Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

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mtbmatt
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:23 am

Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by mtbmatt »

G'day all, back in the day, my LHBS set me up with everything i needed to have tapped, keg beer, at home.

Now i've moved to Bristol, i've only got the corny kegs left. So i need to buy:

Primary Reg
Secondary Reg/s
Gas line
Gas line splitters to 3 different kegs (and probably 3 different secondary regs, depending on cost)
Ball lock gas connects
Ball Lock beer connects
Beer line (3m per keg!)
Connections from beer line to taps
Taps
Drip tray

I bought a CO2 bottle from Whites this morning.

I'll almost certainly buy these Chinese taps today or tomorrow:

http://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/6356 ... 6523305983


Would anyone care to give me advice on a nice standard sizing for my lines, connections, etc?

What kind of connector will i need to mate up with the back of the tap, and then connect to the beer line?

I've been patrolling ebay, and found lots of stuff. Just not sure which sizes i will need to order up.

Cheers in advance,

matt
PMowdes
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:29 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by PMowdes »

Beer line normally comes in 3/8", 5/16" or 3/16". I have a small stash of each size in case i need to replace anything.

like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beer-pipe-3-1 ... 4626bcc358

you can get disconnects for cornies with 3/8" push fit (john guest connectors).

On the beer out line I step down to a 3/16" tube straight from the keg connector with a reducer, and run 3/16" into the back of a Dalex tap. This means i only need ~1m of line to prevent foaming.

Something like this (except 3/8" - 3/16")

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Guest-5- ... 233e308b72

Somewhere like http://www.brewuk.co.uk/equipment/conta ... elius.html should give you an idea of what to look for and you can pick things up on ebay if you are prepared to be patient.


You are welcome to come and have a look at my setup if you are still confused.
60 percent of the time it works every time.
PMowdes
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:29 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by PMowdes »

By the way, your link to ali express doesn't work. If it's a perlick type tap you may need to buy some small crimp connectors to keep the line attached to the tap.
60 percent of the time it works every time.
mtbmatt
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:23 am

Re: Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by mtbmatt »

Thanks for those detailed responses, and especially those links. Just what i was after.

I'm now almost certain that i was previously using 3/8 line across the board (I think half the problem for me is my brain is hardwired metric, which makes it hard to visualise what 3/8 looks like!)

The real golden nugget there for me, was your mention of reducing the line ID, in order to reduce the length of required line. There would be the added cost of reducers at either end, but with 3 kegs in the fridge (plus the Co2 bottle, i'm gunna have a real spaggettti mess of tubes with 3m per line!

I think i'll take your advice there. If you've used 1m lines, and had no dramas with foaming etc, then that sounds like a good plan.

So, my shopping list now:

3 x 3/8 to 3/16 step down reducers

4m of 3/16 beer line
1m of 3/8 beer line
2m of gas line

3 x ball lock gas connectors
3 x ball lock beer connectors

Regulators as required.
mtbmatt
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:23 am

Re: Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by mtbmatt »

PMowdes wrote:By the way, your link to ali express doesn't work. If it's a perlick type tap you may need to buy some small crimp connectors to keep the line attached to the tap.
Here's the original link:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Beer-fau ... 09499.html

However, i need about 70mm of shank to get through my fridge door's insulation:

so either this one:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 86943.html

Or this one to be totally safe:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 90719.html
PMowdes
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:29 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by PMowdes »

mtbmatt wrote:
PMowdes wrote:By the way, your link to ali express doesn't work. If it's a perlick type tap you may need to buy some small crimp connectors to keep the line attached to the tap.
Here's the original link:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Beer-fau ... 09499.html

However, i need about 70mm of shank to get through my fridge door's insulation:

so either this one:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 86943.html

Or this one to be totally safe:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 90719.html


You dont need a 70mm shank. the outer door will be metal and can be cut with a qmax cutter (I have one if you need to borrow it). The inner skin will be plastic and the cavity insulated with expanded foam. You can cut through the inner plastic and insulation cleanly with a hole saw.

Basically if you drill a 6mm hole straight through both skins, use the exit hole inside to guide the hole saw and remove the insulation. The cut the metal outer skin with Qmax cutter. I did mine in about 5 minutes. I can dismantle it as well for cleaning and have some blaning caps for when the taps are taken off.

I have put two Dalex taps in my fridge (they are cheap as well and have 3/16" push fit connectors) using this method. Again if you want to coe and have a look I am in Horfield and am happy to help.
60 percent of the time it works every time.
PMowdes
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:29 pm
Location: Bristol

Re: Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by PMowdes »

60 percent of the time it works every time.
mtbmatt
Posts: 31
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:23 am

Re: Questions re Corny keg connectors, line diameters, etc

Post by mtbmatt »

Thanks mate, i have all the tools needed to do the job. I'm currently umming and ahhing about going right up to the outer skin with a short shank tap.

Thanks for the offer of a look. I'm over in Long Ashton. If i do get stuck, i'll PM you, see when you're free.

As i mentioned in the other post i'm running at the moment, i'm not enamoured with the idea of removing the insulation (or even of then re-foaming over the top of the tap and line).

I can save about £20 if i go the short shank option though, so i'll put some thought into it.

Regarding the Dalex taps. I googled them to see what they were about but i'll probably go with the Chinese taps.

I'm pretty keen on a nice, chrome tap for aesthetics (this kegorator is sitting in our lounge room), but mostly i'm keen on the flow control valve these Chinese taps come with (I'm assuming they are just rip offs of the US made Perlick taps). I tend to get issues with over carbonation, and from what i understand, this flow control valve will significantly help with that.

cheers,

matt
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