Lion introduces "Tap King" - party keg / growlers

[mrTbeer]

As barls said. When you remove the empty bottle it lets go of any spare gas so you can't do a second with same bulb.

BUT have tried the following with success.
1.
Inside the tapking there is a small white regulator, remove it.
High pressure side is flush against bottle lid a small 6mm OD tube does a U-turn which takes low pressure side into bottle.
Only takes 1 screw to remove but you need to remove 6 to access it. (All Phillips heads)

2.
Now push about 1cm of that tube into a 6mm ID tube and put a clip around it. (Clip not shown in pic)
Drill a hole 8mm hole in tap keg at about '11 oclock' and feed the 6mm ID tube out of there. Connect that 6mm ID line direct to your CO2 regulator and gas.

3.
Reassemble and use the tapking exactly as before.
A: It won't pierce the bulbs now and you can reuse those lids in an unmodified tapking with homebrew or megaswill.
B: Pierced (used) lids can be reused with homebrew or megaswill in the modified tapking, don't undo tri-screws on lid and never buy bulbs again.

I've just done this with a full size regulator and gas bottle but have ordered one of these today so regulator & gas can both reside in fridge. The 16g bulbs are available at brew & bike stores easily.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/281150299353?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
I reckon 1x 16g bulb should do 3x 3.2L tapking bottles but haven't tested that yet.

Still working out the optimum pressure, could test the old regulator but would waste a bulb and need to reinstall everything. Let me know if anyone works it out but my guess is 15psi??

I can't work out how to make use of the removed regulator but I bet someone else does.

I've got 2 tapkings in kitchen fridge now, one takes bulbs, one takes gas. $46 total cost for 2-tap keg setup not bad. That assumes you have CO2 reg which I did.

 

[mrTbeer]

• Pics for above.
• 16g bulbs (finewhip.com.au) are about 9c / gram.
• 330g Sodastream refill from Woolies about 4c /gram.

 

[jorni]

The ones at ezychargers at least say they are 100 percent CO2 and that you would need to add your own lubrication if using in a gun.

http://www.ezychargers.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=479

They look like they should be ok. I'll order a box and give them a run me thinks.

On the ezychargers site, they also sell the 12g cartridges in 10s, not just 50s.

www.ezychargers.com.au/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=529

However, just looking at the measurements provided by ezycharges, 19mm x 83mm, and comparing it with the tapking cartridge, it seems like (from my measurements) that the collar is 2mm smaller. Currently, the cartridge fits snugly when pushed into the o-ring. But with the 19mm collar, the o-ring might have to be removed, which could be problematic, as mrTbeer discovered previously with a leak.

Could Be just spouting nonsense. Let me know if I am. Cheers.

 

[driftdaddy]

I've got some on the way from ezychargers, so will let you all know.

 

[luckyphil61]

I have just received my co2 cartridges from ezcharges ,the 12 g look identical the 8g apart from being smaller(shorter) have a wider neck

 

[jorni]

I have just received my co2 cartridges from ezcharges ,the 12 g look identical the 8g apart from being smaller(shorter) have a wider neck

Cool... does the 12g fit with the o-ring in place?

 

[Captain Morgan]

Just had one that didnt fire. It poured half a glass then stopped. I didnt hear the gas inside as per normal and the bottle was soft when I pushed on the sides. Dan Murphy's were all too happy to swap it straight out. I was concerned that it was the tap but the replacement bottle is doing fine.

 

[driftdaddy]

I have just received my co2 cartridges from ezcharges ,the 12 g look identical the 8g apart from being smaller(shorter) have a wider neck

Do you mean that the 8g has a wider neck?

 

[Adr_0]

Gents/ladies,

Has anyone tried maths, or science with the 8g/12g CO2 cartridges and the volumes of CO2? We know that 2 volumes of CO2 in 3.2L of beer = 6.4L of CO2 at atmospheric pressure...

At about 4-5°C, the density of CO2 is 1.95g/L (check webbook.nist.gov/chemistry if you doubt). So:
8g cylinder = 4.1L CO2
12g cylinder = 6.15L CO2

So, if you completely discharge an 8g cylinder into a full 3.2L Tap King container of beer, you are adding 1.3vol of CO2 to the beer.
The 12g will of course be another 1.8vol CO2.

If you are naturally carbing your beers, this should of course be considered... and probably lines up with the gut feel or what people have experienced. Probably perfect for hefeweizens.

I'm guessing that you get a good chunk of pressure drop over the little 1/4" or 3/16" hose going through the bottle, so maybe estimate for another 0.5volCO2 on top? That should give you another 50kPag but of course you'll get inconsistency from the first to the last. I don't have a lot of experience with kegging, but that to me would be the limitation of a non-regulated system.

Yes, no, maybe?

EDIT: I guess the point of the above is that if you take the extra into consideration, you should be able to use a 12g cylinder without a drama. To me, like-for-like always results in less dramas and playing with o-rings or fabricated stuff normally gets you into trouble.

 

[luckyphil61]

Cool... does the 12g fit with the o-ring in place?

yep the 12 fits fine the 8g will not fit

 

[luckyphil61]

Do you mean that the 8g has a wider neck?

Yes the neck is wider and wont fit with the oring in place

 

[jorni]

yep the 12 fits fine the 8g will not fit

Thanks mate!

 

[Bentnose]

Poured my first beer out of the Tap King today, it was mostly head. The Chancer Ale tastes a bit bland after only having home brew for a while.

Does anyone else think it sounds like a budgie when the gas is entering the bottle?

 

[damienkelly87]

So the 12g canister fits nice, a filed down Allen key can sort the triangular screws...

Next logical question...

How much do we prime the PET bottle? As usual for longnecks or less?? Anyone over/under carbed yet?

 

[Hwkdog]

I'm really interested in this, the ezy charge website did not have food grade 12 g , keep it up guys, Great project

 

[Adr_0]

So the 12g canister fits nice, a filed down Allen key can sort the triangular screws...

Next logical question...

How much do we prime the PET bottle? As usual for longnecks or less?? Anyone over/under carbed yet?

Damien,

See my post on previous Page which should give a starting point, and shouldn't require much if you use a 12g.

I don't think you'll ever get a consistent pour without a regulator topping up the gas, so your first few will be heady because of the higher carbonation and probably velocity, and the last few will start to suck in CO2.

Maybe prime to the lower end of the range and allow something like an extra 0.5-1 vol of CO2? 0.2 would be enough to push it out, but I guarantee you'll have nothing left at the end.

Good luck...

 

[mrTbeer]

It has a regulator inside TK. It's not adjustable but is regulated. First glass is always foam but last glass is much the same as 2nd. If it were unregulated the 900psi bulb would blow the little 4mm tube off.

 

[evildrakey]

Anyone notice that the Chancer in the tap king tastes quite a bit metallic over the Chancer served in bottles, or is it just me?

 

[bradsbrew]

I thought the tooheys new tasted worse than in a can, although I probably havnt had a can of new for a couple of years.

 

[Adr_0]

I thought the tooheys new tasted worse than in a can, although I probably havnt had a can of new for a couple of years.

The trick is to serve at room temperature in a couple of months time, after having sat on the bench for 2hrs and preferably with a cigarette butt or two in the bottom. Peak flavour.


On a side note, I guess regulator = good and bad: good for consistency but who knows what pressure it's set to. You could use the keg-side gauge of a regualator (I guess plug the bottle side) connected to a set volume to see what the pressure is, or trial and error.

I think I need to commit to this...

 

[jd_007]

G'day Gents

Got a reply from finewhip about food grade 12g unthreaded bulbs.

They are getting them in next month but the price is $3.50 a bulb which conpared to $1.20 for non food grade chargers

anyone else having luck?

JD

 

[Tony M]

Finewhip have no 12g bulbs until mid Sept. All you enthusiasts must have cleaned them out.

 

[luckyphil61]

Finewhip have no 12g bulbs until mid Sept. All you enthusiasts must have cleaned them out.

ezycharger have them

 

[Feldon]

Anyone notice that the Chancer in the tap king tastes quite a bit metallic over the Chancer served in bottles, or is it just me?

Me too. Definite 'metallic' after taste.

 

[Captain Morgan]

• Pics for above.
• 16g bulbs (finewhip.com.au) are about 9c / gram.
• 330g Sodastream refill from Woolies about 4c /gram.

I'm keen to see more of this! How has it all been going mrT? Is this doable for the average user? Cheers.

 

[dougsbrew]

Anyone notice that the Chancer in the tap king tastes quite a bit metallic over the Chancer served in bottles, or is it just me?

Me too. Definite 'metallic' after taste.

Yep me too, had a free sample at the bottlo the other day, My megaswill mate thought it was alright. Was flat and horrible for me.

 

[aussiebrewer]

Finished 1x3.2 today and tried to take it apart, ****** if I can find a triangular screwdriver or even a bit small enough to kinda fit. I went to Jaycar and struck out, online I can't find anything smaller than 2.0mm and its not tri-wing?
Will get on the angle grinder tomoz and make something.
Next step is to find 12g cartridges, my bicycle ones are all 16g. I wonder if 8g can do the job??
Would be awesome to hook up a sodastream 330g bottle!
Anyone know the thread size vs tap-a-draft thread?

Mate I bought a console game tool kit from jaycar it has the triangular piece and a hand ratchet screwdriver it fits in.

 

[mrTbeer]

I'm keen to see more of this! How has it all been going mrT? Is this doable for the average user? Cheers.

Yeah easier than I thought. The main body comes apart pretty easily all with a standard screwdriver.
I took a photo so I knew how to put back together but didn't need to refer to it.
Didn't need a reducer as the fit between 6mm OD and 6mm ID tube was perfect would probably hold without a clamp but I've got one on there.
There are a couple plastic legs that need to be jiggled in when re-assembling but doesn't take long. It's a little bit tighter than before but I think that's because some of the oil has been wiped off.

Trying it out with a (new) bottle of Boags and the larger co2 tank (sodastream). It's working well, will be better (less room in fridge) when the mini reg arrives.
Hope to find the right pressure setting before this bottle is finished.
This is the first bottle, should yield a lid with fresh bulb and another empty PET, will use those with my homebrew (APA) on the unmodified rig.
If the mini reg arrives before then, I'll use the bottle for my homebrew and provide my own co2.

Mate I bought a console game tool kit from jaycar it has the triangular piece and a hand ratchet screwdriver it fits in.

Good stuff, was it the set for ~$30? I made 1 from an ikea allen key (silver metal was too soft) and made a second from a real allen key (harder black metal). Since doing the above I may not need to use it much though.

 

[Adr_0]

Trying it out with a (new) bottle of Boags and the larger co2 tank (sodastream). It's working well, will be better (less room in fridge) when the mini reg arrives.
Hope to find the right pressure setting before this bottle is finished.
This is the first bottle, should yield a lid with fresh bulb and another empty PET, will use those with my homebrew (APA) on the unmodified rig.
If the mini reg arrives before then, I'll use the bottle for my homebrew and provide my own co2.

As I understand, your setup just has a line in from the sodastream, via regulator then into the 3.2L PET bottle? If you had a new 12g CO2 cylinder and 'engaged' the TK, would this pressure back into the bottle?

Does your regulator have pressure relief in it, i.e. if you lower the pressure does it vent off through the regulator or rely on opening the tap?

Eitehr way, you could get tricky and set your regulator to say 200-250kPag, crack the cylinder (hopefully nothing comes out of the 12g cyl), turn off your sodastream cylinder and either wind down the regulator in 10-20kPag increments or crack the tap a bit. Hopefully you get to a pressure around 150kPag where your 12g cylinder/regulator is topping up gas.

 

[mrTbeer]

You're right in description, my setup gives an alternate line in from sodastream reg BUT I've removed the bit of TK reg which is the bit that pierces 12g cylinder.
Need to use an unmodified TK if I want to pierce a new 12g cylinder.
The metal 'piercer' is actually in the lid but the TK has a metal pin that pushes it.

The reg that I currently have does have pressure relief, I've ordered a cheaper reg on ebay $39 and am not sure if it does?

What you've suggested is possible but I've got no fittings for the tiny 4mm hose, it'd need a Y on the low pressure side of TK reg. There's no room to access high pressure side of TK reg besides I'm not keen on fiddling with that.