Apologize in advance if this has all been covered but my wife is going to get me some kegging gear for X-mas. First off anyone have a preference between Tap-rite and Chudnow as far as regulators. I'm looking at dual body 3 gauge (this is what I need for one on tap and one carbonating or serving at a different pressure, right?). Looking to do ball locks adding: 2 party faucets and disconnects with 5 feet of beer line for each 8' gas hose and a co2 cylinder Does that sound like everything? also is there any disadvantage to the shorter reburbished ball lock kegs? Anyone have experience with keg connection? Seems cheaper to buy pieces than customize a kit there. Thanks in advance
Tap-rite is an ok regulator. Definitely not the best out there but for the money it is decent. I would look into not using party faucets. They are cheap and they leak and will fail at some point. An inexpensive chrome faucet won't break the bank and is hands down much more reliable than a party faucet. The shorter kegs work fine especially if you are limited on height.
Taprite is a decent mid-range reg, I've had no real prolems . . . haven't seen a Chudnow in action. I've dealt with Keg Connection a coupe of times and have been pleased. They will custom assembly most any combination of gauges/valves/whatnots at no extra cost. A couple of suggestions: Buy 25+ feet of beer line, it's much easier to balance knowing you have excess capacity. Eventually you'll use it all (same with gas line get a smidgen extra) If you add "wyes" to each output you'll have 4 CO2 lines (two pressures) . . . the only cost is the wye and the extra shut-off valve which KC will assemble. Go ahead and get a line cutter and faucet wrench . . . it's just a matter of time, may as well start off with the proper tools. I use party faucets (when I roam)but they leave a llttle to be desired. Before you buy a CO2 cylinder determine it you'll be exchanging or re-filling (usually unique to your area and can have a big difference in price). Oh yeah, bigger CO2 tanks are cheaper (in the long run). Before you start assembling go to Home Bar Forum and search for "balance", "foam", "leaks" "help" and "%(#*@^" . . . a good review of what to expect. Any detailed questions about hook-ups/balancing can be posted there. Finally, don't tell a soul you're setting up a keezer until it's balanced . . . will keep the pressure off of you.
I use a dual primary and four regulator secondary Taprite regulator for my keezer, like them a lot. No issues what so ever. Highly recommend Perlick flow control 650 faucets. Use with bev seal line with the john guest fittings... Lines as short as you want, balance at the faucet. Perfect pours regardless of carbonation levels. I don't get why people deal with line lengths and balancing with these faucets available... I run 1ft lines on average with no issues, even at 3 volumes for some beers. Makes cleaning lines and so many other tasks so easily with those nice push fittings. I would go with a 10 or 20lb CO2 tank. I built my keezer a year ago and got a 20lb tank, still using it. Never had to refill yet. So far, probably gone through 12 kegs completely plus tons of purging before racking, purging growlers, etc... up front the tank is more pricey, but refills are like $24 around Cleveland.
Its not the $ for faucets its the fact that I don't have a bar. Will really just be 2 kegs sitting in a fridge in the basement. Not really a permanent solution, but I'm getting tired of washing bottles.
If you can drill through that fridge, the faucets would definitely be the way to go. (who doesn't love pouring from a beer tap?!?)
While I've definitely thought about it, its a full-size fridge that also doubles as a fermentation chamber/cellar so I am in and out of it a lot. Plus its in the laundry corner of my basement, not exactly the most practical setup for taps.
I've used party taps for years without issue. I clean them between kegs and every couple of years I toss them and buy new ones. It works well for my keezer; no taps or drilling on the lid. Also, I recommend buying pre-assembled taps. Five feet of line at 12psi should get you the right pour. I'm typically a big fan of making life more difficult than it needs to be but I use a simple solution for serving beer.
I have been happy with Kegconnection in the past. Definitely get extra tubing, something like the 25' mentioned above would be reasonable for 2 taps, that way you have extra when it is time to replace lines.
Yep, I am a satisfied Taprite dual regulator user. I bought the whole setup with party taps and two pin-lock (oh no!) kegs from kegconnection. All working great! No fancy hand turned taps and expensive faucets for this apartment dweller.
Regarding Taprites. We have literally over a hundred installed out there, and they work fine. A regulator does one thing and one thing only. As long as you don't abuse the regulator the regulator will work for a long long time. Taprites are mid range and work well enough. More money gets you a little more rugged body, shiny chrome parts and that is about it. All regulators will eventually creep over time. And when and if that happens you buy a new one or attempt to rebuild. But if you are smart you will buy a new one. FWIW, rock bottom regulators that are made in a particular Asian nation are horrifying. I remember coming across some no name built to a price point crime against beer and all that is manufacturing regulator. No way on earth should that junk be attached to an 800 psi bottle of gas. My head shakes.
