Testing pour with water

[ph0ngwh0ng]

Hi!

I'm setting up my new keg system fro and I've stumbled on this amazing resource for determining pressure. I have a couple questions:

1) Is the pressure I set on the gauge the same as the one calculated?

2) The calculator takes the FG as a factor for calculating the hose length. Can I test the whole system and the pour with water first (using 1.000 FG) ?

Thanks!

 

[wilconrad]

1) yes

2) not sure you'd learn a whole lot here, or that it's worth the trouble to setup for 1.000 just to test, and have to use a shorter line when you actually switch to beer

I wouldn't overthink this one; determine your serving pressure then use 1ft of 3/16" bev line for every 3psi (less .5psi for each ft of drop from tap to keg center)

 

[day_trippr]

Use Solty's calculator, it is the only I'll use and absolutely the only one I'll recommend.

The old saw "1 foot per 3 psi" is the path to foamy pours. It's essentially the same errant conclusion that the typical "calculators" provide, and the likely root cause of over half the posts in this forum...

Cheers!

 

[wilconrad]

To each his own, I guess, 3psi/ft works for me.

So do you really resize your serving lines for each beer you brew based on final gravity? That seems like a lot of work. I have 3 taps, one at 15psi for hefeweizens, etc and 2 at 10psi for most other beers, with lines sized according to the "old saw" and it seems to work. Keeps me from getting thirsty, anyway.

 

[ph0ngwh0ng]

To each his own, I guess, 3psi/ft works for me.

So do you really resize your serving lines for each beer you brew based on final gravity? That seems like a lot of work. I have 3 taps, one at 15psi for hefeweizens, etc and 2 at 10psi for most other beers, with lines sized according to the "old saw" and it seems to work. Keeps me from getting thirsty, anyway.

If you fiddle a bit with the calculator, you'll find that FG doesn't impact the desired line length very much.

AFAIK you have to play with pressure and temperature so that it fits your line length.

Use Solty's calculator, it is the only I'll use and absolutely the only one I'll recommend.

The old saw "1 foot per 3 psi" is the path to foamy pours. It's essentially the same errant conclusion that the typical "calculators" provide, and the likely root cause of over half the posts in this forum...

Cheers!

Nice! But that doesn't answer my question. Is is worth to test my system with water prior to filling it with beer, to be sure there's no leak and all. And can I test the pour with water (has it been done)?

 

[Yooper]

To each his own, I guess, 3psi/ft works for me.

So do you really resize your serving lines for each beer you brew based on final gravity? That seems like a lot of work. I have 3 taps, one at 15psi for hefeweizens, etc and 2 at 10psi for most other beers, with lines sized according to the "old saw" and it seems to work. Keeps me from getting thirsty, anyway.

I never resize any lines- but if I go over 10 psi with a short line, I get foamy pours.

I went from 6' to 8' and finally to 12'. Most pours are relatively foam-free, but if I had it to do over again, I'd start even longer. The worse that can happen from a line that is a bit longer than needed is a slower pour- there are no disadvantages. If you have 12'-15' lines, you can serve a beer at just about any carb level, up to 18 psi or so at 40 degrees. (Not soda- that needs like 25' of line).

I would start with a minimum of 10' lines for each tap for a standard home kegerator set up. Longer would be even better for someone who liked to serve weizens and saisons and other spritzy beers.

 

[ph0ngwh0ng]

I never resize any lines- but if I go over 10 psi with a short line, I get foamy pours.

At what temperature?

 

[Yooper]

At what temperature?

My kegerator is at 40 degrees. I have no rise to speak of (it's an upright fridge) and little temperature variation in the kegerator.

 

[ong]

Nice! But that doesn't answer my question. Is is worth to test my system with water prior to filling it with beer, to be sure there's no leak and all. And can I test the pour with water (has it been done)?

In my experience you're a lot more likely to be battling gas leaks than liquid, and testing with water wouldn't get you very far there. I'd just go ahead and get things set up with beer. Course you're probably going to want to run cleaner or sanitizer through your lines first anyway.

 

[ph0ngwh0ng]

My kegerator is at 40 degrees. I have no rise to speak of (it's an upright fridge) and little temperature variation in the kegerator.

If I learned one thing here at HBT, it's that listening to Yooper is a good thing to do. I just ordered 50 ft of beer line. I'll start with 12 ft, maybe even 15. Anyhow, it'll give me more headroom for different carb levels and serving temps.

After reading about food grade and "extinguisher" grade co2, I think I'll do a test with water prior to kegging, to ensure no off flavor is caused by the co2.

Thanks for helping me think this through! :rockin:

 

[barnaclebob]

Have you ever tasted plain carbonated water? I'd expect some of that taste to possibly come through but not much, depends how long you let it sit at pressure.

I think you are overthinking it. Just use the line length that calculator says for the upper range of pressure you intend to run.

With a 3-4ft picnic tap at 38 degrees, 12psi, and holding the beer at head level (keg near the ground) i got about 1.5"-2" of foam. 12ft line, 13psi, and waist level pours gives me very little foam, actually have to splash the last bit to get some head on the beer.

My bottle is filled at a fire extinguisher store and the beer tastes great.

 

[ph0ngwh0ng]

Have you ever tasted plain carbonated water? I'd expect some of that taste to possibly come through but not much, depends how long you let it sit at pressure.

I think you are overthinking it. Just use the line length that calculator says for the upper range of pressure you intend to run.

With a 3-4ft picnic tap at 38 degrees, 12psi, and holding the beer at head level (keg near the ground) i got about 1.5"-2" of foam. 12ft line, 13psi, and waist level pours gives me very little foam, actually have to splash the last bit to get some head on the beer.

My bottle is filled at a fire extinguisher store and the beer tastes great.

Yeah you're probably right, I think it's just that I can't wait to keg some and try it out!

 

[ph0ngwh0ng]

Follow up!

I went with 15' of line. Just tested it (like, 30 seconds from now).

38F, 12PSI.

Pur. Fect. Pour.

YAY!