Help - 10 gallon corny with odd fittings and hardware

[Grizz]

That might have been a carbonation tank. The strange filter thing may be a large carbonation stone. Looks like the dip tube is missing. Here is a link to look at. http://www.chicompany.net/index.php?mai ... cts_id=333
You seem to be on the right path with the connections.

[EvilFrog]

Dairy or carbonation tank I can live with. I have to admit the bug spray idea is a little scary! It did not have any noticeable chemical odors when I first opened the lid. I know someone that used to work in the pest control industry. I will send him some picture to see if he recognizes any of this. That is the first thing I would like to rule out.

After seeing at the carbonation tank, that is starting to seem like the most likely answer. It is encouraging to hear that these things have shown up in homebrew shops. I will probably never know for what this thing was but it would be nice to rule out the more sinister uses.

I will report back how all the fittings/adapters work out if I survive the first 10 gallons of beer I put in it.

[11amas]

Worst case, maybe just replace everything that is not stainless, soak the parts in a strong, hot PBW solution for a day; then a strong, hot starsan solution for a day; rinse a couple of times and then jumper a couple of gallons of beer into it. Let it sit and try it out? Does the thing fit in your kegerator? That would be a cool unit for 10 gal batches!

[EvilFrog]

Worst case, maybe just replace everything that is not stainless, soak the parts in a strong, hot PBW solution for a day; then a strong, hot starsan solution for a day; rinse a couple of times and then jumper a couple of gallons of beer into it. Let it sit and try it out? Does the thing fit in your kegerator? That would be a cool unit for 10 gal batches!

That is pretty much the plan. I was not aware that there were benefits to the starsan solution being hot.

Yes, it will fit in my kegerator as is. Not sure if it will still fit after piecing together the adapters, post and disconnect. Might be a real tight fit. I ordered the parts but won't know until they arrive.

[11amas]

Don't know if there are benefits per se but most cleaners work better hot and starsan does some cleaning from what people say. Most chemical reactions speed up at warmer temps so the action of the acid may be more effective at warmer temps.

[Henning1966]

So how did this work out?

[EvilFrog]

So how did this work out?

Well the short answer is not so great.

The problem is on the liquid side. I expected to be able to drop a standard sized dip tube through the post connection adapter I got (see image below) and then just screw the post on and it would be business as usual.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/cornelius-plug-adapter-1-4-mpt.html


I cannot drop a diptube through this piece.

Here is where I was stupid: I thought that the piece of metal showing above the o-ring in the picture was just attached to a short tube (like on the gas side) and that I could pull it out and replace it with a full length diptube. Well this is just one piece of SS with an o-ring on it. It does not come apart.

So no diptube...

Any ideas?