What do I need for a keg system?

[GlentoranMark]

This is only putting out a feeler for what I need. I'm not ready or have the money to buy the equipment but I'd like to go down this route some time in the future. I see different posts on keg systems and it all confuses me.

What exactly do I need and what is the minimum requirements to get me started? Can I buy the equipment in phases?

I try and add something each week and that way I'm not spending vast fortunes every once in a while.

 

[ManseMasher]

This is only putting out a feeler for what I need. I'm not ready or have the money to buy the equipment but I'd like to go down this route some time in the future. I see different posts on keg systems and it all confuses me.

What exactly do I need and what is the minimum requirements to get me started? Can I buy the equipment in phases?

I try and add something each week and that way I'm not spending vast fortunes every once in a while.

Do you want something like corny kegs or a mini 5 litre system? There are a lot of options (as always!). I buy little bits at a time for my corny setup, as they are quite an expense (but will last and last).

For this you need the keg, beer/gas lines, gas, regulator, tap and fittings.

If you go down the mini keg route you can buy them as complete kits. I've never used these - perhaps someone who has will be along to share their experiences.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Do you want something like corny kegs or a mini 5 litre system? There are a lot of options (as always!). I buy little bits at a time for my corny setup, as they are quite an expense (but will last and last).

For this you need the keg, beer/gas lines, gas, regulator, tap and fittings.

If you go down the mini keg route you can buy them as complete kits. I've never used these - perhaps someone who has will be along to share their experiences.

It would have to be the full keg system. From what I've read, mini kegs can be a bit hit and miss.

I can buy a keg and prime as normal before buying the full CO2 set up and use it that way? What do I need? A keg obviously but what connections?

Can you buy locally (We're both from NI)

It's all so confusing TBH.

 

[ManseMasher]

It would have to be the full keg system. From what I've read, mini kegs can be a bit hit and miss.

I can buy a keg and prime as normal before buying the full CO2 set up and use it that way? What do I need? A keg obviously but what connections?

Can you buy locally (We're both from NI)

It's all so confusing TBH.

Kegs from homebrewingcompany.ie, and pretty much everything else from there too. Northdown Motor Factors in Ards (by the MoT test centre) do co2.

You could prime in the keg but you would still need to dispense it, and after a while add co2 to it to get all the beer out. So you need gas in and beer out fittings for the keg, a tap on the beer out line, co2 cylinder and regulator and the pipes for everything. It might be an idea to use a pressure barrel in the meantime, until you've built up your kit...

 

[GlentoranMark]

I have a Pressure Barrel but it lost pressure even though I replaced all the seals. I'll try it again for my current brew but I mentioned before I wasn't that happy with it. It's too big to store in the fridge and the glugs kept stirring up the yeast. The last brew was a kit though so that might have been why the taste wasn't great.

If I do go the full keg system your more than welcome to it (as I mentioned in a private PM)

That's a broken link, is it here you mean: http://www.homebrewwest.ie/

 

[ManseMasher]

http://www.homebrewwest.ie/cornelius--soda-kegs-and-accessories-224-c.asp

That should give you some ideas!

 

[GlentoranMark]

Right, I have :
2 used Corny's, ball lock type afaik
Bottle of gas

I know I need a regulator, will this do?
A party tap and line

I know I need connections but am unsure which ones. I'll also need some beer line, any idea what length?

Also I might need some adapters.

Can anyone help me on the above? Has anyone found a cheaper supply?

 

[chewie]

From what i've gathered for beer line, start long and shorten until you get the flow rate/ dispensing body you want from a kegged beer. Extra line will never be a bad thing incase you need to add more taps ;-), seems to be fairly cheap to.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Does 10M sound too long or not long enough? I've heard that if it's too short then pressure will turn the beer to foam.

 

[Smileyr8]

Does 10M sound too long or not long enough? I've heard that if it's too short then pressure will turn the beer to foam.

I have my regulator set at 14lbs/sq" this carbonates the beer fine, I then started with 5 foot and removed 6" until I got a sensible delivery speed, I think I now have 4 foot, like the previous post suggests its always better a little long than too short.

 

[GlentoranMark]

I'm not sure what the thread is on my bottle so here's a photo

Would the following regulator suit?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NC68VK0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I see one on the malt miller but this is £10 cheaper with free postage (and postage to NI is £15) and has similar gauges.

I'd need a reducer to link the regulator to the beer line but there's one further down the page for just £2 delivered.

 

[ManseMasher]

Unfortunately not mate - the gauge measures flow rate, not pressure. The thread on your bottle is a standard UK male one, so you need a reg with a female fitting (like the one in the link you posted).

I'm not sure what the thread is on my bottle so here's a photo

Would the following regulator suit?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NC68VK0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I see one on the malt miller but this is £10 cheaper with free postage (and postage to NI is £15) and has similar gauges.

I'd need a reducer to link the regulator to the beer line but there's one further down the page for just £2 delivered.

 

[GlentoranMark]

Is this the same then? I'm not sure what I should be looking for TBH.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GAXB3HU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[ManseMasher]

Can't quite make it out on that pic. Gauge needs to read in psi/bar, not lpm/cfh.

Is this the same then? I'm not sure what I should be looking for TBH.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GAXB3HU/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[chewie]

The second gauge on that regulator is for adjusting flow rate and not for fine pressure adjustments, the 1st gauge is for gas bottle pressure, to me it looks like it has far to coarse of an adjustment on it for what you are wanting it for. I went for the sodastream option for now with a two stage reg from co2 art, bit pricier but it should have far more precision pressure adjustment. If you need to reduce pressure down to a few psi then you might struggle with that reg. I should have all the odds and ends together by the end of the week to get my corny up and running and i've a brew cold crashing atm in a king keg to fill the corny with:)

Oops beaten to it:)

Small afterthought here.
You don't strictly need the reg to attach directly to the gas cylinder which may or may not help you out with sourcing a cheaper reg without worrying to much about its thread sizing, as long as you can source a bit of pipe and a few fittings you can mount the reg anywhere, certainly the pub i used to work in only had quick connects for the gas cylinders for ease of changing when you where busy.

 

[Duffman]

Can you not buy the entire kit lock stock and barrel from somewhere, surely someone sells the entire assembly ?

Whats puts me of going down this 'self build' route is the faffing about with the kit

 

[GlentoranMark]

I asked a question on the 2nd link I gave but I'll probably take a race up to geterbrewed on Friday, bring everything with me and buy what I need so I know it's correct.

 

[chewie]

I asked a question on the 2nd link I gave but I'll probably take a race up to geterbrewed on Friday, bring everything with me and buy what I need so I know it's correct.

Ring them first m8, is very little there in the way of gas line fittings in the shop.

 

[GlentoranMark]

I could have bought the kit for £259 but I got the Cornys from THBC and the gas for really cheap, I've saved a load over a complete system. I need a regulator some connections, beer line and a tap to complete. All in I think for just over £100.

It's all new to me but this forum is great for help so I'm sure I'll get there.

Can you not buy the entire kit lock stock and barrel from somewhere, surely someone sells the entire assembly ?

Whats puts me of going down this 'self build' route is the faffing about with the kit

 

[chewie]

Can you not buy the entire kit lock stock and barrel from somewhere, surely someone sells the entire assembly ?

Whats puts me of going down this 'self build' route is the faffing about with the kit

They are out there but there is quite a saving to be had, i'm looking at it from the pov that I'l have 3 cornies, gas, line, proper beer taps, reg, fittings etc for less than it would cost for one new complete setup with one corny.