Help me keg (the sequel)

[Tilt]

Following on from a recent cracker of a thread that paved the way with the foundations of a kegging system I'm looking for ideas on the next step. 

I've got most of the basics  (kegs, reg, CO2 bottle, disconnects) but I'm thinking about the best way set all this up into a system that'll do what I'm looking for. 

So here's what I'm hoping will be the end result:

 - 3 taps (either in an upright fridge or collared chesty - haven't decided yet)

 - 2 different pressures (the higher for force carbing kegs/ the odd wheat or higher carb beer/ CO2 flushing kegs and kids fizz drinks, and lower on two taps for regular ales/ lagers)

 - relatively set and forget once its all set up - I'd like to minimise swapping disconnects and taps/ pressures for everyday use

 - As little cleaning/ maintenance needed as possible for a moderate to low use system - a glass or two a day during the week and more on the weekends

I'm thinking Perlick taps for the forward sealing, low maintenance option, John Guest fittings all around for clean and convenient hose connections and a secondary gas manifold to manage the different pressures.  Is there any more valuable advice from the experienced keggers out there?

[mattd2]

NZ$400 including shipping cost if I remember right. I think they adjusted the tax limit when GST when to 15% so that it was the same total as before the increase.

[Brent Marquis]

It works based on the amount of tax that would be collected...

If the duty and GST are under NZ$60 then you are fine. 'not worth their trouble' kind of thing.

Brewing hardware, is duty exempt.  GST on $400 is $60.
So in the case of brewing gear, then $400 is the limit.  if you buy things that incur duty, then the limit may be lower :)
And yep, shipping is included in duty and GST calculations.

[mattd2]

And I also thought that they can charge you gst even if it is under the $60 limit but is up to customs discrection, as you say it more often falls in the 'not worth their trouble' basket.

[Brent Marquis]

Nah there is an actual thing I found a while back on the customs website, that they wont chase you for it if it is under $60.

Didn't sound discretionary, but with customs... who knows. I swear they have a little roulette wheel they spin as parcels come through :)

[mattd2]

And taking bets, winner get to keep whatever is in the parcel!

[John H]

I went for the cheapskate multipressure option. I got some pushfit t-pieces with valves from Kegresources. You can add to them to go to 2 way, 3 way, 4 way etc. Each gas line has its own valve so my setup consists on 2 t-pieces with valved gas lines to my kegs which are on tap and a through connector to a 3rd gas line. If I want to force carb I shut off the kegs on tap and raise the reg pressure for force carbing the third keg.

Also - probably not very scientific but I have a Porter and a Pale Ale atm. The Porter gas line is usually isolated - ocassionally being briefly opened when it starts coming out too slowly so I have a low carbonation for the Porter and normal carbonation for the Pale.

I am sure one day I will go multi regs but it works in the meantime.

Go the Perlicks!!!

[Tilt]

Good options John - and modular so you can build on it. 

Gotta admit I'm looking for something a little more "set and forget" though - so am keen to use at least one secondary reg whch feeds a manifold or bank of lines. 

Have you got a non return valve in line somwhere?  I like the look of this one from Morebeer which incoporates both ball and non return valves (protects reg and prevents beer mixing with backpresure from one keg to another) as well as the option to add more outlets as the set up grows... 

[David Williams]

I was looking at something like that manifold but the barbs put me off as that would mean larger ID beer line and therefore more beer line. Norgren made me up an nice manifold with valves and quick release fittings that I could use on the same beer line and fittings I got from Ultraflow. I'd look for cheap non return valves on ebay as you'd hope that don't get used a great deal.

[mattd2]

For the gas side the ID shouldn't matter, only issue is needing different sizes for gas and beer.

[John H]

I got my non-return from Kegresources too.