How best to split gas line for two fridges

[Peter80]

I currently have my gas line run through a hole to my keg fridge and now i would like to run gas to my fermenting fridge to allow for pressurised transfers and I am tossing up between:

1. Using a 2 or 3 way manifold,
2. Using a Y splitter with or without a barbed tap,
3. Using two regs and just swapping between them.

Was wondering how others have set up to do this so I can get to ordering the gear.

 

[Lionman]

depends on how much you want to spend?

T/Y piece is cheapest.

Manifold is probably better but more expensive.

A second reg is probably better again but even more expensive. You can actually connect regs together by removing the high pressure gauge and connecting the second reg where the gauge was. This gives you two outlets with separate pressure control.

All solutions will work.

Another option is to get a small 400gm bottle for the fermenter and put a small reg on it. This will keep the two systems separate.

 

[Grott]

If you want to run the two at the same time, different pressures may be required therefore another reg or seperate setup as suggested by Lionman is the go. Personally I'd do the other reg to join on with existing as this can give other options.

 

[Yob]

I havnt got, nor thought about doing that.. can see the value but cant see that I'd do it between FV and keg, not with an installed line, its another point of concern and would be a PITA to maintain.. not difficult, just a pain in the arse, the gas is the easy part. I'd run a line off a manifold, external to the fridge/kegarator, and run it all from the bottle.. keep control at the bottle.

Im actually adding another 4 point manifold in my fridge so I can do extra carb cap carbonation on bottles easily, cant see why the same principal cant be applied and adding a liquid line.

I'll give you this though.. Its got me thinking ******* hard about it... couple of snaplock hose leads.. tilt your FV during ferment to keep the tap clear.. **** man..

 

[Pnutapper]

As briefly discussed via PM, I would be able to send you this bit of kit.

A very inventive chap modified an existing regulator board to prevent a problem he had with regulator creep. The reg on the left determines the pressure that the other 2 regs are fed. All 3 regs are adjustable to a max 420 kPa / 60 PSI. Unfortunately, because it does not comply with AS5034 requirements, Workcover did not appreciate the gentleman's ingenuity, and ordered him to remove it.

I replaced the board for him and purchased this one from him. If we can find a safe way to transport it to you, I am sure we could come to a mutually satisfactory arrangement.

The middle, and right hand side regulators could be set to independent pressures to suit your requirements. (So could the left hand side one for that matter, but that is just muddying the waters of this discussion.)

 

[Peter80]

That thing looks the goods but I do not think I can get it up to where I am. Thanks for the ideas people I think i will try running a postmix bottle for a bit with the goal of setting up to run two regs.

 

[n87]

Hi Peter, hope you are settling into the new digs well.

While you might not find a professional setup like pnutapper's pic, you can hard plumb 2 regulators together as mentioned above with a simple adapter and some threadlock.
Another alternative is to have some form of quick disconnect attached at the reg and swap over your 2 lines. I have a nitto fitting on my reg and fridge, I wouldn't trust it to stop flow when disconnected 100%, but it does fine whenever I need to swap a line.