Luer Lock are an inexpensive and effective disconnect system. Typically used in the health care industry, Luer locks provide a solid, pressure capable connection with a quick twist.
You could use luer locks throughout your primary disconnect system throughout your kegerator CO2 system.
I use Luer locks to operate a "utility" CO2 line. One of my CO2 lines has a female Luer lock on it. I have a selection of attachments that consist of: the attachment, 5 inches or so of CO2 line and a male Luer lock.
I can easily swap out attachments on this line.
My attachments include (from top to bottom in the picture above):
- A picnic tap. I put a length of tubing on the end of this and use it to flush receiving vessels with CO2.
- A Cornelius gas quick disconnect: Use this line to pressurize and serve a keg as you would any other line.
- A Cornelius liquid quick disconnect: Use this line to flush a keg with CO2 from the bottom up through the liquid out dip tube.
- A standard 1/4" female flare fitting. I use this to hook up my Blichmann Beer Gun among other things.
- A Ball Lock Cornelius post. When I transfer from my fermenter or from keg to keg, this attachment allows me to purge the entire length of tubing, disconnects and the receiving keg (from the bottom up) via the liquid out dip tube.
- A Kent Soda Cap disconnect. More Info
Other options include:
- An air compressor blow gun to flush our carboys and more with CO2 (I'm using the aforementioned picnic tap for this)
- A length of CO2 line to easily extend your CO2 runs.
This is a picture of the CO2 line I use with these utility attachments.
The parts and pieces...
Luer Lock Connectors
Luer Lock Connectors
These have 1/4" barbs.
Value Plastics FTLL360-1 White Nylon Tube Fitting, Female Luer Thread Style to Barbed Coupler, 1/4" (6.4 mm) Tube ID (Pack of 25) - $9.34 + Free Shipping with $25 order
Value Plastics MTLL360-1 White Nylon Tube Fitting, Male Luer with Integral Lock Ring to 200 Series Barbed Coupler, 1/4" (6.4 mm) Tube ID (Pack of 25) - $10.95 + Free Shipping with $25 order
For the Kent System Disconnect
Use this to carbonate in a 1 or 2 liter soda bottle. Also use to pressurize a 1 or 2 liter soda bottle for easy transport. More Info
The Ball Post Utility Line
The Ball Post Utility Line
To build the ball post line you'll need...
Liquid Post - $10.49
The Ball Lock Disconnects
I think these are pretty much self explanatory.
Misc
I'm using swivel flare nuts on most things...
Flare Fitting - 1/4" Barb KEG604 - $.95 + Free Shipping with a $59 order
Tubing - All parts assume 1/4" ID tubing
Tubing - All parts assume 1/4" ID tubing
Clamps - I'm using properly sized Oetiker Stepless Clamps, that I believe I sourced via Ebay. Oetiker clamp Ebay search (here).
Quick Disconnects
Quick Disconnects
Luer Lock connectors are not "quick disconnects" meaning that they are not valved to allow disengagement while pressure is turned on. You need to turn off CO2 pressure to disengage these. Tip: If you're using these for kegs, disconnect the ball lock gas QD before you disconnect your Luer Lock. This will prevent the keg from emptying itself of CO2.
If you're interested in quick disconnects...
Beer & Gas Tubing Quick Disconnect - 1/4" Barb x Male H550A - $7.50 + Free Shipping with a $59 order
Beer & Gas Tubing Quick Disconnect - 1/4" Barb x Female Shut-off - $7.50 + Free Shipping with a $59 order
Related: Amazon, Amazon Fillers More Beer, More Beer Fillers Draft, Kegs, Kegerator, Kegging Systems, CO2 Hardware, Disconnects, Projects, Reviews, Roundups, Tips Page, Top Posts, Great Deals
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What is the type of quick disconnect you have pictured at the end of your vinyl dubing? That's a different connection that Luer, isn't it? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYes it is different. That is a valved quick disconnect, very similar to the ones I link to at the bottom of this post.
DeleteDo you sanitize the tank-side connector at all, or just the individual attachments? How do you handle sanitizing CO2 equipment in general? Right now, I sanitized everything but the regulator and tank when I assembled my setup, and I squirt StarSan into the gas ball-lock before I hook it up to the keg (the keg and the liquid-side connectors are sanitized in the usual manner).
ReplyDeleteI don't sanitize CO2 side equipment and lines. I wipe them down from time to time, but don't sanitize.
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DeleteOut of curiosity, why do you prefer Luer locks over the quick disconnects that you post at the end of your write-up? Is it due to price? The quick disconnects have the added advantage of not having to turn off/on the gas supply to the line. I'd like to put all of my various connections on an interchangeable setup like you've done, but at the moment I can't see the advantage of Luer over the quick disconnect fittings other than the fact that they are way cheaper (which is a consideration).
ReplyDeleteI use quick disconnects for most of my co2 system. I use Luer Lock for just this utility line, because of cost. These are utility items that I don't use that often. I don't want to have $7.50 tied up in each of them when the Luer Lock work great. If you're on a tight budget and can't afford the pricier quick disconnects, the Luer Locks are also a good all around system.
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