Kegerator piping

[Donny]

So Ive gotten most of what I need for my 2 tap Kegerator but I have questions on the set up of the beer lines.

I was wondering if anyone could share their piping set up.
Il most likely set up the Co2 to a manifold for the 2 kegs but Im really not sure what length/size beer line to get. What makes a balanced set up and is there any benefit in going expensive over cheap materials?

[Pheeel]

Beer line length is important and it's best to use a calculator but 6ft is a decent starting point. You can start longer and reduce it down as you see fit.
You need to take in height, beer pressure, serving pressure, line diameter to go with the right length

[Tom]

3/8" is standard, but you can go 5/16" too, no problem. 5/16" has more resistance, so you need far less of it. Perfect for a kegerator setup where your distance from keg to tap is metric FA.

I worked out the other day that for an 8oc beer at 12psi (~2.2vol CO2) I'd need (IIRC) fourteen foot of 3/8" or something like 5' of 3/8" + 2' of 5/16". I'm planning a long run (with an insulated pipe and recirc. cold water) so I'll stick with the 14' of 3/8".

As for CO2, it kinda doesn't matter. The std. fittings are 3/8" so go with that. If your tap is 5/16" then that's handy, if it's 3/8" you will have to increase again, so 5/16" JG to 3/8" stem. Corny and Coupler in and outs are 3/8".

Hope that helps a bit.

https://www.brewersfriend.com/2009/07/18/getting-a-good-pour-kegged-beer-co2-line-length-and-pressure/

Line type: 3/8" inner diameter is NOT it. Your 3/8" line is 1/4" ID. I think 5/16" beer line is 3/16". 

[phildo79]

I imagine a lot of this can be simplified if you use flow control taps. I have one hooked up directly to the liquid out post. Never had any issues with foaming.

[Slev]

I've had mixed success with my lines. I have 3/16 line (3/8 from post and tap with reducers). I've a fridge with the tap about 700mm above centre of the keg. I use flow control intertap taps. On one tap have approx 1.3m of line and on the other about 0.8m. Serving temp is about 5-6c, with usually about 2.3vol co2 carb level.
In general, I usually get a slow pour. I've a stout on tap at the moment that I just can not get right. 1/2 to 3/4 glass of foam. It's carbed about 2 vol. Am trying a few different things (reducing pressure, changing line length, changing disconnects, taps etc).
I definitely haven't mastered kegging, even after 18 months.

[Donny]

Cheers lads,

I have flow control taps so it will help a bit. Looking at it it seems to be a bit of trail and error until you get what you're looking for. Il start with longer and work my way down to see if i can get a decent level. Il also have to brew something for the kegs 

[Tom]

There's a YouTube video about flow control taps. Fella says they're alright for fine-tuning, but as part of a balanced system. I've only just got a euro ball tap with flow control, so as yet I have no idea. I just remember the bar manager yelling at any fuckwit who messed around with the flow control knobs during service.
I'm heartened by your experience, phildo. My keg system isn't temp controlled throughout during winter, so it'll be nice to have more control.

[Pheeel]

Yep. Folks think flow control fixes bad balancing. It doesnt

[pob]

I've had mixed success with my lines. I have 3/16 line (3/8 from post and tap with reducers). I've a fridge with the tap about 700mm above centre of the keg. ~ On one tap have approx 1.3m of line and on the other about 0.8m.  ~ Am trying a few different things (reducing pressure, changing line length, changing disconnects, taps etc).

Worth using 3/8" line, the reducers could be causing an issue where there is a point of change in pressure as it changes sizes, maybe causing the gas to come out of solution/foam?

I use 3/8", kegs are at same level as (flow control) taps though, use ~1m beer line. I get an initial blast of foam on first pour of the day, which I've put down to the step up from the beer line through the JG adapter screwed onto the tap skank, i.e. it's going from 3/8 to ~3/4?, so causes turbulence on first pour (also a bit due to overnight beer sitting in line). You can hear the 'rush/gush' as the cone of tap opens & beer fills the void.

[DEMPSEY]

I could not get my stout tap to balance so I have just bought 3/16" beer line to see if this will do the trick.

[Tom]

I'm getting there with mine (nitro stout). There's so much piping (about 4m stainless) in a maxi chiller that that's done most of the work. Just being silly, DEMPSEY, but you've got the restrictor plate in, aye? ?
Will the step back up from 3/16 to 5/16 at the tap cause you any problems?