Model Differences at a Glance
The 14KPH and 14KPH-HO share the same floor-standing cabinet form factor and installation footprint, but differ in several important ways. Identify your model before beginning and refer to the correct values throughout this procedure.
| Specification | 14KPH | 14KPH-HO |
|---|---|---|
| N2 Storage Pressure | 70–85 PSIG | 85–95 PSIG |
| CO2 Inlet Required | 75–100 PSIG (75 PSIG recommended) | 85–100 PSIG |
| Standby Cut-Out Pressure | 75–85 PSIG | 90–95 PSIG |
| Run Cut-In Pressure | ~70 PSIG | ~85 PSIG |
| N2 Backup Cylinder Pressure | 75 PSIG | 90–100 PSIG |
| Shipping Bolts to Remove | 4 | 8 |
| Air Compressors | 1 | 2 |
| Annual Filter Kit | FRP-001 | FRP-005 |
| Weight | ~265 lbs | ~275 lbs |
Before You Begin
Both the 14KPH and 14KPH-HO are floor-standing units that ship in a wooden crate. The N2 storage tank is housed internally on both models. All gas line regulators and pressure gauges are supplied by others and are not included with the system.
The installation surface must be hard and flat and capable of supporting 300 lbs or more. Have a floor jack available to move the unit to its final location after uncrating.
Unpacking and Inspection
Open the side of the crate marked "Open This Side." Inspect all components for damage upon receipt and photograph any damage before moving the unit. Verify that all items on the packing list are present and undamaged. South-Tek Systems is not responsible for damage incurred during shipping. Report any damage to the carrier immediately, then contact South-Tek Systems support.
To remove the unit from the crate, unbolt the cabinet base from the crate floor. Carefully lift the unit out and set it on the floor. Use a floor jack to move it to the final installation location. Once in place, break down the crate and store it in a safe location in case the unit needs to be returned to the factory for service.
Until installation, observe the following:
- Store the unit in a dry, climate-controlled environment between 40–100°F. For extended storage over one month, open the crate and insert desiccant bags to prevent moisture buildup.
- Keep the unit in an upright position at all times.
- Do not connect AC power until installation is complete.
- Keep all gas lines dry to prevent moisture from entering the generator at hookup.
- Do not place or stack objects on top of the cabinet.
Electrical Requirements
Both models require 120VAC or 240VAC / 50–60 Hz / 1-phase power. Check the serial number label on the left side of the cabinet — a model number with a "-220" suffix is prepared for 220–240VAC only. Both models include a built-in 20A circuit breaker and a standard 3-prong US power cord. The system is UL 508A ICP approved. Electrical schematics are available upon request.
Installation and Placement
The 14KPH and 14KPH-HO are floor-standing units and do not require wall mounting. The back and right sides of the cabinet can be positioned directly against a wall. Leave at least 6" on the left side of the cabinet for ventilation — 36" is recommended to allow access to the control panel without pulling the unit out from the wall. The front of the cabinet requires a minimum of 36" clearance to access the front door and perform routine maintenance. Leave adequate clearance above the cabinet for gas line connections.
There are four (4) anchor bolt holes on the support legs that can be used to secure the unit to the floor. Anchoring is not required but always follow applicable site and local codes regarding equipment securing.
Two 1/4" OD drain ports are located on the left side of the cabinet. Plumb both drains to a floor drain or collection point. Failure to do so creates a slip hazard.
Cabinet Port Layout
All gas connection ports on both the 14KPH and 14KPH-HO are 1/2" NPT Female. Ports are located on the upper cabinet and are arranged as follows from left to right:
| Port | Service |
|---|---|
| Port 1 | 60/40 CO2/N2 Blend Out |
| Port 2 | CO2 In |
| Port 3 | 25/75 CO2/N2 Blend Out |
| Port 4 | N2 Out / N2 Cylinder Backup In |
Gas Line Installation
Use Teflon tape or equivalent thread sealant on all fittings. Use only quality beverage-grade tubing and fittings rated for the operating temperature and pressure of the system. Verify all connection locations against the installation drawing included with the unit before opening any valves or turning on the system.
Install an on/off isolation valve on each individual gas line. This is required for troubleshooting and servicing. Never detach a pressurized line before closing its isolation valve. Never depressurize a keg — always shut off the valve and remove the tap from the keg before changing or servicing gas lines.
If the BeerBlast™ blender is included, connect the customer-supplied CO2 source to Port 2 (CO2 In). Refer to the model differences table at the top of this article for the correct CO2 inlet pressure for your model.
N2 Cylinder Backup (Optional)
A backup N2 cylinder can be connected to Port 4 (N2 Out) to supply nitrogen in the event of a power outage or generator issue. The backup cylinder feeds through the blender when one is present, maintaining the correct gas blend to the beverage lines.
To install a backup cylinder:
- Fit the cylinder with a high-pressure regulator and ball valve on the output. Regulate to the correct pressure for your model — 75 PSIG for the 14KPH, 90–100 PSIG for the 14KPH-HO. Use a lockable ball valve and label it "Backup Use Only."
- Connect the regulated output to Port 4 on the generator.
- When the backup system is opened, it will fill the N2 storage tank and maintain blender pressure with nitrogen.
Startup Procedure
- Confirm all gas connections are complete and all fittings have been made with Teflon tape or equivalent sealant. Verify all connection locations against the installation drawing.
- Confirm all painted shipping bolts have been removed from the bottom of the cabinet — four (4) on the 14KPH, eight (8) on the 14KPH-HO.
- Connect the beverage system to the appropriate output ports.
- Turn on the power switch located on the upper left side of the cabinet on the control panel. The controller will automatically determine the appropriate run mode and display it on screen.
- Slowly open the system's output valves.
- You may hear air rushing through the system as N2 fills the lines.
- If you hear a leak or suspect a bad connection, close the valves immediately and make corrections before proceeding.
- If a leak is found within the cabinet, remove the cover to locate it. Use only factory-supplied parts for any repairs. Contact South-Tek Systems support if needed.
- The initial startup will require up to one hour to fully pressurize the internal storage tank. Monitor the external pressure gauge on Port 4 to verify the tank is filling. Once the tank reaches the standby cut-out pressure for your model, the system will enter Standby mode automatically.
- 14KPH: Standby at 75–85 PSIG
- 14KPH-HO: Standby at 90–95 PSIG
- When N2 is drawn from the system and tank pressure drops to the cut-in threshold, the pressure switch will automatically restart the generator and recharge the tank. No field adjustment to the pressure switch is required or permitted.
PLC Controller Overview
The 14KPH and 14KPH-HO use an integrated PLC controller that is fully pre-programmed — no user configuration is required or permitted. Do not attempt to modify the program. Doing so will void the warranty. If a program failure occurs, cycle power first. If the issue persists, contact South-Tek Systems support.
Two controller generations have been used on these models. Identify your controller before performing any filter reset or alarm response procedure.
TWIX Controller (Current — MiniPSA v7 and later)
| Display | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Run | Generator is operating. Nitrogen is filling the storage tank. The system will remain in this mode until the tank reaches the cut-out pressure and transitions to Standby. |
| Stdby | Storage tank is at pressure. The system will remain in Standby until tank pressure drops to the cut-in threshold, then return to Run automatically. |
| FAlm | Filter alarm. Triggered at 1,000 run hours or 12 months, whichever comes first. Replace filters and reset the timer. See the Annual Filter Replacement article for your model. |
| BOff | BlastOff alarm. The system has been in Run mode for 9 consecutive hours without reaching Standby. See the BlastOff™ Leak Detection System article for troubleshooting steps. |
To reset the filter alarm after replacing filters, press and hold the Filter Change Reset button (F2) on the electrical panel for 10 seconds. The display will return to normal run status once the timer is reset.
Panasonic FP-e Controller (Older Units)
| Display | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Run | Generator is operating and filling the storage tank. |
| StdBy | Storage tank is at pressure. System is waiting for pressure to drop before restarting. |
| FILtr | Filter alarm. Replace filters and reset the timer per the Annual Filter Replacement article for your model. |
| b.OFF | BlastOff alarm. See the BlastOff™ Leak Detection System article for troubleshooting steps. |
To use the Panasonic controller buttons, the unit must first be unlocked. If the display shows "LOCK," press and hold the Mode Select Button to unlock (repeat to re-lock). Once unlocked, switch to "S" (Switch) mode by pressing the Mode Select Button until the System Mode Indicator shows "S." This enables two functions:
- BlastOff® Simulation (Button 5) — Hold for 3 seconds to simulate a BlastOff alarm and trip the dry contact output (if installed) for 2 seconds. Use this to verify alarm wiring at startup.
- Filter Change Reset (Button 0) — After replacing filter elements, press and hold for 7 seconds. An audible beep and "reSet" on the display confirm the 1,000-hour filter timer has been reset.
Checking for Leaks
Perform a leak check after startup and any time a leak is suspected. Begin by listening for audible leaks around all connection ports. The BlastOff™ system will alarm automatically after 9 hours of continuous runtime, indicating a sustained downstream leak.
To determine whether a leak is inside or outside the cabinet:
- With the unit powered on, close all output gas valves. If no ball valve is installed on the output ports, remove the gas lines and install plugs.
- Allow the system to continue running. Within one hour it should reach Standby mode.
- Wait five minutes. If the system remains in Standby, the leak is downstream — check all gas lines from the cabinet to the keg system.
- If the unit returns to Run mode, the leak is inside the cabinet. Proceed to the cabinet leak procedure below.
To locate a leak inside the cabinet:
- Open the front cabinet door and locate the N2 storage tank.
- Close the output ball valve on the tank (upper ball valve on the red manifold).
- Monitor the exterior pressure gauge for 60 seconds. If pressure is dropping, the leak is between the output ports, the blender (if present), and the closed tank valve. Use a spray bottle with soapy water on non-electrical components to locate the leak. Fix and recheck.
- If pressure is not dropping, close the input ball valve on the tank (lower ball valve on the red manifold) with the unit still running.
- Within five minutes, the system should enter Standby mode. If it does not, contact South-Tek Systems support.
- Once in Standby, wait 60 seconds. If the system returns to Run mode, the leak is between the check valve and the output ball valve on the tank.
- If the system remains in Standby, contact South-Tek Systems support for further assistance.
Starting and Stopping the System
To start the system, turn on the power switch and confirm all gas line valves are open.
Normal shutdown does not require powering down the unit — simply close the gas line valves. The system will cycle down on its own. Powering off is not required for routine stops.
Related Articles
| Article | Applies To |
|---|---|
| Safety Guidelines — BeerBlast™ / N2-GEN™ | All models |
| Annual Filter Replacement — 7KPH / 14KPH | 7KPH, 14KPH |
| Annual Filter Replacement — 14KPH-HO | 14KPH-HO |
| BlastOff™ Leak Detection System | All models |
| Pressure Troubleshooting | All models |
| Power Troubleshooting | All models |
| Product Overview & Model Guide | All models |
Contact South-Tek Systems
Phone: (910) 415-1880
Email / Ticket: support@southteksystems911.zendesk.com