PVC Tube vs Beer line.

[Nikster]

What's the difference between these two, I was just about to order some tubing from brewuk amongst other bits, but I ordered some 3/8 beer line, and noticed they had no 1/2 beer lines (all this is to make sure I have everything to go from beer engine to polypin) they do 1/2 and 3/8 in PVC tubing though.

So what's the difference between the two, are they interchangeable? Should I be using PVC, help.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

I use 3/8 beer line between my polypin and hand pump.

At the polypin end I have a short section of PVC tubing which goes over the tap of the polypin and the beer line is pushed up inside the pvc tubing to make a connection. This then runs to my demand valve. Between the demand valve and the beer engine I use a short (approx 20cm) length of silicon hose which I got from mrLard aka thehomebrebuilder.co.uk.

[Nikster]

What size tubing do you use to go over the tap? I assume a 3/8 won't fit?

Also these are 3/8 OD rather than inner diameter, is that correct?

Cheers.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

To be honest I don't know of the top of my head and I am not at home.

I have numerous pieces of different PVC tube and just found a piece that fitted.

[Nikster]

Ok, cheers, I'll get the 3/8 for now, and deal with whatever when I cross that bridge.

[Matt12398]

I don't know how concerned you are about these kinds of things but I wouldn't use PVC for anything in long term contact with your beer. There's a lot more focus on this in the past couple of years and suppliers of foodstuffs and medicines are being forced to change their packaging to PVC-free ones.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

I use such a small amount of PVC tubing I'm not worried. I have the beer line butted up against the tap on the polypin, all the PVC tube is doing is holding the two together.