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  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-10-2008, 09:10 PM
neil_stanton_99 neil_stanton_99 is offline
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Default Foamy or flat keg beer

I have just purchased a used danby kegerator, that is cooling well, 36 degrees. I have the CO2 set to 8 Pounds and the beer is extremely foamy. If I lower to 5 pounds the beer is clear but flat in taste. This is a 13 gallon keg of moosehead that taste fine but not sure what i'm doing wrong? As a side note i have read some post about the tower not being cool and my garage is quite hot since i'm in california and it is currently 98 degree outside.

The only option i have now is to buy a fan that cools the tower?

Any help would be much appreciated.
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Old 07-10-2008, 09:17 PM
Scott Zuhse Scott Zuhse is online now
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Moosehead - 2.5 v/v beer @ 36 F @ 1'-1000' elevation @ 12 PSIG with five feet of 3/16" approx. 115 oz / min. flow speed.

That darn foam is fast, isn't it?
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Old 07-11-2008, 11:17 AM
neil_stanton_99 neil_stanton_99 is offline
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Do you think that the temp in the tower has anything to do with this? when I pour it just seems to hiss and sputter. I have only poured about 4 glasses so i'm hoping it is just the first few???
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Old 07-11-2008, 11:36 AM
jaeckleint jaeckleint is offline
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Did you set the pressure up to 12 psi? The hiss and sputter is the co2 in the line from low pressure degassing. And cooling your tower will help with the foam after correct pressure and temp.
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Old 07-11-2008, 01:07 PM
neil_stanton_99 neil_stanton_99 is offline
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i have not increased this yet but it just seemed to be way to foamy even after pouring 2 or 3 glasses worth. I guess my next course is to up the PSI and find a fan. ANy ideas on the fan? i know there is one on ebay but I was thinking a fish tank air pump. Having a gathering tonight and I would like be able to get something at a store.
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Old 07-11-2008, 01:22 PM
cubby_swans cubby_swans is offline
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first things first, how do you know it's 36 degrees? I hope you're not assuming it is because the Danby display is set to 36? The Danby display is NOTORIOUSLY innacurate. I have not heard of ONE that cools down to 36 when the display says 36 without modification. More like 42-44 at best. If you've not already doing so, you need to get a calibrated thermometer (a $10 digital food thermometer from grocery store/Target/WalMart will do), and check the temp of the beer after you pour two glasses.

If you find it's not actually cooling down to 36, check back in, we can fix that for about $1 and 5 minutes of your time.
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Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.
Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery
and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might
be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself,
"It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than
be selfish and worry about my liver."

____________________________________________

Last edited by cubby_swans; 07-11-2008 at 01:28 PM.
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Old 07-11-2008, 01:31 PM
neil_stanton_99 neil_stanton_99 is offline
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Elementary my dear Watson… This is an assumption and I have not checked with a thermometer however I do have one. So if it is not then the fix is?

Appreciate the heads up.
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Old 07-11-2008, 01:42 PM
cubby_swans cubby_swans is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neil_stanton_99 View Post
Elementary my dear Watson… This is an assumption and I have not checked with a thermometer however I do have one. So if it is not then the fix is?

Appreciate the heads up.
You add a resistor to the temperature sensor inside the Danby. Do a search on resistor in this forum. The resistor costs $1 for a pack of 5 from Radio Shack. There's probably over a dozen posts in this forum on how to easily install it. You can solder it in, or I installed mine without even needing to solder. Mine cools down to 30 degrees using a 100K resistor. Just do a search on Danby resistor.
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Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.
Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery
and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might
be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself,
"It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than
be selfish and worry about my liver."

____________________________________________
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Old 07-11-2008, 01:46 PM
cubby_swans cubby_swans is offline
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here's a post I have with pictures and easy instructions to install the resistor. This requires no skills whatsoever, all you need is opposable thumbs.


Very Newbie mods to Danby DKC645BLS
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____________________________________________
Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.
Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery
and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might
be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself,
"It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than
be selfish and worry about my liver."

____________________________________________
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Old 07-12-2008, 11:47 AM
neil_stanton_99 neil_stanton_99 is offline
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Hey guys thanks for all the advice it looks like I need what i call Hop-ups. A blower and digital temperature control are things I would like. Any help on hardwiring the control unit would be appreciated. Also can i do this and keep the Danby display running?

Man this stuff is addicting...

thanks again all the beer was cold and had to be served in pitchers to keep the line and tap cold. Needless to say we drank alot.
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Old 07-14-2008, 08:04 AM
cubby_swans cubby_swans is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neil_stanton_99 View Post
Hey guys thanks for all the advice it looks like I need what i call Hop-ups. A blower and digital temperature control are things I would like. Any help on hardwiring the control unit would be appreciated. Also can i do this and keep the Danby display running?

Man this stuff is addicting...

thanks again all the beer was cold and had to be served in pitchers to keep the line and tap cold. Needless to say we drank alot.

You'd have to bypass the temperature sensor/contoller in the Danby to run a digital temperature controller. Which means no display. If you want to keep the display running, just add the $1 100k resistor. With the 100K resistor, I set my Danby to 36 and I pour 36 degree beer using a half barrel. I just keep this liquid thermometer inside the unit to check on my temperature occasionally.

http://www.micromatic.com/draft-keg-...ST1236-31.html

And also I use the digital food thermomter occasionally to check the pour temp. I'd rather spend $100 towards my next 1/2 barrel then buy a temperature controller, when the problem can be easily remedied for $1.
__________________
____________________________________________
Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.
Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery
and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might
be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself,
"It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than
be selfish and worry about my liver."

____________________________________________
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  #12 (permalink)  
Old 07-15-2008, 03:35 PM
neil_stanton_99 neil_stanton_99 is offline
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i agree, will add the resistor
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Old 07-16-2008, 07:39 PM
lunkhead lunkhead is offline
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You can have the display still run and use and external temp control. And you can even calibrate the display, but what model danby do you have before we go there?
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Old 07-25-2008, 09:09 AM
Snapper692 Snapper692 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lunkhead View Post
And you can even calibrate the display, but what model danby do you have before we go there?
Oooh, I like where you're going with this.....Do tell!!!
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Danby kegerator w/tower cooler!......hey, it gets the job done!
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Old 07-25-2008, 06:43 PM
lunkhead lunkhead is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snapper692 View Post
Oooh, I like where you're going with this.....Do tell!!!
You had to ask, Lunkhead goes external temp control+calibrate your Danby temp sensor.
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