Taps for FV

[Hopperty]

I fitted a plastic tap to the FV three brews ago, it is now leaking (thankfully I just bottle this morning so it only has water in it)

Can anyone recommend a decent reliable tap I could replace it with - I do like the tap for bottling, far better than the siphon)

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Take it apart Vaseline it and fit two washer internal and external to the FV. If it still leaks buy another as they don't all leak.

 

[Buffers brewery]

I use a ball valve tap.

 

[Hopperty]

This one is a ball valve and I doubt it comes apart

I was just wondering if there was any particular good reliable makes. Would hate to have just got a brew underway and find it was leaking.

 

[Buffers brewery]

I assumed when you said plastic it was like the taps you get on plastic barrels . I use a metal tap on my FV something like this...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/tesla-lever-ball-valve-yellow/8173r
This is what mine looks like...

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Recently bought a couple of these ones from MaltMiller, to replace the rubbish ones that were supplied with my old FVs. Very pleased with them indeed - good taps.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Incidentally in general with taps like this I’ve found it’s only worth fitting the rubber washers to the outside of the FV. If you put them on the inside then the liquid tends to just bypass them by leaking along the screw threads.

 

[Wynne]

I assumed when you said plastic it was like the taps you get on plastic barrels . I use a metal tap on my FV something like this...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/tesla-lever-ball-valve-yellow/8173r
This is what mine looks like...
View attachment 48540

@Buffers brewery, a couple of questions on your interesting fermenter setup. What is the purpose of the copper pipework? What is the advantage of having a bottom drain on the fermenter? Do you find it worthwhile?

 

[DSG]

i have used the black water butt type taps for a few years with no problems

 

[alfajerry]

Incidentally in general with taps like this I’ve found it’s only worth fitting the rubber washers to the outside of the FV. If you put them on the inside then the liquid tends to just bypass them by leaking along the screw threads.

Also, don't tighten to the extent that the rubber washer distorts.

 

[Buffers brewery]

@Buffers brewery, a couple of questions on your interesting fermenter setup. What is the purpose of the copper pipework? What is the advantage of having a bottom drain on the fermenter? Do you find it worthwhile?

Hi @Wynne , the copper pipework was a mod I did to attach a bubbler. If I put the bubbler directly in the lid it was too high to get in my fridge . I don’t use it anymore. I have a pipe running through the fridge wall that I connect to the lid (where the bubbler would be) and then to my CO2 collection balloon outside the fridge.

When I fitted the tap to the bottom I had 2 advantages in mind. First the fixing would be in a flat surface and would be easier to seal and put less stress on the plastic (if it were curved). Second, the opening of the fixing inside the bucket would be above the level of the trub and therefore I wouldn’t need to siphon. This picture shows the bucket after transfer..

You can see the thin film of beer left above the trub. I don’t do this anymore either I now have a float fitted to the tap fitting so the beer runs out from the top and stops when the float lands on the trub. Leaves a little more beer in the bucket but it can cope with varying levels of trub.

 

[Wynne]

Hi @Wynne , the copper pipework was a mod I did to attach a bubbler. If I put the bubbler directly in the lid it was too high to get in my fridge . I don’t use it anymore. I have a pipe running through the fridge wall that I connect to the lid (where the bubbler would be) and then to my CO2 collection balloon outside the fridge.
View attachment 48571
When I fitted the tap to the bottom I had 2 advantages in mind. First the fixing would be in a flat surface and would be easier to seal and put less stress on the plastic (if it were curved). Second, the opening of the fixing inside the bucket would be above the level of the trub and therefore I wouldn’t need to siphon. This picture shows the bucket after transfer..
View attachment 48572
You can see the thin film of beer left above the trub. I don’t do this anymore either I now have a float fitted to the tap fitting so the beer runs out from the top and stops when the float lands on the trub. Leaves a little more beer in the bucket but it can cope with varying levels of trub.
View attachment 48573

Thank you, ingenious and interesting. I’m a fan of floating dip tubes too, although, I ferment in a corny and finish under pressure. I’m always interested in other folk’s innovations.