Kegerator Lines - Against The Grain...?

[Ghillie]

Evening all,

Just arrived back home after a few weeks at work to a box of goodies from MM and HBO.

The bulk of the materials was beer lines, taps and reducers/adapters for the kegerator/next kegerator build.

Anyway, my current two corny kegerator setup was using 4m/keg of 3/8" OD - 1/4" ID beer line. This was a tight squeeze in the kegerator, but it worked - until I changed to intertaps...

Beer was gushing out and fobbing to high hell at my usual serving pressure of 15PSI. I ended up down to 6PSI with an okay pour, but obviously not much cope for carbing up to lager standards...

So I have now rigged both my kegs with 1m of 3/16" OD beer lines and it's excellent. A hell of a lot tidier inside, easy to get the door shut and I can serve between 15-30PSI which will carb literally any style.

I used this calculator:

http://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/

If I'm honest, I added an extra foot on to save wasting beer lines if it wasn't right - you can take more off but you can't put back on! It recommended something like 2.3', so I added a foot on and I'm happy with it. With a longer line, if I up the carbonation then I'll still get a good pour.

Balanced beer lines, happy brewer!

 

[cheeseyfeet]

Looking good! What fridge do you have? It looks like a nice fit for two kegs, mine is a struggle!

 

[LeeH]

3/16 is ideal for short lengths like yours.

Some people say line balancing for a decent pour is a myth but I disagree. Flow rate makes an impact IMO and pressure loss through small lines achieves this.

 

[Ghillie]

Looking good! What fridge do you have? It looks like a nice fit for two kegs, mine is a struggle!

It's an old Beko fridge freezer I picked up second hand last year. I'm not sure of the model number pal, but I can check for you when I'm home. I think it's a 60/40 as well.

 

[Ghillie]

3/16 is ideal for short lengths like yours.

Some people say line balancing for a decent pour is a myth but I disagree. Flow rate makes an impact IMO and pressure loss through small lines achieves this.

Absolutely Lee.

To be able to pour perfect pints when your carbing and serving pressure is sound between 2-3vols is ideal.

Burst carbing, dropping to serving pressure of 3-8PSI etc is actually quite an inconvenience and most importantly, a waste of gas.

 

[cheeseyfeet]

It's an old Beko fridge freezer I picked up second hand last year. I'm not sure of the model number pal, but I can check for you when I'm home. I think it's a 60/40 as well.

Ah it’s a fridge freezer!

That’s why I didn’t see a compressor hump taking up space.

I’m looking for a replacement larder fridge that can easily fit two kegs side by side.

 

[Ghillie]

Ah it’s a fridge freezer!

That’s why I didn’t see a compressor hump taking up space.

I’m looking for a replacement larder fridge that can easily fit two kegs side by side.

This is the reply I was expecting.

Sadly, you'd be extremely hard pushed to find an under-counter fridge that will take two cornies. You'll get one in virtually all of them, but you won't get two side by side so the hump will always be an issue. Believe me I tried, and gave up. Lost track of how many second hand fridges I went to "buy", rocked up with two cornies, attempted to fit them, then ****** off empty handed

If it absolutely has to be an under-counter type fridge - one that might work would be a pub style bottle fridge. They come at a premium though, because idiots get attracted by the commercial beer stickers they're usually plastered in. This makes them desirable...

 

[Bigcol49]

pub style bottle fridge

Hi!
I could only fit two Cornies in a double-fronted pub bottle chiller - it has a big compressor hump!

 

[simon12]

I got 2 cornies in an under counter fridge but they are different to the latest cornies I got as they are narrower and taller.

 

[Ghillie]

Good point @simon12

Modern cornies are 9" in dia and just won't fit in 99% of undercounter fridges.

 

[cheeseyfeet]

Might just have to spend the kid’s inheritance and buy a pre-made kegerator.

Wait a minute, just looked at the price of them ... I’ll keep looking for a good larder fridge!

 

[Ghillie]

Might just have to spend the kid’s inheritance and buy a pre-made kegerator.

Wait a minute, just looked at the price of them ... I’ll keep looking for a good larder fridge!

Aye they are not cheap!

A fridge freezer like mine is good as the freezer compartment can be used for storing hops, ice, etc as well. There seems to be more space inside the fridge compartment of a fridge freezer vs an undercounter fridge as well. Even when the external widths are the same. Weird...

 

[Bigcol49]

Wait a minute, just looked at the price of them ... I’ll keep looking for a good larder fridge!

Hi!
How about a keezer? I know the footprint is larger than a fridge, but it may be just what you need.

 

[Norfolk79]

I was very fortunate to pick up an old Miele under counter fridge that has a small “hump” so can actually fit 2 corny’s (and some bottles of beer too!) in it. Was a freebie too

 

[Ghillie]

I was very fortunate to pick up an old Miele under counter fridge that has a small “hump” so can actually fit 2 corny’s (and some bottles of beer too!) in it. Was a freebie too

Lucky bugger! Best of gear as well, Miele.