Question about manifolds

[TheZymurgist]

Just want to make sure I understand this correctly. If I have four different kegs, with one CO2 tank (with a single regulator) and a four-way gas manifold, all four tanks are going to equalize to the same pressure, and therefore the same level of carbonation, correct?

Let's say I charge one keg to 18psi, separate from the others, and let it fully carbonate. If I connect it to the manifold with three other kegs set on 10psi for serving, eventually, the pressure in all four kegs will equalize, meaning the one at 18psi will drop, and the others will increase slightly, right?

I'm thinking in order to have different levels of carbonation, I will need to have a dual (or more) regulator. I ask this because right now I have my kegs set up with party taps, and I want to add taps to the door of my fridge. One of the kegs is a Saison, which is carbonated much higher than the rest, and I'm thinking if I hook it up with the rest of the kegs, it will decrease its level of carbonation.

 

[day_trippr]

If your manifold has shut-off valves with functional integrated check valves, the kegs pressures should not equalize. That said, it is impractical to maintain different keg pressures with a single regulator...

Cheers!

 

[TheZymurgist]

If your manifold has shut-off valves with functional integrated check valves, the kegs pressures should not equalize. That said, it is impractical to maintain different keg pressures with a single regulator...

Cheers!

Most of the manifolds I've seen have shut-off valves, but I'm not sure whether they have check valves or not. I would think not, but I'm only guessing. I'll probably end up getting a dual regulator manifold to mount inside the fridge. That way I can have at least two different pressures.

 

[mikeasu]

Most of the manifolds I've seen have shut-off valves, but I'm not sure whether they have check valves or not. I would think not, but I'm only guessing. I'll probably end up getting a dual regulator manifold to mount inside the fridge. That way I can have at least two different pressures.

Sounds right. I bought a dual regulator to support two different pressures to 1-2 kegs each (should have 4 kegs at max capacity). I also wanted two pressures. Think I'll maintain an assortment of liquid lines at set lengths with ball-lock disconnects and the shank nut, for each pressure setting, for easy swap-out - i.e. two hoses for low pressure (2.0 vol), two for med (2.5) and two for high (3.0-3.5). Convienently, the lengths according to a line balancing calculator (seems to work well for the med length, will test short length too) come out to be 4, 6, and 8-9 feet for low/med/high respectively, with PSI set for 8/12/and 16 or 18 - serving at 40°

 

[Clonefan94]

Most of the manifolds I've seen have shut-off valves, but I'm not sure whether they have check valves or not. I would think not, but I'm only guessing. I'll probably end up getting a dual regulator manifold to mount inside the fridge. That way I can have at least two different pressures.

I fill my kegs up so high, I've had a couple of issues with beer coming back up the gas line. I ended up buying some plastic inline check valves and putting them on the end of my current gas line, then just adding another foot to the end of the check valve and then to the keg. Makes it a lot easier, in case I get any backflow of beer, to just remove that little section and clean it out.

Still not sure though, how well the check valves really hold CO2 back though. Plus, every time you pour a beer from the keg at a different pressure, eventually it will standardize with the rest of the kegs as the pressure will equalize. I keep three different kegs on tap and just use a 3 way manifold. It's not ideal, a couple of beers have been over carbed for style and a couple have been undercarbed, but I've just found a happy medium and go with that. Eventually I'll add another regulator, but so far it just hasn't seemed to come up as a needed priority.