Couple Questions for After Danby Mods

[rjt36]

I installed the Johnson Controls external temperature controller (which I ordered from Micromatic) last night. I bought the model that plugs into the wall and has the dial to set the temperature. The first question I have is this: Is there a way to wire it up such that it will not beep every time the compressor kicks on? I don't mind if the front display doesn't come on. It doesn't control anything, so I'm not worried about it being on or not.

I also made and installed a tower cooler as well. Right now, temperature should be right where it ought to be and pressure is set at 12 PSI. Next question is: Will flow rate contribute to foaming? I know that, for the most part, temperature and pressure will be standard variables (38 degrees F, 12 PSI), but can beer flowing too quickly out of the faucet cause foaming issues? I'm still using the standard Danby Draught Technologies 5' 3/16" ID beer line.

Third question: I know you're supposed to clean everything at least after every keg. I have not, since I've been pretty lax when it came to my kegerator in the past. Will the line go ever go bad, or can it be salvaged with a thorough cleaning? Also, without a proper cleaning kit, is it acceptable to mix up cleaning solution in a bucket and allow all parts to soak for a few hours?

Thanks in advance for the help. So far, all the information on this board has helped me move in the right direction to get my setup work perfectly.

[cubby_swans]

I had a friend bring over a jockey box that sat for months with nasty stale beer in the lines. It had never been cleaned, and had what looked like some kind of maggot like worms in the beer line. I cleaned it out with BLC for him - twice. Everything cleared out of the lines and he used it the next day. I about puked but he said everything was fine.

[rjt36]

I've cleaned everything before. I just don't clean it as often as I should. I usually either pour cleaning solution down the line manually or submerge everything in a bucket. I didn't know if this method is as effective as using a real pump.

[rjt36]

Just got home and poured off my first glass after the upgrades. The first one was foamy....a little disappointing, but the second was perfect and had a temperature of 38 degrees. The only thing is that the head dissipates pretty quickly and the beer, though cold, seems flat. The Coors Light 1/4 keg I have is nearly done. I got it for free as a leftover from an Oktoberfest last weekend. I'm going to pick up something new tonight and hopefully it will be perfect tomorrow night.

[cubby_swans]

How was it originally served? In a co2 system or with a hand pump?

[KillianBoy]

rjt36,
what cubby said, beer might be flat because it was hand pumped.
1) Did you bypass control board?, most questions on Danby can be found in Danby sticky

2) Tower cooler if installed and working properly should prevent 1st beer foam. Temperature and pressure aren't variables, the only variable is what beer is being poured. Measure temperature, match that with v/v of the beer, the set beer to PSI the carbonation chart says, this is called balancing the beer. 12 PSI and 38 degrees is just a good starting point but PSI needs to be set for temperature and v/v of the beer (every brewery has a different v/v) to be properly balanced

3) Yes everything needs to be cleaned, beer line is subject to beer stone (search is your friend), check resources tab, then beer questions. I used clean at change of keg (2 months) but think I'm going to clean and disassemble faucet once a month. Soaking is fine (but not a few hours???) but faucet needs to be taken apart and cleaned and lubed, coupler can be soaked but gas side might see a build up of corrosion in gas chamber, couplers can be just cleaned using a brush through beer tube after removing check ball and retainer. Soaking beer line in BLC should keep it stone free but if you haven't cleaned it and looks like bad example in resource section I would replace and kept clean or replace often.
KB

[rjt36]

Yes, I bypassed the control board. It lights up, but has absolutely no control of temperature anymore. The tower cooler is functioning fine. I get a little foam on the first pour, but after that it's fine. I've got a brand new Miller Lite quarter keg in there right now. From the listing I saw, it needs 2.6 volumes of CO2. So at 38 degrees, pressure should be 12 PSI. Beer still seems a little flat.

The Johnson Controls controller will not allow the box to go above 38, so I'm operating at a temperature between 34 and 38. When I took beer temperature, it came up at 38. Now I'm just fine tuning to try and get everything perfect. So far, after the upgrades, and cleaning, and a new keg, things are SO much better than before.

[azepeda]

Did you ever find a way to disable the beeping? I'm going to be doing this mod this weekend and could not find an answer to that question. If the control board is by passed, will unplugging the factory display and temp adjuster have any effects, other than the display not being on?

[KillianBoy]

azepeda,
Don't know if OP will respond, hasn't logged in for 4 years, simple way is to find the beeper and disconnect.
BTW, have you thought about trying resistor trick? Fairly simple mod and has worked for many a member, hardest part is that you just have to find a Radio Shack.
KB

[azepeda]

The temp controller is more I'm looking for since I force carb and like to fine tune the carb levels. I have some experience using temp controllers with my fermentation chamber, plus I don't want to risk freezing my precious homebrew. I've done my research on this method, the only question was to rid the beeping. I'll try unplugging the display and go from there. Thanks