CO2 Manifolds

[daryl]

I am spooling up to use kegs and need to find a way to distribute CO2 to multiple kegs; and it appears one method is to use a multi-tap manifold.

Some of these units have a check-valve, so that liquid cannot flow back into the gas lines - that seems like a good idea and I think that is well worth the extra $$$.

I only need three or four taps, but I could get a manifold with more taps than I need right now...and pay a little extra to allow for future expansion.

Do any of you know how leaky the taps might be, if not hooked up to a line and only the shut-off valve stands between the CO2 supply and the outside world?

[andrewmaixner]

Mine are not leaky at all. I regularly have just a closed checked valve there.

[czubak]

I re-sealed mine last year when I was having leak issues. Other than that not a problem. I have a T fitting in one of my lines to run all 5 kegs. It's just a typical economy aluminum piece with 4 valves and MFL fittings over barbs

[Matt F]

If you can find or make one without, you really don't need ball valves. Check valves are a good idea though. Mine fits up to five lines, has check valves, no ball valves and was about $20. I have not seen anything like it since St. Patricks in Austin quit doing homebrew stuff many years ago. The QD connections on the end of your gas lines will hold gas whether they are on a keg or not. No need to use ball valves to turn off individual lines. Never did need such a thing in my setup. You can always expand capacity by splitting a gas line with a simple T fitting also. So don't worry too much about not having enough connections. You can add a few for cheap.

[Matt F]

Here is a way to split one line in to three for very little money.

http://rapidswholesale.com/stainless-st ... s-1-4.html

[daryl]

Matt - great points.

I can buy quite a few pin-lock or ball-lock gas connectors before the total exceeds the cost of a 4-way manifold.

I am betting I can find that brass coupling in a plumb-supply...that is an acceptable distribution box for gas and would let me put in check valves.

Do you have a quick disconnect on CO2 tank side of your feed hose?

[czubak]

I like the idea of quick connects over ball valves. I have never seen them that small or knew they existed anyway.

[Matt F]

Do you have a quick disconnect on CO2 tank side of your feed hose?

No, but I have thought of adding one so I can easily move my tank around the house to use mainly in the brewery for flushing stuff with CO2. Will throw one in there some day. I have one inside on one of the keg lines so I can hook up gas to my counter pressure bottle filler with ease.

There is a single ball valve on my regulator since it came with one. Also not necessary for my application.