New Guy Needs Purchasing Advice

[Mad Lithuanian]

I\'m looking to purchase a Kegerator (hopefully before the Holidays) and am trying to decide between a single faucet and dual faucet model. The ones I\'ve been eyeing are the Sanyo (BC 1206S-2)or Summit (SBC 500SS-2) vs. the Sanyo (BC 1206) or Summit (SBC 500SSPST). So my questions are as follows:

1. Why are single faucet models more expensive than dual faucet models?

2. Is the quality between models the same between the dual and single faucet?

3. If I purchased a dual faucet model but only have one keg running at any given time can both faucets be used to dispense from the same keg?

4. Do you have a recommendation between the Sanyo or Summit models? My main concern is that the beer gets and remains VERY cold, just a few degrees above freezing.

5. Would a dual faucet model hold a quarter barrel AND a 5 gallon (1/6 barrel) keg?

Finally, does anyone have any other recommendations for where to purchase a kegerator? The only places I've seen are ***************.com, MicroMatic.com, Kegerator.com, etc. Anyone have any luck with purchasing Kegerators from CL ads?

Thanks very much

[TomK]

Make sure you're comparing "apples to apples". The dual tap Sanyo 1206's, for example, are actually $75 more than the single tap versions of the same units. They look to me to be exactly the same except for the tower. Nope on question #3; one tap per keg. I'd expect the Sanyo/Summit's to be able to hold a slim quarter and a sixtel simultaneously, but I don't have one, so maybe someone else will come along who knows for sure.

EDIT: Actually, my assumption appears to be wrong about them fitting a 1/4 and a 1/6 together. Looking at MM's description of the BC-1206-2, they only fit two sixtels.

[Mad Lithuanian]

Here are the four I'm considering including options and costs. I considered the chest freezer option but have decided against it due to looks, the fact that I'm not a handy guy, and space considerations. I would prefer to be able to pour two types of beer at the same time so I'm really leaning towards the dual tap models. Especially since I can rig up one keg to pour from both faucets (see Y splitter in spreadsheet). I still dont undertand why they seem to cost more. The only thing I can think of is a quality difference. Does anyone have any experience with these models?

Thanks

[Mad Lithuanian]

OK well I guess my PDF file is too big to upload here. But the models are as follows:

They all include the same options and shipping costs.

Dual tap Summit SBC-500SS-2 $1,005
Dual tap Sanyo 1206S-2 $1,015
Single tap Summit SBC-500SSPST $1,000
Singel tap Sanyo 1206S $918

[TomK]

I don't know if there is a difference in quality between Sanyo and Summit, but it's worth noting that the models sold here are listed as "Sanyo/Summit". So, quite possibly, there is no difference. For the four you listed above, the dual tap models look to be the same and there's a difference in the prices you listed of only 10 bucks; that's in the noise. For the two single tap models, one difference I see that would account for the Summit price being higher, is that it has a SS top and the Sanyo doesn't.

FWIW, in that price range, I would also be looking at any used commercial units (BevAir, True, etc.) on CraigsList in your area.

[Mad Lithuanian]

So I've seem to come across another potential model number that seems worth consideration. The Summit SBC 490ST-TWIN. Does anyone have any experience with this particular model number?

Some notable features are:

1. Dual air distributor. What exactly does this mean? Does this mean it has a tower cooling blower as well as a blower around the keg?

2. Says it comes with a 3" tower. The reason this seams significant is that some of the other Summit/Sanyo units seem to come standard with a 2.5" tower and you apparently have to drill holes in the top of the unit to accomodate the larger 3" tower diameter? I would prefer not have to buy a new kegerator and then have to drill a bunch of holes in it.

3. Says it comes with automatic defrost.

4. This unit is significantly more expensive (approx. $300 more) than the SBC 500 model dual tap units. Worth it?

[shuggy]

Originally Posted by Mad Lithuanian

3. If I purchased a dual faucet model but only have one keg running at any given time can both faucets be used to dispense from the same keg?

A Beer "Y" Fitting will allow you to use both faucets with the same keg although I'm not sure why anybody would want to do this with faucets that are three inches apart. If for some reason you do decide to go this route you will most likely have to put an 90° Keg Coupler Elbow on your coupler first because of the added height of the Y fitting.

[atalanta]

1. I bought my BF a kegerator off of CL and he says it was the best present I ever bought him. If you haunt it, you can find True and BA units around $500. We got one of the "good" haier units.

2. The unit we bought was a single tower. I bought a dual faucet tower on eBay and the upgrade is "so easy a girl can do it" Some people have talked about making the hole in the top bigger, I didn't because we don't have the fan tower cooling rigging.

3. The unit will hold one 1/2bbl, one 1/4bbl, one 1/4bbl (tall) and one sixtal, or two sixtals. We get Lord Chesterfield which comes in tall quarters and a lot of the micros come in sixtals. We don't know if it will hold 2 quarters since we havent' found anything else that comes in tall quarters.

4. You will either need a splitter or a dual regulator for the two beers.