Unlimited Cold Carbonated Soda on Tap DIY Kegerator!

edit Turns out even the stronger relief valve cannot handle the pressure when the pump is forcing the water into the tank. I moved back to using the valve I had rigged permanently sealed.
edit Regarding the carbonation stone lid from Keg Land: "For the Carbonator Keg Lid to work well, the mains water pressure should be 10-15 psi higher than your CO2 regulator" I like to have my soda carbonated at 100 PSI so I am not sure how carbonated the soda will be at such low PSI compared to say 100 PSI with the Big Mac carbonator. As far as the more basic setup of co2 to corny keg, I didn't want to have to wait at all or deal with swapping kegs or having a cold plate and managing the ice and refilling and dealing with the draining of that... Just no delay on demand carbonated soda, as much as I want until my co2 runs out then that's all I have to do is refill it and I'm set.
videos:
• Setting up a Home On-T...
• Everything I have lear...
• How to build a Kegerat...
info:
www.multiplexbeverage.com/pro...
foxxequipment.com/search?q=12...
www.kegoutlet.com/oetiker-cla...
www.instructables.com/Chest-F...
www.instructables.com/Home-ca...
www.truetex.com/carbonation.htm
tasteofartisan.com/detailed-k...
tasteofartisan.com/how-to-mak...
www.chicompany.net/carbonator...
parts:
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
www.chicompany.net/carbonator...
www.totalapex.com/carbonators...
www.kegoutlet.com/kp110-itali... (high psi relief valve)
Apex parts:
Product Code Product Qty. Price Subtotal
3008 1/4 STEM FOR 3/8 NUT 1 $0.64 $0.64
3094 3/8 FEMALE FLARE CAP NUT 1 $2.42 $2.42
3178 3/8 NUT STAINLESS STEEL 1 $2.04 $2.04
170-04102-77 BEVLEX POLYESTER-REINFORCED POLYETHYLENE BEVERAGE HOSE .265" ID X .457" OD WHITE TRACER 100 FT 1 $26.45 $26.45
170-06100-77 BEVLEX POLYESTER-REINFORCED POLYETHYLENE BEVERAGE HOSE .380" ID X .635" OD WHITE TRACER 100 FT 1 $41.05 $41.05
16700010-100 CLAMP STEPLESS 13.3MM 20 $0.20 $4.00
16700016-100 CLAMP STEPLESS 15.7MM 20 $0.20 $4.00
NY45-4 FLARE GASKET 1/4 NYLON 20 $0.08 $1.60
NY45-6 FLARE GASKET 3/8 NYLON 20 $0.09 $1.80
63NY WASHER CO2 NYLON 10 $0.11 $1.10
111A100F11AA250 BRASS PUMP 100 GPH 250 PSI WITH STRAINER 1 $75.72 $75.72
ebay, facebook marketplace, craigslist, etc.
-Knipex 1099 Ear Clamp Pliers Front & Side Jaw Oetiker System Tool
-McCann’s big Mac 1/3 HP Soda / Water Carbonator 120V
-TAPRITE 3741 CO2 Regulator Primary Dual Gauge 160# 2000# psi ggs
-chip inside the float valve Q6025L6, killed mine, found on ebay

[@Lordpickleboy]

you could get away with a smaller fridge if you put the carbonator on top with the pump since you have a cold tank already and run the water from the carbonator into the fridge tank and another hose out of the bridge tank into the dispenser and the CO2 tank can also sit outside the fridge as well essentially however something to note if your looking for adding in soda with syrup dispensers get a more appropriate fridge to make sure syrups can fit inside fridge this will save you so much on needing to buy a real chiller. Just a few tips I saw that might be beneficial to future DIYers

[@roycerepairs]

I actually don’t run the output of the carbonator back into any tank, it just comes straight out of the dispenser so that’s why I don’t want the carbonator on top sitting warming up the carbonated water. The fridge the was the smallest size I could find that fit the required carbonator and corny keg. The CO2 tank is only in there for convenience because it also fits in there, also so I have to make less holes.

[@seanmacdonald8476]

Nice! Thanks for posting

[@rkivuti]

Thanks for sharing.

[@anthonydellaragione81]

One more question I need the link to the dispenser please and thanks

[@charliesaidok]

Wow that sounds and looks awesome! quick question, is it really unlimited cold carbonation? i need this i really do, im just wondering about the capacity factor

[@Rezendes]

Well it holds whatever fits in the big Mac carbonator tank ready to go and when you finish that it takes about 20 something seconds to carbonate another full tank. I'm not sure how many glasses it take before it does that but it's basically infinite cold soda as long as you can wait 20 something seconds once in a while after a few glasses are dispensed.

[@Rezendes]

Also once in awhile when your co2 tank is empty you just go get it refilled but it really lasts a long time, at least with one person using it all day every day a few glasses.

[@bombtrak15]

Is the routing of this setup going from pump motor to small tank to corny keg? I'm thinking about something like this, wondering if I can route it from corny keg as cold water storage, to pump motor, to small tank with carbonated water. I have an entire restaurant wunderbar with cold plate, but I'm looking for unlimited on demand without icing a cold plate also.

[@Rezendes]

I have it setup from Water line > Pump > Corny Keg cold storage > Big Mac carbonator tank. Come to think of it, that might be a better option because then you don't have to deal with the high pressure generated by the pump on the Corny Keg and would allow you to probably get by without rigging the Keg valve permanently shut like I did.

[@bombtrak15]

​@Royce thanks for your reply. I've been kicking around the idea for basically what you have here for a few months. The problem I've found in trying to eliminate a cold plate was looking for a cold water storage tank. There are well-water pressurized buffer tanks, but those only have one in/ out valve, and it would be a situation where cold water would likely sit in that tank and when the pump called for water most of it would come from the supply instead of the tank. I'm not really familiar with corny kegs, but it looks like there are 2 inlets/ opening, one with a long straw to the bottom. Thinking I could have my water supply into one side, and the carbonator pump draw cold water from the straw line and store the carbonated water in the pump tank. Also, I'm considering just putting the entire pump and motor assembly in my mini fridge, it doesn't seem to get noticeable moisture inside. But really that depends on the space of everything. Also, are you worried about having to clean the corny keg? Or do you do enough volume that nothing sits around in it too long? 🍻

[@Rezendes]

@@bombtrak15 I also looked into those pressurized tanks and it seemed like they would require another pump to get working, the corny keg was the right solution. One post on the keg is slightly different diameter one for gas one for liquid just make sure the fittings are correct. The straw side would be the out yes. I wouldn't put the motor in the fridge, it does get condensation a lot on the back chiller plate but some people do put it on the fridge, who knows how long it'll last that way. I think your first idea would work best, I would have to add one more line coming out of the fridge but it would fix the pressure issues . Let me know how it goes.

[@anthonydellaragione81]

Was it difficult to separate the motor so that it’s not in the frig ?

[@Rezendes]

It was a hassle but I didn't have the right tools, I used a hand saw thing and a Dremel I think.

[@anthonydellaragione81]

You keep the C02 tank it frig ???

[@Rezendes]

It's in the fridge out of convenience, it fits but it's completely unnecessary for it to be inside the fridge.

[@anthonydellaragione81]

Why double tank for more volume ? It’s not needed ??

[@Rezendes]

I drink it fast enough, makes sure it's cold and co2 dissolves faster into cold water