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Kegging and draft gear

Homebrew kegerators, corny kegs, CO2 regulators, faucets, conversion kits and beer guns, with the PSI chart that ties them together.

Best kegeratorsBest keg systemsBest CO2 regulatorsHow to keg homebrewKeg carbonation chart
Three stainless beer kegs and a gas cylinder against a stone wall
Photo: Blood Red Sandman, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Keg carbonation chart and PSI calculatorRegulator PSI by beer temperature and CO2 volumes.
CO2 cylinders and pressureKeep cylinders upright and secured, and always use a CO2-rated regulator (US CO2 tanks use the CGA 320 valve fitting); never connect a cylinder straight to a keg. Store tanks cool and away from heat. CO2 displaces oxygen and collects low: ventilate, close the tank valve and leave the room if a tank leaks. Never exceed a fermenter’s or keg’s rated pressure.Source: Kegco: Everything you need to know about CO2; OSHA hazard bulletin on CO2

What a homebrew keg system needs

A homebrew keg system has five parts: a cold space (kegerator, keezer or spare fridge), at least one 5 gal (19 L) corny keg, a CO2 cylinder, a regulator, and gas and beer lines with ball lock disconnects to a faucet. Kits bundle some of these; read what ships empty. Kegco notes its HBK309S-2K includes a ball lock keg and a CO2 tank that ships empty.

Homebrew kegerators use ball lock (or pin lock) corny kegs. Commercial kegs need a Sankey D coupler, which the Kegco homebrew models do not include. Pick the side you will actually fill.

What PSI should my keg be at?

Set-and-forget carbonation depends on beer temperature and the CO2 volumes you want. BYO's table puts 2.4 vol at 40°F (4°C) at about 11.2 psi. Gauges read relative to local air pressure, so add roughly 0.5 psi per 1,000 ft of altitude.

Keg pressure (psi, sea level) by beer temperature and target CO2 volumes

Beer temp1.8 vol2.0 vol2.2 vol2.4 vol2.6 vol2.8 vol3.0 vol3.2 vol
32°F 0°C1.63.55.47.39.211.012.914.8
34°F 1.1°C2.34.36.38.210.212.114.116.0
36°F 2.2°C3.15.17.29.211.213.315.317.3
38°F 3.3°C3.96.08.110.212.314.416.518.6
40°F 4.4°C4.76.89.011.213.415.517.719.8
42°F 5.6°C5.57.710.012.214.416.718.921.1
44°F 6.7°C6.38.610.913.215.517.820.122.4
46°F 7.8°C7.19.511.814.216.619.021.323.7
48°F 8.9°C7.910.412.815.317.720.122.625.0
50°F 10°C8.711.313.816.318.821.323.826.3
52°F 11.1°C9.612.214.817.319.922.525.127.6
54°F 12.2°C10.413.115.718.421.123.726.329.0
56°F 13.3°C11.314.016.719.522.224.927.630.3

Formula: PSI = −16.6999 − 0.0101059·T + 0.00116512·T² + 0.173354·T·V + 4.24267·V − 0.0684226·V². Checked against the BYO grid (40°F and 2.4 vol: 11.19 psi by formula, 11.2 psi on the chart). Regulator gauges read relative to local air pressure. BYO notes that Denver needs about 3 psi over the sea-level chart; add roughly 0.5 psi per 1,000 ft. Sources: BYO: Carbonation priming chart; Brewer's Friend: Force carbonation chart; Brewers Association: Draught Beer Quality Manual.

11.2 psi2.4 vol at 40°F (BYO)BYO
+0.5 psiPer 1,000 ft of altitudeBYO
55–60 psiTaprite regulator blow-off (listing)
Keg carbonation chart and PSI calculatorPick your temperature and volumes; the chart shows the regulator setting.

Kegerator, keezer or conversion kit?

RouteGood forWatch for
Homebrew kegeratorTwo or three corny kegs, plug-and-pour~ Ball lock only unless you add a D coupler
Conversion kit in a fridgeA spare fridge you already own~ Door or tower fit, shank length
Keezer (chest freezer + controller)Four or more kegs~ Collar build, CO2 in a closed space

Faucets matter more than they look: forward-sealing designs such as Perlick, Intertap and Nukatap stay cleaner between pours. Clean lines on a schedule with a hand-pump kit and a line cleaner used per its label.

Kegging mistakes to avoid

  • Skipping the leak check: spray fittings and lid seals with soapy water after every new connection.
  • Connecting a cylinder without a regulator, ever.
  • Setting the PSI from memory: temperature changes the answer, so check the chart.
  • Forgetting the lines: dirty lines spoil good beer; clean them on a schedule.
  • Buying a commercial-keg coupler for a ball lock kegerator, or the other way around.

Ready to make the switch from bottles? The kegging switch hub walks through a first fill.

Related reading: Kegco HBK309S-2 homebrew kegerator review and best beer faucets.

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Kegging & draft: questions

What PSI should I keg homebrew at?
About 10–11 psi at 38–40°F (3–4°C) gives about 2.4 volumes of CO2 (10.2 psi at 38°F, 11.2 psi at 40°F), per BYO's chart. Use the keg carbonation chart for other temperatures and styles, and add about 0.5 psi per 1,000 ft of altitude.
How long does it take to force carbonate a keg?
At serving pressure, most brewers wait about one to two weeks. Burst carbonation at higher pressure is faster but easy to overshoot; never exceed the keg's or regulator's rating.
Ball lock or pin lock?
Ball lock is the common homebrew standard today and what most kits and kegerators expect. Pin lock kegs work too but need pin lock disconnects.
Can a homebrew kegerator take commercial kegs?
Not as shipped for ball lock models like the Kegco HBK309S. You need a Sankey D coupler, and the keg has to fit inside the cabinet.
How should I store a CO2 cylinder?
Upright and secured, with a regulator always attached before use, away from heat. CO2 displaces oxygen, so ventilate and leave the area if you suspect a leak.