Purchased A Kegerator

[whitegoose]

I had mine set to 4 degrees and put a glass of water with a thermometer in it in there - when I took it out it read 3 degrees!

 

[benno1973]

I guess, because it's not a flooded font, the first pour is always a little warm due to warm beer in the lines. I'll have to measure it before I criticise...

 

[Thunderlips]

I guess, because it's not a flooded font, the first pour is always a little warm due to warm beer in the lines. I'll have to measure it before I criticise...

I've had a thermometer in there and I'm sure it only got down to about 4 degrees.

The beer itself may be cooler since it's in a big stainless steel keg.

 

[claymen]

Hmm well mine has seen negative temps when its working hard. But when it was at 1c (according to the front) my temp gauge said it was about 1.2c and 2c about 2.1~ so its pretty good.

It's actually a really nice fridge

Other than the crap related to shipping i'm pretty happy with it. Greg seemed pretty quick to help out and respond which is good. Can't wait to pickup my co2 tank and get this baby really cranking.

 

[claymen]

Just a quick extra reply, I noticed my font had tubing already attached and also had some thick insulation to help seal up the hole as it passes through into the fridge.

So I guess, what was the problem people were having with the hoses into the 90degree bend? Mine was already done so not quite sure..

 

[whitegoose]

Just a quick extra reply, I noticed my font had tubing already attached and also had some thick insulation to help seal up the hole as it passes through into the fridge.

So I guess, what was the problem people were having with the hoses into the 90degree bend? Mine was already done so not quite sure...

The problem was if you wanted to use 5mmID line the barb on the 90 degree bend was too fat... The line it comes with is 8mmID. Apparantly with the flow control valve thingo on the taps it's okay to use 8mm ID line though so I wouldn't worry about it - but without the flow control you would need about 18m of 8mmID beer line to balance the system! Ross from Craft Brewer got me some replacement elbow barbs anyway which I'm testing out this arvo.

What do you mean the tubing was already attached to the font? Do you mean to the elbow barb?

 

[claymen]

The elbow barbs were fitted and the hose also. All I had to do was mount the font with the 4 screws provided (not the long ones) and that's it font connected. Attached the two taps and bobs ya uncle!

 

[Guest Lurker]

The elbow barbs were fitted and the hose also. All I had to do was mount the font with the 4 screws provided (not the long ones) and that's it font connected. Attached the two taps and bobs ya uncle!

Have you put beer through them? Although the tap shanks are installed in the font, they are probably not done up tight, and beer will spray around inside the font until they are pulled up tight.

 

[claymen]

Nah havent run any beer through but it did seem pretty tightly done up already.

 

[benno1973]

Mine wasn't assembled, had to assemble myself. And assembling with the 8mm line, meant that there was very little room (due to the thickness of line) to get the barbs close together, which they need to be because of the angle of the taps. Anyway, it's all together now. No beer leaking, so that's great.

 

[camedmeades]

Hi guys,

Well, had the gas going at 15psi for the past two days (didn't force carbonate it) and thought I'd give it a try. hooked up the beer line and poured myself a long one. Head was good, and though the beer was still a bit flat (how long will it take to get the beer carbonated to 15psi without force carbonating?), it was excellent. A LCPA clone that tasted very nice indeed. Had a cloudy look buy I think that may have been because it included the first beer coming through the lines - I didn't have a secondary fermentor so there would be a bit of sediment down the bottom there.

Can't wait to get the second one going and try some new recipes!

Excited!
Cam

 

[benno1973]

...(how long will it take to get the beer carbonated to 15psi without force carbonating?)...

About a week I'd say. I crank mine up to 200kpa (30psi) and let it sit for about 3 days, then drop it down to serving pressure and it's pretty much right.

 

[camedmeades]

I did notice that the first time I switched on the gas I dialled it up to 15, and the next morning it was about 10, dialled it back up to 15 then next morning was at about 12. have just put it back up to 15. this normal?

 

[Pennywise]

Hi guys,

Well, had the gas going at 15psi for the past two days (didn't force carbonate it) and thought I'd give it a try. hooked up the beer line and poured myself a long one. Head was good, and though the beer was still a bit flat (how long will it take to get the beer carbonated to 15psi without force carbonating?), it was excellent. A LCPA clone that tasted very nice indeed. Had a cloudy look buy I think that may have been because it included the first beer coming through the lines - I didn't have a secondary fermentor so there would be a bit of sediment down the bottom there.

Can't wait to get the second one going and try some new recipes!

Excited!
Cam

just be carefull leaving it at 15 psi, I had mine at that for a week and a half and my beer was a little overcarbed with the fridge set to 6 deg. Looking at Beersmith and thanks to Adamt's advice it should have been at 12 psi. Now I'll be burping the mofo when i get home tonight and it can take a day or so to come back down.

 

[Pollux]

The more I read this thread, the more I am persuaded to not buy one of these units....

Starting to think an upside-down fridge freezer and simply buying the kegging components from Ross sounds like a good idea.

 

[claymen]

I dunno. I looked at doing that and even after the shipping issues i'd still go this route.

Greg is willing to fix things and pretty fast to contact you unlike some places.

I ordered mine had everything ready so looks like any other issues are sorted now, no messing around fitting the hoses over the barbs etc. Pretty much just fit the font, rails and setup and go.

 

[claymen]

Actually one quick question, the lines that came with the kit. There was the clear ones which went to the taps but the other line I am assuming is the gas line?

 

[Pollux]

Still need to order actual kegs, disconnects etc.

I have actually priced it up, assuming one could get a fridge for $100 or less, it actually worked out being 40c cheaper to do it myself, and I would have actual celli taps mounted to the door of said fridge......


Decisions decisions..


NOTE: Not trying to rubbish this product, simply noticing alot of people are having issues with screws that don't line up, or burn marks near the compressor and am considering alternatives.

 

[benno1973]

Actually one quick question, the lines that came with the kit. There was the clear ones which went to the taps but the other line I am assuming is the gas line?

I only got 2 lengths of identical clear line. No gas line I assume? My original assumption was that they only supplied one beer line and one gas line...

 

[claymen]

Still need to order actual kegs, disconnects etc.

I have actually priced it up, assuming one could get a fridge for $100 or less, it actually worked out being 40c cheaper to do it myself, and I would have actual celli taps mounted to the door of said fridge......


Decisions decisions..


NOTE: Not trying to rubbish this product, simply noticing alot of people are having issues with screws that don't line up, or burn marks near the compressor and am considering alternatives.

Depends if you can get the fridge that cheap, second hand yes brand new no. Also depends what gear you already have.

I'm guessing you already have a reg and taps? Cause that's where the biggest cost came in for me, I needed a reg, taps and basically everything. Going this route I got most of it in one go. Originally I was looking at about $300 just to do one keg with a beer gun and use my existing fridge. Sure it was about $650 delivered for this but now I get a fridge just for it with a decent looking font with 2 taps.

 

[Pollux]

I have none of the above. But after pricing up buying one of these then some kegs and disconnects there wasn't much in it.

 

[claymen]

Each to their own. I found this much better value than just buying the parts and a spare fridge.

Sure they are knockoffs but meh if they get the job done so be it. Worst comes to worst I replace the taps later down the track.

 

[camedmeades]

Now it's up and running, I don't have any regrets! Looks much nicer than an old fridge with a tap drilled into it.

 

[claymen]

Now it's up and running, I don't have any regrets! Looks much nicer than an old fridge with a tap drilled into it.

Yer they look pretty mint. I was impressed with it and although other people had some pain it looks like the vendor is learning and improving the product which means they are listening to feedback

Just ordered some 2x gas in 2x beer out and a t piece to suit the corny kegs from Craft Brewer, hopefully I get them in time for the weekend to start getting it up and running! Was going to go for the CPC/John Guess fittings but for my setup barbs will do fine.

 

[Screwtop]

Happy as the proverbial with mine, 3 tap font. Replaced the flexible line on one tap with regular beer line of the correct length to balance the system. This was a test to see how well balanced it was with the original larger OD line, never bothered changing the other two as all three pour perfectly. I just connect a new keg and within 4 days it's pouring beautifully at 5C and 80kPa.

Screwy

 

[potof4x]

Gday,

Have had one of these for a while now. Have just set up the font and taps today after a bit of remanufacture to make the font tower base fit the Holes in the fridge. Was using one of the little bronco taps up till today, which worked really well.

Now with the supplied taps hooked up the flow is at best a dribble, even when tweaking the flow adjuster. Am using the same pressure as I was with the bronco tap and have also made sure there is no airlocks or kinks in the line. Take approx 30 seconds to fill a pot glass.

Any one else had this drama and or knows the remedy?

 

[whitegoose]

Gday,

Have had one of these for a while now. Have just set up the font and taps today after a bit of remanufacture to make the font tower base fit the Holes in the fridge. Was using one of the little bronco taps up till today, which worked really well.

Now with the supplied taps hooked up the flow is at best a dribble, even when tweaking the flow adjuster. Am using the same pressure as I was with the bronco tap and have also made sure there is no airlocks or kinks in the line. Take approx 30 seconds to fill a pot glass.

Any one else had this drama and or knows the remedy?

What is your serving pressure? What beer kline are you using?

I'm using the supplied taps and 1.1m of 5mm beer line @ 80-90kpa and if I open up the flow adjuster it pours nice and quick, no problems at all.

 

[potof4x]

What is your serving pressure? What beer kline are you using?

I'm using the supplied taps and 1.1m of 5mm beer line @ 80-90kpa and if I open up the flow adjuster it pours nice and quick, no problems at all.

Using the supplied two lengths of beer line. Is thick walled and 5/16 ID about 700 long, used a clamp to tighten onto the ball lock fitting. Was running about 70 kpa with the bronco tap and was pouring beautifully. Have tried stepping the pressure up to 90 kpa for no benefit to flow, only more foam!

 

[hatchor]

Using the supplied two lengths of beer line. Is thick walled and 5/16 ID about 700 long, used a clamp to tighten onto the ball lock fitting. Was running about 70 kpa with the bronco tap and was pouring beautifully. Have tried stepping the pressure up to 90 kpa for no benefit to flow, only more foam!

All,
I have just setup the kegerator from Pinnacle Wholesalers that includes the adjustable Dorado taps and font. This is the first time I have set up taps and keg system, so you could say I am inexperienced in dispensing systems! But I am pretty handy so don't think I have stuffed anything up. I am experiencing a really slow pour like Potof4X has described, and I have noticed what I think may be the (my) problem!

With the taps removed I get full range of adjustment (with the little arm on the side) so that the shaft slides in and out of the tap. I then fit the taps to the font with the flow adjustment all the way open. I then have very limited adjustment with the arm. It is almost like the tap is 'seating' too far in to the seat which stops the adjustment being all the way open. I can only get mine open a little (maybe 30 degrees of arm rotation and the tap is fully closed against the seat) when the tap is secured to the font.
I thought of fitting the tap with the flow adjustment in the closed position, but when I open the flow adjuster the tap becomes loose on the font.

I don't know if there is a trick with these, if I am doing something wrong etc, or if I am missing a 'spacer' that fits between the tap and the font but if anyone can give me any tips I would love to hear about it. Seeing that nobody replied to PotOf4x's last post on the subject, I am assuming that nobody else has this problem or knows what I am doing wrong? dunno.

Anyway, if anyone has any pointers setting these taps up, I would love to hear about it.

:beer:
hatchor

 

[T.D.]

Can you fit regular taps instead or is it a unique fitting just for the taps that come with the kegerator?

If I got one of these I'd rather do that anyway I reckon. I am not one for these flow control gizmos!