[Thirsty_Monk]

A few pictures of my two head keg washer.





His is what happened when homebrewing gets wild 

[bluesman]

Some serious keg washing going on there. Looks like you are getting it under control.

[Thirsty_Monk]

Initially I made a single head keg washer but it took the whole day to wash and sanitise.
I usually wash 30 to 40 kegs when I run out of clean kegs.
Today was a first day I used double head and I am quite happy with it.

[Gribble]

Definitely makes cleaning go faster.  I remember running a single and the feeling of overwhelming joy when I first got the 4 head installed at Ice Harbor.

[bo]

Why copper? Why not PVC or CPVC if it's really hot liquid?

[Thirsty_Monk]

Why copper? Why not PVC or CPVC if it's really hot liquid?

It is about 150F.
I did not think about CPVC.

[bo]

Why copper? Why not PVC or CPVC if it's really hot liquid?

It is about 150F.
I did not think about CPVC.

I think your copper is better but damn that stuff is expensive these days.

[Thirsty_Monk]

Why copper? Why not PVC or CPVC if it's really hot liquid?

It is about 150F.
I did not think about CPVC.

I think your copper is better but damn that stuff is expensive these days.

Expensive. It depends how you look at it.
New Keg washer $15,000 to $20,000.
Homemade copper keg washer $150 - $200.

I did not priced SS keg washer but I figured if I rinse it after use copper will last me some time.

[jaybeerman]

Hey, I like your double head washer.  It's funny that they can charge so much for the same thing that you just built.  If your's doesn't work out you could always try one of these http://breweryparts.com/index.php/fittings-and-valves/fittings-custom-amp-specialities/manifold.html  with a few valves and a few triclamp/hosebarb fittings you could build the same thing.  I've used a similar set-up and it worked well.  cheers, j

[phillamb168]

? how does it work?
^ nooooob ^

[jaybeerman]

steps are as follows
1. with all other valves closed and your drain line (the co2 line of the keg coupler) on the floor or in a drain, open the valve on the keg to relieve pressure and drain out the remaining beer
2. open valve for rinse water (hot works better) - that's water into manifold, out the hose to the keg coupler, through keg and out drain hose onto floor
3. close valve on keg, place drain hose into the cleaning agent (hot) holding container, turn on pump, open valve to flow cleaning agent into the manifold and into the keg, open valve on keg to allow flow but maintain pressure. run clean cycle
4. use co2 to push all cleaning agent out of keg and back into holding container
5. place drain hose back onto floor or drain, run rinse water cycle.
6. use co2 to push all rinse water from keg
7. set keg aside

Run all kegs through this set up, then swap sanitizer for cleaning agent and run a sani cycle through all the kegs. Push all sani out with co2 and pressurize the keg to storage pressure.  Done (go home and cry, wonder why you decided to be a brewer.  Remember that you get to brew tomorrow, smile and go to sleep)

[Thirsty_Monk]

? how does it work?
^ nooooob ^

This manual is very helpful.
It is Specific Mechanical single head washer.
http://specificmechanical.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/sms911manual.pdf

Concept is the same for dual head washer.

[majorvices]

steps are as follows
1. with all other valves closed and your drain line (the co2 line of the keg coupler) on the floor or in a drain, open the valve on the keg to relieve pressure and drain out the remaining beer
2. open valve for rinse water (hot works better) - that's water into manifold, out the hose to the keg coupler, through keg and out drain hose onto floor
3. close valve on keg, place drain hose into the cleaning agent (hot) holding container, turn on pump, open valve to flow cleaning agent into the manifold and into the keg, open valve on keg to allow flow but maintain pressure. run clean cycle
4. use co2 to push all cleaning agent out of keg and back into holding container
5. place drain hose back onto floor or drain, run rinse water cycle.
6. use co2 to push all rinse water from keg
7. set keg aside

Run all kegs through this set up, then swap sanitizer for cleaning agent and run a sani cycle through all the kegs. Push all sani out with co2 and pressurize the keg to storage pressure.  Done (go home and cry, wonder why you decided to be a brewer.  Remember that you get to brew tomorrow, smile and go to sleep)

+1 except I use compressed air to push rinse water and cleanser water and co2 only for sanitizer.

The nice thing about the $15K washers is you put your keg(s) on the cleaner and push a button and come back and they are clean. Cheaper ones available are semi-manual. I have my eye on a premier stainless keg washer that is fully automatic though. But $15K is a huge chunk to cough up.

[toddster]

$15k is a lot when you are working for $3.35 an hour like most business owners do. 

[boulderbrewer]

TM  just needs a hot caustic tank to clean them