Justintoxicated
Well-Known Member
I'm in the process of cleaning out a soda plate chiller I got for free. It's a beast and weighs 37 lbs!
2017-08-20_11-42-49 by glamisduner, on Flickr
I cleaned all these adapters with a barkeepers friend soak and brushing (inside and out!), i think they are these https://www.chicompany.net/index.ph...ucts_id=3368&zenid=kqkcqa97of8cu5uqin5qk35r74
: adapters by glamisduner, on Flickr
The nuts on the barbs are a bit ruff, but the nuts don't really make contact with the beer, so I might just use them (except for a couple that were really corroded or broken), the posts are SS and cleaned up fine. I plan to replace all the nylon seals that go between the barb and the adapter above.
2017-08-20_11-49-10 by glamisduner, on Flickr
Cleaned the plate chiller with very very hot 190 degree PBW wash, then starsan, then flushed with distilled. I boiled water, poured it into a balllock keg, added pbw, and used my air compressor (with filters) to push the mixture through the block. The amount of pressure required was a bit too much for the hot water and tubing and I broke a few lines (so this is dangerous!)
2017-08-20_11-43-33 by glamisduner, on Flickr
I was going to build a portable kegerator (cooler that fits 2 small kegs inside it), but since I got this plate, I figured I would build a 2 tap box that could run the chiller, or hold 2 2.5 gallon kegs, depending on where I was going to take it. I was lead to believe that this cooler could hold 2 2.5 gallon AIH rubber handle kegs. (this thread here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=6302871&postcount=383)
So I went to costco to get the new updated version.
I selected the igloo maxcold 60 on wheels.
I'm a little disappointed with it.
Old vs new
igloo coolers by glamisduner, on Flickr
The wheels are narrower and more flimsy.
wheels by glamisduner, on Flickr
The old version wheels are enforced all the way to the outside of the rim, And the wheel itself is made of rubber, not plastic, and they are wider! I think this might matter with a 40 lb plate inside the cooler!
2017-08-20_11-46-41 by glamisduner, on Flickr
Plastic wheel
2017-08-20_11-46-56 by glamisduner, on Flickr
The handles are also not as nice, as there is no grip to wrap your fingers around, just an indentation.
2017-08-20_11-44-04 by glamisduner, on Flickr
I might take the new version back and just try to clean up the old cooler that has been serving me well. I really wanted a new cooler but the old one is better quality for sure. Although, if you ca only find the new one it would probably work fine. But this setup is going to be heavy, so the better wheels and handles will be nice to have!
I have a question, the large side of the adapters in the picture also have a nylon bushing, but these bushings are stuck inside the cold pate. I tried to remove one and it wouldn't budge. Should I just leave them in there if they are not leaking? Some of them were pretty discolored from the soda (I think).
Also, how do I know I got the plate clean enough? it still had soda sitting in it from who knows how long ago! Gross!
Also if anyone has experience with these things, this is a 6 port chiller, does that mean I can do 6 taps total? I could do double passes if I do a 3 tap. 3 passes if I do a 2 tap. I was planning on doing 3 passes because why not? Is this a bad idea for any reason? I could put in a 3rd tap, but it would have to be plugged when using this setup to hold 2.5 gallon kegs (there isn't enough space for the 3rd tap in this configuration.)
Thanks in advance!
2017-08-20_11-42-49 by glamisduner, on Flickr
I cleaned all these adapters with a barkeepers friend soak and brushing (inside and out!), i think they are these https://www.chicompany.net/index.ph...ucts_id=3368&zenid=kqkcqa97of8cu5uqin5qk35r74
: adapters by glamisduner, on Flickr
The nuts on the barbs are a bit ruff, but the nuts don't really make contact with the beer, so I might just use them (except for a couple that were really corroded or broken), the posts are SS and cleaned up fine. I plan to replace all the nylon seals that go between the barb and the adapter above.
2017-08-20_11-49-10 by glamisduner, on Flickr
Cleaned the plate chiller with very very hot 190 degree PBW wash, then starsan, then flushed with distilled. I boiled water, poured it into a balllock keg, added pbw, and used my air compressor (with filters) to push the mixture through the block. The amount of pressure required was a bit too much for the hot water and tubing and I broke a few lines (so this is dangerous!)
2017-08-20_11-43-33 by glamisduner, on Flickr
I was going to build a portable kegerator (cooler that fits 2 small kegs inside it), but since I got this plate, I figured I would build a 2 tap box that could run the chiller, or hold 2 2.5 gallon kegs, depending on where I was going to take it. I was lead to believe that this cooler could hold 2 2.5 gallon AIH rubber handle kegs. (this thread here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=6302871&postcount=383)
So I went to costco to get the new updated version.
I selected the igloo maxcold 60 on wheels.
I'm a little disappointed with it.
Old vs new
igloo coolers by glamisduner, on Flickr
The wheels are narrower and more flimsy.
wheels by glamisduner, on Flickr
The old version wheels are enforced all the way to the outside of the rim, And the wheel itself is made of rubber, not plastic, and they are wider! I think this might matter with a 40 lb plate inside the cooler!
2017-08-20_11-46-41 by glamisduner, on Flickr
Plastic wheel
2017-08-20_11-46-56 by glamisduner, on Flickr
The handles are also not as nice, as there is no grip to wrap your fingers around, just an indentation.
2017-08-20_11-44-04 by glamisduner, on Flickr
I might take the new version back and just try to clean up the old cooler that has been serving me well. I really wanted a new cooler but the old one is better quality for sure. Although, if you ca only find the new one it would probably work fine. But this setup is going to be heavy, so the better wheels and handles will be nice to have!
I have a question, the large side of the adapters in the picture also have a nylon bushing, but these bushings are stuck inside the cold pate. I tried to remove one and it wouldn't budge. Should I just leave them in there if they are not leaking? Some of them were pretty discolored from the soda (I think).
Also, how do I know I got the plate clean enough? it still had soda sitting in it from who knows how long ago! Gross!
Also if anyone has experience with these things, this is a 6 port chiller, does that mean I can do 6 taps total? I could do double passes if I do a 3 tap. 3 passes if I do a 2 tap. I was planning on doing 3 passes because why not? Is this a bad idea for any reason? I could put in a 3rd tap, but it would have to be plugged when using this setup to hold 2.5 gallon kegs (there isn't enough space for the 3rd tap in this configuration.)
Thanks in advance!