Well, been a while - summer gets in the way of the computer it seems, LOL
More progress around the garage - finally got around to starting my upgrade from 3 taps to 8, and building my new tower.
Built new trunk line, 8 beverages surrounding 4 glycol lines. All 1/4" ID 3/8" OD polyethylene tubing. Surrounded that with seran wrap, then by aluminum foil. 24" of reflectix wrapped around about 3 times, and a whole whack of patience. I am quite happy with the result.
Got some 6" leaders going from the taps to the poly tubing in the tower since the poly doesn't seem to seal well even with clamps to the tap backs.
Going to install 12" of leader on the keg side as well (still left to do) - give some flexibility in the keg cooler and help stressing the poly connections.
Got the math done for balancing (check by all means!)
14' 8" of poly tubing, 1/4" ID - total of 7.3 psi
18" total of 3/16" vinyl tubing - total of 4.5 psi
48" vertical rise - 2psi
Hoping to set regulator to 14psi (beer temperature about 38 F) - 2.7 ish volumes (give or take). Will lower psi if necessary and sacrafice pour speed to get carbonation just right.
Plan to change out leader lengths in the keg cooler if necessary for higher carbed beers if necessary - easy to do. I don't have 8 regulators yet...one day
Tower was built out of materials laying around the house, pretty cheap that way and matches the place! 1.5" insulation inside, taped off. the 4 glycol lines interconnect inside the tower, and I have some excess poly in there as you can see in the picture. This allows for the tower cooling. Testing last few days and at an ambient temperature of 75F, it 2 thermometers show about 38 F inside the tower, upper and lower. I am hoping that's cool enough inside, otherwise will install a small stainless coil on the supply line of the glycol (before entering the trunk) to absorb a little more heat.
Managed to put to use all the taps i had, and only had to buy a few. Will change out the left most one eventually, as I don't like how it sticks so much, and probably get rid of the flow control intertap - seems cool, but i have no need for it. it will be the only "oddball" left.
Currently got the lines spliced together in the keg cooler so that tap one is connected to tap 2, 3 to 4 etc. Got this nifty growler filler the other day that goes directly into the spout with orings, rather that the other one I have where I have to remove the spout to screw it in.
Tomorrow will circulate cleaners / sanitize through them all to give it a 1 last before plumbing in the disconnects for the kegs and testing!
Then, on the hunt for a decent drip tray - drain or no drain?