Splitter VS Dual Pressure Regulator

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nman13

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Alright so it seems like I need to buy a new regulator and wanted some help in making the decision.

I was wondering whether it was worth it to spend $105 and get the Dual pressure regulator (see link below)

http://www.amazon.com/Taprite-Product-Pressure-Kegerator-Regulator/dp/B0060NOX40/ref=sr_sp-btf_title_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1399565006&sr=8-7&keywords=co2+regulator

Or just stick with a standard regulator for $47 (see link below) and use a splitter to split the gas line in two.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=co2+regulator


It seems that the only benefit is that you can force carb one beer and still be serving another. Though it really only takes a day or two to force carb a beer so is it really worth the extra $50?

The other thing I was thinking of was that I may want to serve beer at different pressures. At this point I really cant imagine doing that though in the future it may be something I would do.

I searched some posts on the the debate but didn't seem to find anything (but feel free to point me in the direction of one if you have) so if anyone has some insight on the matter I'd love to hear about it.
 
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TheMattTrain

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If I could go back and do it all over again, I'd have gotten a duel regulator. For the setup I want to have, I'd like to be able to have one of the regulator ends split for 3 taps at serving pressure and then put another keg on at carbing pressure to chill out until another keg kicks.
 

bajaedition

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I have a regular single regualtor and a 4 way splitter
each split has an back flow eliminator and an on/off ball valve
I keep 3 beers on tap and have the 4th splitter set up for carbonation
I just do not have the other lines on when I am carbonating.
simple cheap and only worried about 1 regulator screwing up
 

dyqik

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It might be very slightly cheaper to buy two of the $47 regulators, and the coupling piece needed to turn them into a dual regulator. Then you have all the pieces to go dual, but can go back to single if one fails, or you find you are setting them to the same pressure (then you can sell the spare on...).

I have a dual regulator (put together this way as an upgrade to my first one), which is currently serving a saison at 20psi and a pale ale at 10 psi. I have a wye splitter on the 20psi one for carbing at the same time as serving.
 

betarhoalphadelta

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I have a dual body and I love it. I used to have a single-body and I ended up having to buy this as an upgrade, so I double-spent for it*.

It's on a six-tap keezer with 4 beers connected to pressure #1 (with 10' beer line each) and 2 beers connected to pressure #2 (with 25' beer line each). I went that route so that I could serve highly-carbonated styles as needed such as Apfelwein, many belgian beers, and hefeweizen.

If you expect your kegerator needs to grow beyond 2 kegs, or if you think you'll regularly serve at different pressures, buy the dual-body now rather than kicking yourself down the road when you have to replace it. Likewise, buy Perlick faucets now rather than kicking yourself down the road when you replace the cheapies.


* As it stands, I now use the single-body on a spare CO2 tank for carbonating and/or keeping beers on gas when they're not in the keezer. So it's not a total loss to have both. But I'd still consider buying the dual up-front to be a worthwhile investment.
 

rattle_snake

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I had a single regulator and 3 kegs, one was flat, one foam and one was good. I used cheap picnic faucets.

I added two more regulators, and could adjust to each beer. It was a pain.

Then I upgraded to real faucets and 10' of line. Now all my regulators are within 2-3 psi and I think I could live with just one.

So I would start with rebuilding or repairing the one you have and get your lines the right length (maybe they already are). Then add regulator(s) if your not happy.

http://www.kegoutlet.com/co2-regulator-add-a-body-chudnow-right-handed-thread.html

To do it again I would have stayed with a single CO2 and added a Nitrogen setup before additional CO2.
 
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