I have a 2 way gas manifold right now and would like to expand it to 5. I got a new fridge I plan to put 4 kegs in and would like to have a utility line available outside for purging etc. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would love for it to be on the cheap... Id also like to run at least one sour keg so that would mean having check valves there I think right? To be sure nothing can go back up the line in case it gets to a higher pressure in that keg than the system is running at. Cheers!
something simple, like this http://www.foxxequipment.com/parts.php?id=4227 a two way distributor with checks. you can get these anywhere. a 5 way distributor will do what you want. I suggest you get a 2 way and a 3 way, because you might want to have two pressure regulators in the future. then you can have different vols. coil up the dead end tube and use it when purging. leave yourself a lot of tubing on the gas purge line, or your keg will always be a few feet to far. Cheers.
In addition to billandsuz suggestions, consider adding "wyes" at your outputs. If your primary reg is a single, a wye gives it two outputs. If it is a dual reg you can have four outputs. Same with manifolds (or secondaries), if you "wye'ed all five outputs you could feed ten kegs (I know that's more than you need but you get the idea). From your description, you should plan on at least two pressures. Your basic wye (sometimes spelled "y") is under ten bucks. Your basic shut off vales should have check valves to keep the molecules going in the right direction and is also under ten bucks (get at least one spare). All of this is easy to install. CO2 is your friend and I suggest planning for expansion. I keep a whip (wye'd off primary) outside the keezer and it is used constantly (keg purging, beer gun, burbing). Extra gas line is cheap. While you are making the perfect gas distribution system consider adding an inline QD from your tank to manifold . . . allows easy/quick movement of the tank.
Utility lines are best on their own separate regulator...so try to isolate it as best you can. Think about either adding a 2nd body to your primary regulator or getting a 2ndary regulator to run it and make sure that it is easily adjustable. I have my utility line and low carbonation beers run together off a regulator that is very easily adjustable. Easy adjustments to the pressure are important...
