Soda machine setup

[kyparamedic]

I have a 2-head soda tower (Lancer) that I bought off Ebay several years ago. I had kind of forgotten about it because I had been gone and had also acquired a Breakmate. Now that I am back, I've been trying to get it up and running. It came with a cold plate which I didn't completely understand until now. I didn't realize the cold plate had to be sumberged in ice or that it affected the carbonation. I always put ice in my glass so it being cold out of the fountain wasn't a big deal. So, what is the most economical solution here? I'm leaning towards just getting a remote water chiller rather than fool with the whole cold plate in ice thing. I have found a couple online and through ebay. The one on Ebay is $300 plus $100 in freight charges (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180240401891&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008 - there is a picture of the water chiller there). The other one has a built in carbonator and is close to $1000. I'm kind of wishing now that I had just bought a refrigerated dispenser although I got the system I have now at an incredible deal. Does it have to be a special type of chiller, designed for carbonated water? How far from the carbonator to the chiller before I start noticing a loss in carbonation? From the chiller to the tower? Can you compensate by increasing the pressure going into the carbonator? Also, will it matter how long everything sits without being used (I'm talking 12-24 hours or so max)?

Thanks!

[ckone180]

Increasing the pressure of the CO2 will not do the job. Also, a water chiller will do the trick, but for a cost. In fact, using cold plates is illegal in some states, because lead was used in making most of them. If you leave the system idle, long enough for the soda to become 'flat', you will need to purge off the soda line until it flows out chilled. You can do this manually, pulling the valves banjo or disconnecting the BagInBox, so you do not waste the syrup. Soda temp should be lower than 36 degrees, but the actual separation occurs during temperature time. So you can have 38 degree soda water taste fine, as long as you are running it at a good volume. Good luck to you.

[kyparamedic]

This may be completely out of the question so please excuse my ignorance. While searching, I came upon some aquarium chillers. Will this work for a soda fountain? The most immediate concern I see with this is the operating pressure of the system.

Any places anyone knows of that sell water coolers compatible with or designed for a soda fountain?

Thanks.

[ckone180]

Perlick is a popular one here. Lancer probably has one, or Cornelius, McCall or Servend.