Kegerator Beer Lines, How Long Should They Be?

[Zero94]

Evening all,

So I have finally gotten round to building myself a 2 keg kegerator, now I have been doing some reading and looking at these online line length calculator and it's confused me to no end. I see some calculators telling me I need 3m of 3/16'' line at 11psi and others saying I need to get rid of the line entirely and somehow find a way to make the line shorter than not having a line at all then there's been others which say nearly 50m of 3/8'' line.

Can anyone give me a hand and dumb this down for me? or even better, give me a straight answer since I haven't been able to work it out.

I'm using 19L ball lock corny kegs, distance from centre to tap is about 265mm, using flow control taps, gas line is 3/8'', gas pressure is 10-12psi whichever I need to set it to really and beer line is going to be whatever ends up working.

Cheers!!

 

[Leon103]

You will need somewhere between 2 and 3 meters. Best thing to do is start long and trim some back until you are happy

 

[Zero94]

So should I stick with straight 3/8's or step it down to 3/16's then back up?

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

Defo 3/16. I think that was what @Leon103 was referring to above. You’d need a lot more length of 3/8. Start with 3 meters 3/16 and adjust downwards from there.

Edit: take a look at this: Beer line 3/16" Restriction Kit

 

[Leon103]

Defo 3/16. I think that was what @Leon103 was referring to above. You’d need a lot more length of 3/8. Start with 3 meters 3/16 and adjust downwards from there.

Edit: take a look at this: Beer line 3/16" Restriction Kit

Yes sorry 3/16

 

[Zero94]

Well that reducer kit makes life a fair bit easier, just need to get the thing built and a beer brewed and kegged now!
Thanks for the help guys

 

[Leon103]

Well that reducer kit makes life a fair bit easier, just need to get the thing built and a beer brewed and kegged now!
Thanks for the help guys

I use those. Found I needed to take 50cm off the length

 

[Zero94]

I use those. Found I needed to take 50cm off the length

Thanks for the tip, I'm going to start at the full 3m then trim back a few cm at a time until I fine the right length. I'm not too bothered over a slow pour I'm more concerned about fobbing.

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

There are a few things that influence the flow/fobbing. Beer temperature, carbonation level, serving pressure and beer line width/length. Get the others right before adjusting the beer line.