I did look at building my own, but DIY is not my forte and a lot of the pieces are quite expensive anyway so I went the lazy route. My Kegerator sits in the garage so appearance isn't overly important but I don't think it looks that bad anyway.
ANY REVIEWS FOR THE MANGO JACKS KEGERATOR PLEASE
- Thread starter Manxnorton
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ITMA
Well-Known Member
Yeah, especially accounting for time costs I'm not sure I'd have saved much by going DIY. Mine's located right by the front door in the hallway so its the first thing you see! It looks pretty impressive I'd say. Still not sure about gas pressure etc but I'm quickly learning. Hopefully regular bottling sessions are a thing of the past!
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Now, after a while are you still satisfied with your purchase? I'm considering buying it, but I also have some doubts :) It's a lot of money. Can you please tell me some details?
- Is it making a lot of noise or it's just regular refrigerator-like loudness?
- Gas regulator is a single one? If is, how gas lines are designed? There is some separator with valves or it's just some plastic separator X-shaped (1 line for gas in and 3 for gas out)?
- Regulator is in PSI, BAR or both?
- CO2 tank can be easily taken from the cradle or it's "hard exercise"
- Beer and gas lines are long, just enough or pretty short?
- What about "mobility" of this one? Does it stands still whether it's easy to move it on the wheels because I'm not sure if it will be standing without movement when I open the door.
- Any other issues you think are worth to raise?
ITMA
Well-Known Member
Not a lot to add from my earlier post, it's expensive and leaves something to be desired but I wouldn't be without it. At the time I bought it I wouldn't have had the time to DIY, now I've a bit more time on my hands, if I had to replace it for any reason...I'd not want to pay the same again so equally I wouldn't be thrilled at the work involved in DIY.
1) I'd guesstimate that it's on the loud side for a modern fridge but not massively so. I wouldn't want it in my sitting room (but I do have misophonia); it's fine in the kitchen.
2) It is a single one, pressure to all three kegs will be identical. As you suggest, there's a splitter. Metal but cheap, no valves. This was something I was fretting about when I was deciding to buy - would I need a dual or triple regulator. Now I know - no I wouldn't.
3) Both, I think. I'll edit this post when I can be bothered to go down two flights of stairs to check ;-)
4) I never used the cradle, it didn't fit my gas tank so the tank just sits on the floor beside. Also the cradle is at the back so it would make the fridge stick out far too far.
5) I understand they've set them at the right length to be balanced. They're long, the only slight problem this causes is fitting everything in with 3 kegs.
6) I never fitted the wheels as it's static for me. If it's on a smooth floor with wheels it might move, I somehow doubt it, it's bloody heavy especially loaded with kegs.
7) I've discovered no particular need for all that faffing with dropping temperatures, rolling kegs around etc. When bringing a new keg in I connect it at the normal temperature and pressure, and later that evening I can take the first test pint; it's way off perfect but drinkable already. Within a day or two it's about right so I can't understand all the rigmarole, but brewers do seem to like complex procedures. Maybe it's me though, I do like gentle carbonation these days [can't believe I used to only drink fizzy lager].
7a) The man I got the gas from says you will always have a leak, somewhere in the system and this can't be avoided. Commercial operations turn their gas bottles round quickly so its not an issue there, but a bottle for us should last months or years so you need to guard against the leak. Easiest way is to turn the bottle off after each use. Or even just switch on occasionally, there's plenty of pressure in the system for many pints even with the bottle off.
I've got a leak somewhere, and I can't be bothered to fix it (my laziness is becoming a theme): I just switch on gas for a few seconds each day and it keeps the system primed.
Hope the reply was prompt enough and that you'll be back to offer your own review and guidance.
1) I'd guesstimate that it's on the loud side for a modern fridge but not massively so. I wouldn't want it in my sitting room (but I do have misophonia); it's fine in the kitchen.
2) It is a single one, pressure to all three kegs will be identical. As you suggest, there's a splitter. Metal but cheap, no valves. This was something I was fretting about when I was deciding to buy - would I need a dual or triple regulator. Now I know - no I wouldn't.
3) Both, I think. I'll edit this post when I can be bothered to go down two flights of stairs to check ;-)
4) I never used the cradle, it didn't fit my gas tank so the tank just sits on the floor beside. Also the cradle is at the back so it would make the fridge stick out far too far.
5) I understand they've set them at the right length to be balanced. They're long, the only slight problem this causes is fitting everything in with 3 kegs.
6) I never fitted the wheels as it's static for me. If it's on a smooth floor with wheels it might move, I somehow doubt it, it's bloody heavy especially loaded with kegs.
7) I've discovered no particular need for all that faffing with dropping temperatures, rolling kegs around etc. When bringing a new keg in I connect it at the normal temperature and pressure, and later that evening I can take the first test pint; it's way off perfect but drinkable already. Within a day or two it's about right so I can't understand all the rigmarole, but brewers do seem to like complex procedures. Maybe it's me though, I do like gentle carbonation these days [can't believe I used to only drink fizzy lager].
7a) The man I got the gas from says you will always have a leak, somewhere in the system and this can't be avoided. Commercial operations turn their gas bottles round quickly so its not an issue there, but a bottle for us should last months or years so you need to guard against the leak. Easiest way is to turn the bottle off after each use. Or even just switch on occasionally, there's plenty of pressure in the system for many pints even with the bottle off.
I've got a leak somewhere, and I can't be bothered to fix it (my laziness is becoming a theme): I just switch on gas for a few seconds each day and it keeps the system primed.
Hope the reply was prompt enough and that you'll be back to offer your own review and guidance.
ITMA
Well-Known Member
3) bars and PSI yes.
Wow, it was even "promptier" and more comprehensive than I've expected. I'm in similar situation (I don't have time for DIY because of 2-years old savage in da house ) and I think I'll take a risk a buy it, especially that I can make installment purchase on 0% rate. I always can make some improvements after a while.
) and I think I'll take a risk a buy it, especially that I can make installment purchase on 0% rate. I always can make some improvements after a while.
ITMA
Well-Known Member
Good luck with it. You certainly won't miss bottling ;-)
As I mentioned in my posting last year, make sure you've got a crimper for the hose clamps and a good adjustable wrench on hand. Maybe even get yourself a box of assorted clamps if you haven't already. I never did work out what the supplied wrench was for, but it was cheap and very nasty.
As I mentioned in my posting last year, make sure you've got a crimper for the hose clamps and a good adjustable wrench on hand. Maybe even get yourself a box of assorted clamps if you haven't already. I never did work out what the supplied wrench was for, but it was cheap and very nasty.
I think its to remove the taps if you want to upgrade them.
I am really happy with mine. I did change the taps to flow control but no other alterations. I have mine in the garage beside a chest freezer and i reckon that the freezer is slightly more noisy. I have the wheels on mine as I move it out to change the gas. Glides easily and the wheel locks work perfectly.
Waiting for the delivery I'm analyzing how to make life easier :) Can you tell me what is outer diameter for gas and liquid hoses? I'm thinking about buying quick connectors in my local pneumatic store. I suppose fittings are without barb, so tubing cannot be dismantled?
Thanks for reply, good to know that taps are without flow control. Replacement without problems?
Thanks for reply, good to know that taps are without flow control. Replacement without problems?
They are really easy to replace. The little spanner supplied is used to do this. Not positive about the size of the hoses but I would presume they are 3/8".
Be interested in hearing what taps you changed to, and if you had to change the line length.
Had mine a while now and the taps and the pipes are the biggest let down. Taps glue shut if you don't use them for a while so will move to a perlick forward sealing one in future.
Also, the pipes seem to impart a bit of plastic flavour, so I tend to pour away the first little bit of beer. Maybe they're just in need of a refresh.
No leaks, not that noisy, but the blue light it bright at night!
It's worth buying a cheap tap wrench off eBay too, save a lot of trouble adjusting the taps.
I got the flow control taps that malt miller sell. Didn't need to adjust line length at all. I always pour off a small amount of beer (1/4 pint) if I haven't used the tap that day. My kegerator came with a tap wrench, are you sure you don't still have it somewhere.
Kuabi
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Also thinking about adding a nitro line. Have you done this? Would it be OK drilling in the opposite top corner for that line?
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