beer lines for brews of differing carbonation levels, then the "bling" of flow control is not needed.

That said, the best result could be both: flow control, plus reasonable balance via beer line resistance (gravity, length, interior diameter, and - I guess - interior smoothness).

 

[Bassman2003]

I am not prepared to do that, so flow control + EVA Barrier is the ticket.

 

[grampamark]

Flow control faucets and secondary regulators cost about the same. I brew styles which are pretty happy at one temp/pressure combo so I don’t have any issues. If I was going to have, say, an English ale at <2 vols and a Hefe at 3.5 at the same time, I think I’d rather go with secondary regulators than flow controls.

 

[Bassman2003]

You need to have two regulators to just get two different levels of carbonation. That is a given but your pouring is not affected by the regulator. That is line length, inner diameter of tubing and/or flow control.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Just saying "balance" looks like 1970 thinking to me. When they wanted to balance a line, they didn't have the tools we have now.

 

[day_trippr]

True. But after all this time it's still the only method guaranteed to work

I simply set one of my six taps for 3 volume beers (wheats, saisons, etc). I super rarely have more than one of those on tap...

Cheers!

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I am going to have 5 kegs in this first keezer, and I want to be able to put whatever I want in there at any time.