Splitting the gas

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moxie
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Splitting the gas

Post by moxie » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:20 pm

I am currently trying to add a second serving keg with a single regulator. I've thought about just using a stainless T to do this, but I am concerned about beer and air transferring between kegs if one is flat and carbing while the other has reached equilibrium. (Or if volume of beer in kegs is drastically different) Should I be concerned about that? A new dual reg would be the best option of course, but I pretty much carb most of my beers at 10-12 PSI anyway, so that is not totally necessary. Then I saw this:

Image

That is basically just a T connector with check valves, right? Any tips on where to buy something like that? Assuming it is way cheaper than upgrading to a dual regulator, that is my best option, I think.

Or should I just pony up for a new dual regulator?

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by Jmac00 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:53 pm

I beleive PA has that brass ' Y ' in the pic......the main thing you want to make sure you have is a check valve to protect your regulator...that's a minimum. Running a line off your main check valve and splitting it into two would be the cheapest and simplest option. I wouldn't bother with the cost of another reg...although you'd only need a secondary reg(cheaper) and attach it to your current one.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by moxie » Wed Mar 16, 2011 3:07 pm

What is PA?

Edit: Princess Auto? That would be pretty easy... I guess it would just be a matter of choosing a couple of barbed check valves.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by Jmac00 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:25 pm

yeah, if you can find em. I had to get mine from simgo.....locally there was nothing in the size needed. I'm sure halifax has better options though.

and yes, PA is princess auto.

Fairview fittings might have what you need too...they seem to carry alot of that stuff.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by akr71 » Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:14 pm

Sounds like you got it figured out, but would this work?
Image
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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by CorneliusAlphonse » Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:47 pm

you shouldn't have to worry about the charged keg losing carbonation as long as the gas is turned on, the pressure will be te same. if you turn the gas off, or the tank runs out, that is a different story...
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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by ratchet » Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:09 am

and those aren't check valves... they're ball valves.
your lines should have a ball valve on each run, so you can manually shut off the gas to that run when a keg is disconnected.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by chalmers » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:25 am

ratchet wrote:and those aren't check valves... they're ball valves.
your lines should have a ball valve on each run, so you can manually shut off the gas to that run when a keg is disconnected.
Meh, I just rely on the gas-side quick disconnect to hold pressure. Hasn't failed me yet...
Mine is probably not the best setup: 20lb tank with two secondary regulators, one with a single line out, usually held at low pressure for English low-carbornated beers; the second with a 5 lines splitter (no check valves) for serving the rest of my beer.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by LiverDance » Thu Mar 17, 2011 8:30 am

ratchet wrote:and those aren't check valves... they're ball valves.
your lines should have a ball valve on each run, so you can manually shut off the gas to that run when a keg is disconnected.
Ball valves are not a necessity they're a luxury. I've been running my system like chalmers for years with no problems. I got my manifold at PA, back left corner and the barbs are near by, all for around $10.
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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by moxie » Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:21 pm

akr71 wrote:Sounds like you got it figured out, but would this work?
Image
Absolutely... The price is not too bad on that... Maybe I will go that route. Thanks for the link. Anybody with feedback on ordering from keg connection?

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by RubberToe » Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:20 am

moxie wrote:Anybody with feedback on ordering from keg connection?
Not yet but I have a shopping cart filled, waiting to place an order. $525 worth of stuff and it seems they use UPS for shipping; that's over $80 in shipping charges plus whatever insane brokerage fee they will hit me with once it gets here. I sent them an email last night asking is they would use USPS which would be way cheaper. My order is for a couple gas manifolds (2 way and 6 way with check valves and barbs), dual secondary regulator, 6 525ss taps, shanks, hardware.... adds up quickly.

If I don't get a reply sometime today I'll call them. Will let you guys know how I make out.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by ratchet » Tue Mar 22, 2011 11:07 am

you DEFINATELY want to call them... and ask for Todd Burns (he's the owner).

USPS is available as a shipping option, but only by request.

I ordered all of my equip. from them - they are pretty good, but seem like they grew a little too fast for their own good (it seems like they're shop is little hectic, with some internal communications breakdowns). That's why you should talk to Todd directly.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by benwedge » Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:44 am

Hey guys, KMcK and I just ordered through Keg connection. We spoke with usstrejo first and he was able to help us find a deal on shipping (DM him for info). It took just over three weeks but that was due to two issues: 1. they were having some... erm... growth issues around the time we ordered which appear to be resolved now, and 2. there was a problem when our order transferred to UPS for the final leg of the journey (this was due to usstrejo's help), but that shouldn't happen on many orders.

Overall, it was a good experience. Call them & talk to them, they're very helpful and they make sure that you have what you need and it works. Case in point: I ordered a ball-lock (pepsi) setup, KMcK needed some pin-lock (Coke) parts. They asked several times to ensure we were both clear that these were incompatible & for separate setups.

Overall, go ahead and order from them. Much cheaper than what's available in town, very helpful, etc.

Edit: I clarified the part about UPS being used for the final leg of the journey
Brewing right now: whatever is going on tap at Stillwell in a few weeks.

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Re: Splitting the gas

Post by moxie » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:30 pm

I ended up going with the distributor/barbed check valve unit from kegconnection. Thanks for the input, guys.

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