Party Kegs

[afromaiko]

I've got one of those, though mine looks a little different.
Works fine, you just give the trigger a squirt when the pouring pressure starts to drop.
I got it on Ebay and I got the bulbs from Grain&Grape.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you get yours for? Were you just able to get the inflator by itself? The only ones I've seen come with the keg fitting which I don't really need I guess, unless there is some way to reliably attach these to those plastic pressure sprayer bottles.

 

[Thunderlips]

If you don't mind me asking, how much did you get yours for? Were you just able to get the inflator by itself? The only ones I've seen come with the keg fitting which I don't really need I guess, unless there is some way to reliably attach these to those plastic pressure sprayer bottles.

Hmm, it was a while ago so I can't really remember.
Here's one at Ebay, with the disconnect, for a buy now price of $45. Looks to be the same as mine.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Brand-New-Portable-...1QQcmdZViewItem
I got the inflator by itself and later on bought some bulbs from G&G.
G&G sell both the charger and bulbs but I can't check the price right now because their store seems to be down. I think they sell the charger for $29.95.
Hey Ross, could be another handy product for Craftbrewer.

 

[afromaiko]

I had a look at the eBay link, thanks. But I can't figure out how it connects. I assume the keg charger is exactly the same as the ones used to inflate a bike or car tyre and has a thread so it screws into the keg fitting and pushes the valve pin in?

So does this keg fitting have a Schrader valve then like tyres do? I tried asking the seller a question but I think we got our wires crossed because I still don't understand.

I intend to make a party keg setup using a metal Schrader valve fitting on the keg, so am interested to know if these chargers or the ones available from G & G etc will fit a tyre valve or whether I'd need to source one from a bike shop instead.

Thanks.

 

[Ross]

G&G sell both the charger and bulbs but I can't check the price right now because their store seems to be down. I think they sell the charger for $29.95.
Hey Ross, could be another handy product for Craftbrewer.

I've been put off by the pathetic amount of beer you can discharge for the cost. Took 6 bottles to despense a 12L party keg when I used one. Would rather go soda stream anytime.

Cheers Ross

 

[razz]

Hmm, it was a while ago so I can't really remember.
Here's one at Ebay, with the disconnect, for a buy now price of $45. Looks to be the same as mine.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Brand-New-Portable-...1QQcmdZViewItem
I got the inflator by itself and later on bought some bulbs from G&G.
G&G sell both the charger and bulbs but I can't check the price right now because their store seems to be down. I think they sell the charger for $29.95.
Hey Ross, could be another handy product for Craftbrewer.

CO2 injector assemblies are $49.95

 

[KoNG]

Ross: I'm yet to use mine, but from what i've heard that seems like alot of bulbs.! A mate told me he dispended his Corny with a little over 3 bulbs and they were the smaller 8g ones. So something is lining up there. I'll update after i've used mine.

Afro: as for the fitting it is a female MFL thread to screw onto the QD.
i'm 99% sure it is diff to the schrader thread. So a bike shop might be a preference. Although road bikes use presta, so make sure it is for a mountain bike if they make them.

 

[Wortgames]

Just as a point of reference, I tried to screw a QD onto my air compressor (which screws onto a 'car' valve, the same as a mountain bike).

It didn't fit, so there's a bit more to this than meets the eye. Maybe QDs are available with different threads, or maybe there's another adaptor involved in between?

edit: splengi (twice)

 

[Fingerlickin_B]

i'm 99% sure it is diff to the schrader thread. So a bike shop might be a preference. Although road bikes use presta, so make sure it is for a mountain bike if they make them.

Even then you have to be careful...I saw a kid at the skatepark just yesterday running presta valved tubes on his "street" MTB :huh:

Best to simply say "schrader" or "car valve" as opposed to referencing bike type, just to be safe

*edit* - Just thinking...there are ones for bikes that compress an o-ring around your valve stem to form the seal, usually with a lever (or more commonly with Co2, by twisting where it connects)...a presta-style one of these may work very well on a barbed QD...plus most come with exchangeable fittings for both valve types anyway :super:

 

[sah]

How to make cheap 3L 'kegs'

http://home.swbell.net/bufkin/cheap_3_liter_kegs.htm

Wow, I've just had a quick look at this and I'm impressed. Maybe there's a way to use the carbonator cap to similar effect? The bottle would have to be upside down for serving. Any ideas about gas delivery?

Or is it just as easy to fill up X number of bottles and serve using the tried and trusted pour method?

Scott

 

[Thirsty Boy]

Just as a point of reference, I tried to screw a QD onto my air compressor (which screws onto a 'car' valve, the same as a mountain bike).

It didn't fit, so there's a bit more to this than meets the eye. Maybe QDs are available with different threads, or maybe there's another adaptor involved in between?

edit: splengi (twice)

As an "adaptor" I used a short (3inch) bit of beva gas line. Onto a nut and tail for a QD at one end, and fudged onto a mag wheel type car valve (schrader) at the other. Saves mucking about looking for fittings with the right thread.

It performed well in partnership with a sodastream connected to a schrader filler fitting, for my x-mas and new year party rig. Carted from Melb to port maquarie via stops in Myrtleford, Albury, Sydney, Newcastle, Foster... Toatal of 3 cornies dispensed plus various bottles. Its not pretty, but with a few bags of ice, it did the job!!

many drunk people created. mission accomplished :beer:

 

[Thunderlips]

I had a look at the eBay link, thanks. But I can't figure out how it connects. I assume the keg charger is exactly the same as the ones used to inflate a bike or car tyre and has a thread so it screws into the keg fitting and pushes the valve pin in?

The grey gas disconnect screws right onto it.
Ross is correct though, you seem to need a few to empty a 12L keg. Don't even bother using them on a 18-20L keg.

 

[KillerRx4]

I bought 1 of those innovative trigger thingos from BD when I ordered kegs from US. It was alot cheaper than ive seen them here for & also got a bulk box 50? bulbs. I think theyre 12g.

Ive only used it once but on my 3gal keg filled with carbonated beer & already at dispensing pressure I used less than 1 bulb to empty the keg. Id say I dispensed atleast 1/4 of it before I even needed to put the co2 charger on.

That said. I also have a sodastream setup which although more bulky is probably cheaper in the long run with the price of the co2 bulbs available in AUS.

 

[Finite]

Looks the goods! Whats the trigger you use to dispence the gas thereThirsty boy? Do you prime ior force carb? Do you use a reg?

Cheers,
Blake

 

[KoNG]

Ive only used it once but on my 3gal keg filled with carbonated beer & already at dispensing pressure I used less than 1 bulb to empty the keg. Id say I dispensed atleast 1/4 of it before I even needed to put the co2 charger on.

That sounds spot on for the figures i'd heard too.
one thing that could be making a difference is people using beer line to a tap maybe..? could require more co2 usage.?
the figures i have been told (approx 24g - 30g for a corny) were used with a tap straight off the QD.

 

[Wortgames]

That sounds spot on for the figures i'd heard too.
one thing that could be making a difference is people using beer line to a tap maybe..? could require more co2 usage.?
the figures i have been told (approx 24g - 30g for a corny) were used with a tap straight off the QD.

According to my googlemath, 12g of CO2 will expand to 6 litres of vapour at 15C. So to dispense an 18L keg AND maintain 2 volumes of carbonation would take 6 bulbs (72g).

Obviously, a longer serving line would require more pressure behind it (eg a constant 2 volumes worth), whereas a tap directly on the post would need very little pressure - theoretically the beer would actually propel itself out until the keg reached 1 volume of co2.

 

[KillerRx4]

Ahh yeah I should have mentioned I also got the tap thats attached directly to the Beer QD :lol:

 

[Ross]

According to my googlemath, 12g of CO2 will expand to 6 litres of vapour at 15C. So to dispense an 18L keg AND maintain 2 volumes of carbonation would take 6 bulbs (72g).

Obviously, a longer serving line would require more pressure behind it (eg a constant 2 volumes worth), whereas a tap directly on the post would need very little pressure - theoretically the beer would actually propel itself out until the keg reached 1 volume of co2.

Maybe it just took over 3 bulbs to dispense my 12L keg & my mind just remembers it as needing 6 for a full keg - either way, it's a lot of bottles & they wern't that cheap when first on the market when I used them. Maybe better value today though?
4 to 5 18L kegs dispensed with one $9 bottle of Sodastream works for me though.

cheers Ross

 

[Wortgames]

Maybe it just took over 3 bulbs to dispense my 12L keg & my mind just remembers it as needing 6 for a full keg - either way, it's a lot of bottles & they wern't that cheap when first on the market when I used them. Maybe better value today though?
4 to 5 18L kegs dispensed with one $9 bottle of Sodastream works for me though.

cheers Ross

Well, it's only a 'theoretical' 6 bulbs - that doesn't take into account any losses etc, so it could quite easily be more than that in the real world. I agree, sparklet bulbs would be a tedious way to do it for all but the smallest, most temporary setup. They also seem quite expensive here, you don't see them around all that much.

In the UK, they passed a law in the 70s that said that everyone had to own a soda syphon as seen on James Bond. If you didn't comply they confiscated your fondue set. Also, homebrewers often use plastic pressure barrels which use a 'CO2 injector' to replace the beer served, and they use sparklet bulbs. They are pretty common in the States too, they use them in air guns etc as well apparently.

So in the UK and US you can find them in just about every supermarket and they work out to be a few pennies each. Here they are harder to find and more expensive. For what it's worth, I've got my tentacles out and I'm trying to put together a compact reg setup that will take SodaStream AND paintball cylinders interchangeably. I reckon that would be a cool thing.

I'll let you know how I go of course.

 

[KoNG]

i think the beer line might be the difference...

wortgames.. what is the difference in googlemath, when its at 8*C instead of 15*C...?

 

[Wortgames]

wortgames.. what is the difference in googlemath, when its at 8*C instead of 15*C...?

I'd say the difference would be negligible.

The boiling (and freezing) point of CO2 is -78C. Co2 only exists as a liquid when it is under high pressure, normally it sublimates (passes directly between a solid and a gas). The page I was using (here) simply specified 15C - presumably as a nice round 'normal' room temperature, as there is no doubt enough expansion of the gas between -78C and 15C to make a noticable difference. I don't think there'd be much difference between 8C and 15C to be honest.

(edit: link doesn't load properly in FireFox - just copy and paste the resulting URL back into the window and hit enter, that seems to do it).