Two CO2 Lines for Your Kegerator
When you need two CO2 lines for your kegerator.
When you add another keg, beer line and faucet to your draft service you will also have to get gas to that second keg. In some cases you may even want delivery gas at a different pressures for two or more kegs.
There are three simple methods for doing the job:
Split the current gas line with a simple "T" fitting
Advantage: Easy and cheap.
Disadvantage: NO control of the gas downstream of the primary regulator.
This method does not take up a lot of room and is easy to do. If your kegerator is limited in space, particularly because the CO2 cylinder is mounted inside the box this may be your best option.
What you will need:
4 foot of 5/16 inch vinyl hose (red)
a sharp knife or hose cutter
6 5/16 inch worm clamps
flathead screwdriver
5/16 inch "T" fitting (preferable stainless steel)
a pot of hot water
Here's how to do it:
1. TURN THE GAS OFF AT THE CYLINDER by turning the cylinder valve shut-off clockwise until it completely stops.
2. Measure 1 foot of gas line from the regulator outlet (or the wall of the kegerator if cylinder is outside) and cut the hose there.
3. Put one of the hose clamps onto the new end of the hose from the regulator and hold it in place with one hand.
4. Dip the end of the hose in the hot water to soften the vinyl (this will allow it to go onto the hose barbs of the "t" fitting). An alternative method of softening the hose is to warm it in your mouth by chewing on it.
5. Insert the short side of the "T" fitting into the hose end until it is fully inserted to the stop on the fitting.
6. Push the clamp down over the hose with the fitting inside almost to the end of the hose. Screw the clamp closed with the screwdriver turning clockwise until it is tightly clamped.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 for the newly cut hose end leading to the keg coupler for this leg.
8. Lay the new section of hose along a path from the "T" fitting's remaining barb to the location of the second keg coupler.
Be sure that you've given enough length to reach the keg in question. A good guide is to be able to pull the keg with the coupler attached out of the kegerator with enough gas line to spare.
9. Cut the new section of hose to the length required and following steps 3-6 above connect the new section to the remaining barb on the "T" fitting.
10. Attach the remaining open hose end to the gas-in hose barb on the keg coupler using steps 3-6 above for reference. Be sure that you slip the clamp onto the hose first before inserting the barb into the hose.
11. Turn the gas back on at the cyinder by opening the cylinder valve counter-clockwise.
12. You should have gas flowing to both locations now. Check for leaks by spraying soapy water on all the fitting useing a spray bottle.
Split the gas line using a gas manifold with individual valves for each line
Advantages: ability to turn each leg on or off; allows addition of check valves (important for home brew) and can be mounted inside and out of the way for neatness.
Disadvantage: No ability to delivery gas at two different pressures.
Using a gas manifold allows you to distribute the gas via separate valves while keeping the valve assembly mounted out of the way inside the box (this could also be mounted outside the box if you wish).
This way you can shut the gas off to each leg of the line independently, for instance if one leg has no keg attached it could and should be shut off to prevent gas leakage.
The separate valves can be check valves to prevent beer flow backwards into your regulator and cylinder if the pressure drops - this applies to home brew keg systems since there is no other gas check valve (standard keg couplers have them built in).
What you will need:
a dual outlet gas manifold
a 5/16 inch hose adapter w/1/4 inch male threads
4-6 foot of 5/16 inch vinyl hose (red)
a sharp knife or hose cutter
6 5/16 inch worm clamps
falthead screwdriver
2 1/4 inch shut-off valves with 5/16 inch hose adapters and internal check valves (if for home brew)
pipe thread sealer (tape or liquid)
pot of hot water.
Here's how to do it:
1. TURN THE GAS OFF AT THE CYLINDER by turning the cylinder valve shut-off clockwise until it completely stops.
2. Measure 1 foot of gas line from the regulator outlet (or the wall of the kegerator if cylinder is outside) and cut the hose there.
3. Assemble the manifold by first applying thread sealer to the male threads on the hose barb and screwing the hose barb into the threaded hole drilled onto the side of the manifold body. To determine which side will be the inlet side of the manifold, hold the manifold up inside the kegerator at the location you have selected.
The mounting holes should be on the top and the threadd holes for the outlet valves should be on the bottom. Either of the threaded holes on the ends of the manifold can be the inlet hole, but for simplicity and neatness the end nearest the regualtor is the best choice.
Apply thread sealer to the threaded plug and screw it into the hole on the opposite end of the chosen inlet.
Now follow the same procedure for the two screw in valves. Screw them into the outlet holes on the underside of teh manifold. With a small wrench, gently tighten all the fittings. They do not need to be screwed in all the way to the end of the threads, just tight enough to seal the threads.
4. Place the manifold assembly at its mounting location - you want this location to be high in the box to avoid damage caused when moving kegs in and out. With a pencil mark the locations of the two mounting screws. Then drill starter holes for the mounting screws. Do not permantently mount the manifold just yet.
5. Put one of the hose clamps onto the new end of the hose from the regulator and hold it in place with one hand.
6. Dip the end of the hose in the hot water to soften the vinyl (this will allow it to go onto the hose barbs of the "t" fitting). An alternative method of softening the hose is to warm it in your mouth by chewing on it.
7. Push the warmed hose end over the hose barb on the inlet of the manifold until the hose reaches the stop.
8. Push the clamp down over the hose with the fitting inside almost to the end of the hose. Screw the clamp closed with the screwdriver turning clockwise until it is tightly clamped.
9. Using the same steps to mount the newly cut end of the hose leading to the keg coupler onto one of the manifolds valve outlets.Be sure that you slip the clamp onto the hose first before inserting the barb into the hose.
10. Lay the new section of hose along a path from the manifolds remaining outlet barb to the location of the second keg coupler. Be sure that you've given enough length to reach the keg in question. A good guide is to be able to pull the keg with the coupler attached out of the kegerator with enough gas line to spare.
11. Cut the new section of hose to the length required and following steps 6-8 above connect the new section to the remaining outlet barb on the manifold.
12. Attach the remaining open hose end to the gas-in hose barb on the keg coupler using the steps described 6-8 above for reference. Be sure that you slip the clamp onto the hose first before inserting the barb into the hose.
13. Turn the gas back on at the cyinder by opening the cylinder valve counter-clockwise. Open the valves on the manifold if they are not already open. The are open when the valve handle or arm is parallel with the body of the valve. (Off is when the handle is perpendicular to the valve body and pushed to a stop).
14. You should have gas flowing to both locations now. Check for leaks by spraying soapy water on all the fitting useing a spray bottle.
Split the gas line by using secondary regulators
Advantages: Ability to turn each leg on or off; allows addition of check valves; allows each leg to be set at a different pressure for a variety of beer types.
Disadvantage: Assembly takes up space that is already limited inside the kegerator, but can be mounted outside the box.
In addition to the advantages of gas manifold mentioned above, using secondary regulators allows each leg of the gas system to deliver gas at a different applied pressure.
This is useful when serving different styles of beer. For example a hefeweizen will require higher applied pressure than an English pale ale. Without the ability to apply separate pressures you will compromise the quality of beer that you serve. Learn more about beer and applied gas pressure.
What you will need:
2 (or more)secondary regulators with outlet shut-offs (with check valves if for homebrew) the regulators can be purchased "ganged" together with a short length of pipe
4-6 foot of 5/16 inch vinyl hose(red)
a sharp knife or hose cutter
1/4 inch brass end plug
2 1/4 inch shut-off valves with 5/16 inch hose adapters and internal check valves (if for home brew)
pipe thread sealer (tape or liquid)
6 5/16 inch worm clamps
flathead screwdriver
pot of hot water.
Here's how to do it:
1. TURN THE GAS OFF AT THE CYLINDER
2. Each regulator will have an inlet and two outlets. One outlet is for service the other allows gas to proceed to the next regulator. If you purchased the regulators ganged together one of the regulators will be attached to the other with a short length of pipe or hose going from the pass along outlet of one to the inlet of the other. Keep these together.
Back out each adjustment screw (counterclockwise)until it stops.
3. Put pipe thread sealer on the threaded end of the hose adapter and screw it (clockwise) into the inlet port of the left regulator body and also put ppipe thread sealer on the threaded end of the brass plug and screw that (clockwise) into the pass through port on the right side regulator.
4. Put pipe thread sealer onto the threads of each shut off valve and screw them (clockwise) into the service ports on each of the regulators.
5. Decide where the secondary regulators are going to go and cut your existing gas hose to reach from the primary regulator to the inlet side of your secondary set-up with enough length to reach that location. Attach the inbound gas line to the secondary assembly with a clamp as decribed above.
Be sure that you slip the clamp onto the hose first before inserting the barb into the hose.
6. Use the remaining gas hose leading to the first keg coupler for your first leg. Be sure there is enough length to reach the left hand shut-off valve on the secondary regulator assembly. Mount the gas hose over the hose barb and clamp it.
Be sure that you slip the clamp onto the hose first before inserting the barb into the hose.
7. Cut a new length of hose for the second leg of the system to reach between the right hand shut-off valve and the keg coupler for the second keg. Mount the hose at one end to the hose barb on the shut-off valve and teh other end on the keg coupler.
Be sure that you slip the clamp onto the hose first before inserting the barb into the hose.
8. Once everything is connected you can mount the secondary regulators in the desired location. On most cases you will be drilling starter holes in the interior walls of the keg box. Use the regulator assembly as a template to mark the location of the holes you will drill.
Drill the holes and mount the regulator assembly using short screws. The regulator assembly as purchased should come with a mounting bracket that can be removed and replaced in a different configuration to suit your installation.
9. Turn the gas back on at the cylinder and open all the other gas valves. Use a spray bottled filled with soapy water to check for leaks at all the connections.
10. Using the adjustment screws on each secondary regulator, adjust the gauge pressure for each leg of the system by turning clockwise until the gauges read your desired pressure.
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