4mm Beer Line

[hsv_069]

Do many people run 4mmID beer line? I recently purchased a 4 tap font and it has fittings for 4mmID and 6mmOD beer line. I cant fit anything bigger on to it.
I was thinking of having my whole system set up with 4mm line, will there be any issues with this? The only thing that I can see is it will be hard, if not close to impossible to fit the line over the beer out fitting on the cornie.

What sort of line length should I be looking at?

Anyone got aqny other ideas?

 

[Sammus]

Most fonts seem to come equipped like that, it seems to be a standard for pubs etc. You can get little splicer things, with barbs either side to step up the line size to something more normal for home setups, or yeah, you could just struggle with 4mm lines

 

[krusty_oz]

I use 3metres of 4mm line to my Andale beer gun (Andale give the option of 4mm or 6mm ID on their guns - wanted 4mm for the higher flow restriction). When I purchased it I forgot to order a 4 to 6mm joiner to connect it to the disconnect as the disconnect is for an ID of 6mm.

In the eagerness to tap my first keg I was able to get the 4mm line on the disconnect by drilling it out a little then soaking it in hot water although its wasn't going to last as a long term solution. I have since got the 4 to 6mm joiner and have a short length of 6mm line to get it on the disconnect.

 

[hsv_069]

The joiners sound like an easy solution. Would it be better to run 6mm to the bottom of the font and have a joiner or run 4mm all the way to the disconnect and have a joiner? Basically should I have majority 4mm or 6mm beer line?

 

[QldKev]

It will depend on how much line you need in the system. Have a search for balancing a system. With 4mm line you will need less line, but it may end up to short for you requirements.

QldKev

 

[QldKev]

Just found the article
Balancing doc

There is a spreadsheet at the bottom of the page to work out lengths for different lines

QldKev

 

[Sammus]

Or if your lazy just hook them up with whatever length line, set co2 pressure to pour at a speed you like, and leave it for a week or two and find them carbed up nicely I used to do the whole balancing thing and got sick of meters and meters of line curled up in my fridge making it hard to do anything. Now some of my lines are as short as a foot, and I havent noticed them being particularly under or overcarbed. My taps do pour at slightly different speeds though (longest lone compared to the shortest line)

I think the difference in pressure from hi to low carb changes the pouring speed not all that much. Like if I want something more highly carbonated, I can turn up the pressure and it pours pretty quick, certainly not unmanageable. Maybe if I wanted soda water or cider or something at 4+ vols it would get a bit out of hand - I'd probably go back to the old balancing thing then

 

[QldKev]

Yep I've been thinking about changing over to 4mm line so I can shorten the lengths up heaps.

QldKev