Need some input on designing a 3 tap BM23

[UniqueUserName]

Hi. I've been lurking on the forum for a little while to get info on a home kegerator system that I plan to purchase soon. I would love input on my planned set-up, and I have a few specific questions that I love to hear perspective on. Any help would be appreciated!

Ultimately, I want a 3 tap kegerator that will dispense my 2 favorite beers, St Bernardus Abt 12 and Tripel Karmaliet, and then will also dispense a rotating tap for a third option. All will be 1/6 kegs (or 20L for Euro kegs), so they should fit in the unit. I confirmed that my 2 favorites are available for purchase in my area in 20L kegs.

Here's the planned setup:
- Beverage Air BM23
- 3 Micromatic Keg Couplers ("D" type will work for Abt 12 and Karmaliet)
- 1 Micromatic dual gauge primary regulator - premium series
- 3 Micromatic secondary regulators - premium series
- 25' of 3/16 Micromatic vinyl hose
- 5lb CO2 tank
- 3 Perlick faucets
- Tower will be one of these options:
* Draft Beer Kegerator Tower Stainless Steel Triple Faucet
* Triple Faucet Stainless Steel Draft BeerTower with Perlick 630SS Faucets | BeverageFactory.com
* 3 Tap Keg Tower is Extra Wide for the Best Looks on Your Bar

Questions:
- Any input or recommendations to the set-up I described?
- Any reco on which tower to choose? The bottom one I listed is a 4" tower. Is that even an option for the BM23? I assume I'll probably have to match the 3" tower that it usually comes with. Is that true?
- Are there any awesome 3 tap towers that I didn't list that you'd recommend?
- I haven't seen anyone do a 3 tap BM23, but I assume there's enough space in the hole at the top to fit 3 beer lines and the tower blower, correct? Any issues there?
- Where is the best location inside the BM23 to mount the secondary regulators? I've read mixed advice on side vs. back of unit. I lean toward mounting on the back to save room for 3 1/6 kegs, but I'm not sure there's enough room on the back without hitting an important part that's integral to the operation of the unit.
- What length of 3/16" beer line should I get for 3 taps? I've read here that it's best to have 7-10ft per tap, but the Micromatic website says "3/16 hose is not appropriate for use in lengths longer then 5' as a higher than normal keg pressure would be required to dispense the beer and this would result in over carbonated (foamy) beer.". Soooooo, which is it? 7-10ft or 5ft or something else?


Thanks in advance for any input and advice. I've learned a lot by lurking on this forum and reading your knowledgeable responses. I'm excited to be able to kick back and enjoy my favorite beers as the brewers intended!

[pvs6]

Is your beer run from Keg to tap going to be 25 foot?

Either way this seems to be the only area that needs re-thinking.

Air cooling outside the keg at 25' gets risky. If it is to be 25' feet you may need to start beer line larger and restrict just before the tap.

Glycol cooling might prove expensive but worth that expense.

[UniqueUserName]

The beer will go directly into the tower. I planned on 25ft so I could use ~8ft to each tap. This relates to my question whether a 3/16 beer line should be no more than 5ft to the tap, or whether it should be 7-10ft to the tap. It seems input from the forum suggests 7-10ft, but the official Micromatic website advises no more than 5ft for a 3/16 ID line.

[pvs6]

Well let's get in to this. Are you going level or upstairs / downstairs?

Ie: distance outside of Bev air and elevations involved.

Everything you seek is do-able. But many people start without the research you're giving it. They end up with foam and added expense.

You may depending on your answers have the added expense of a cooling system for the beer lines while their out side the kegerater. It's better to know and integrate the design before you start it, as you know. Do it right the 1st time and there won't be the 2nd.

The devils in the details. give us a few more and you will get advice that you can use.

[pvs6]

Sorry I was multi-tasking didn't see your reply till after I hit send.

The longer the line up to ten foot (NO More) will slow down the pour speed. 5' is a fire hose, 10 a slow walk in the park.

Here's the thing beer lines cheap get ten for each tap. Try it and see. If it's toooo slow for you just cut off 1/2 a foot and see if that's better. Repeat till you get to what you like. 3/16's start at 10 foot for every tap. The opening will handle 3 hoses seems like the choice of towers more about what you like the looks of they all will work.

[KillianBoy]

pvs6,
I think OP wants to mount towers on unit.
UniqueUserName,
Yes, yes, everything and everybody says 5 feet is what you should use, in our experience as home dispensers, we have found that by going a bit longer slows the flow and kinda helps keep the foam at bay, I have found 7.5 a nice length. Honestly I would go 50 feet, cheaper and you might need it.
No matter which tower you get you need to widen hole on top of unit, search forum, it requires a sacrificial piece of wood.
Buncha threads regarding mounting of secondarys, I'll try dig them up but search is your friend. Everything else looks good, maybe double check size of 20L as fitting in BM23.
There you go:

http://www.micromatic.com/forum/us-en/trouble-shooting-and-beer-quality-home/14129-secure-air-distributor.html

KB

[pvs6]

I've got an old post on here about volumes of beer lines and return flow. It's counter intuitive. if you only fill 2/3 of the opening with beer lines and blower and leave 1/3 open for return flow it's equal air in and air out. It has to do with doubling a circle = 4 X times it's max. volume. Turns out 3, 3/16s beer lines and a 5/8 OD. air cool line leaves enough room to get the job done. There is a slight restrict with 3 but none with two. There are autocad pics. on that post that that shows you're eyes what your mind may have trouble believing.

[PointPleasantNJBeerguy]

Good choice on the BM23....
The stock tower mount is made for 3" towers. So you will have to redrill flange holes into top for 4" tower.The stock tower hole is big enough to take three lines and blower hose.Mounting of secondary regulators will need to be in the back will be hitting your kegs if you side mount. Have to go into back left corner but just beware this is also where the electric and refrigerant lines run too. You can see the small cover strip ov very back of unit for reference so you don't put a hole in the lines screwing regs to wall.I have a two product secondary reg mounted. Check out my video in signature line for a rough reference to see if that helps.

[UniqueUserName]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I'll stick with a 3" tower since that's what the unit is already set up for. I don't like it the setup of the 3" versions (staggered height), but it'll be more straightforward. I still need to choose which one I like best.

The thanks for the advice on where to mount the regulators, and the video helps.

Also, I'll start with 10' of beer line on each tap and then I can cut it shorter if needed.

Last 2 questions:
1) It sounds like the 3 beer lines and the cooling line will all fit in the standard hole and will sufficiently cool the tower. Were you assuming the beer line OD to be 7/16? I'm planning to get the micromatic lines, which someone said was larger OD than standard line. Will 3 of those fit through the hole?
2) What's the best place to get a BM23? Beverage Factory is highly recommended, but they follow the MAP pricing. I'm leaning toward short order.com because they are much less expensive. Any other options or concerns with short order.com?

Thanks so much for the help! I'm very appreciative!

[KillianBoy]

UniqueUserName,
I would double check with the distributors and see exactly what size 20L they are using. I don't want to be picky but 20 L is 20L and 1/6th is 1/6th, it isn't interchangeable. I checked online, the true 20 L is 11.42 inches, then you have a couple of US Sankey "D" kegs which are 9.25 inches, which it is listed as 20L but rated at 19.5 liters. One member said he found a 20L with a "D" spear and insisted it was a 20L, I asked for confirmation, never returned.
KB

[PointPleasantNJBeerguy]

Yes the unit will take three MM beer lines and cooling line no problem. The hole in the unit is 2.5" in diameter.
Web restaurantstore .com Probably the cheapest $1,218.09 . Otherwise if you want right away and want good back up if any problems by locally at a restaurant supply but of course you will be in the $1,400-$1,500 range

[UniqueUserName]

Thanks for the heads-up. I searched online a few days ago and found something that said 20L kegs are 10" in diameter, which shouldn't be an issue, BUT I dug deeper after seeing your post, and it looks like there are lots of variations. I just confirmed with the St Bernardus Abt 12 distributor that they have it in US 1/6 kegs, so that isn't an issue. I need to check with the Tripel Karmaliet rep, though. Thanks!

My guess is that you're right. Since the kegs are "D" spear, they're likely true US 1/6 kegs rather than 20L.

[PointPleasantNJBeerguy]

I had a 20L keg from LaChouffe over the winter wasn't much larger in dia than a 1/6 but that was also with a A series.

[KillianBoy]

PointPleasantNJBeerguy,
Sounds like the new true Euro keg 20 L @ 11.42 inches, I've found US companies selling "20 L" kegs that use the "D" coupler rated for 19.5 liters @ 9.25 inches diameter. I've also found squat kegs @ 15.90 inches, then you have the mysterious "KeyKeg" which supposedly used by Guinness @ 9.44.
I myself have not found a single one of these marketed here in the middle of the Pacific, though I pray so I can have all the beers I like on tap.
Again with so many different types, I think it might be best to double check, my suspicion is that the distributors are using the 19.5 liter, which are also are marketed as 1/6 gallon (which also is a little off), I guess the manufacturer of the kegs made their own size as a happy medium.
KB

[UniqueUserName]

A few more questions while I wait for my BM23 to arrive...

1) I assume I use screws to mount my secondary regulators to the back wall, correct? (rather than drilling)... What size screws? I read that the screws should be <1/4" in length. Is that correct? The 3 regulator bank has a mounting bracket already attached, but it didn't come with any screws.

2) Based on input on this thread, I shouldn't put screws on the LEFT side of the back wall. I'm gonna need to put a screw in at least 1 of the 2 brackets on teh left side. Should I do top or bottom? Once I get the Bm23 delivered, I'll be able to take a look, but I wanted to get input if someone already knew what to do while i wait.

3) REALLY dumb question: On the Micromatic Premium secondary regulators, there's a knob to adjust pressure and a another thin nut just below it. What's that nut for? Do you tighten it against the main knob to lock the pressure?

4) My tower came with 5' of quality beer line for each faucet. I'd have to completely disassemble the tower to change to a longer line because there are 3 faucets with the short elbow shanks near the top. Anyone have experience taking a tower apart? Tips on how to make it run smoothly? I purchased this tower off Birdman Brewing (with upgraded Perlick faucets): Draft Beer Kegerator Tower Stainless Steel Triple Faucet

5) I purchased a Sure Temp liquid thermometer. There's no bracket with the thermometer. Any tips on mounting to the side of the BM23? e.g. mounting location, where to find a mounting bracket, size of screw...

Again, thanks sooooooo much for all the help. I found out that the liquor store 5min from my house can get all the 1/6 kegs I could want - St Bernardus Apt 12, Tripel Karmeliet, Unibroue La Terrible, etc... I'm gonna start with Fat Tire as an inexpensive everyday beer to pilot my system before I put one of the more expensive beers at risk... I have all the parts, and now I'm just waiting for the BM23 to arrive...

B