CO2 Regulator and Connections

[mcgster]

I thought i'd start a thread up to find out what people are using for regulators and what issues / benefits they see in their models. I have bought 3 regulators in the 2 years that i have been kegging and two of them drive me nuts with creeping pressure, leaky relief valves or difficult control valves. I recently purchased a TapRite single reg that i use with a co2 tank when i want to bring my kegs to a party and it works very well. I picked it up on a boxing day sale so the price was great and now i'm wishing my dual reg was TapRite.

Also - when it comes to CO2 tubing and keg connections i was curious about the preference for the standard hose barb or the swivel connectors.

[jacinthebox]

I have a reg that dave sells...and two others that were pulled out of the old micmac Eastside Marios.

The eastside ones were gummed up with funky garlic nastyness...took them apart and cleaned everything...that work great, no creep.
The one I got from Dave works great as well...I did have an issue once with beer backflow, that was my fault. Took it apart and cleaned it up and no more creep.

I have 7 taps plus the 2 on the jockey box and I only have the barbed keg connectors, and use both types of hose that dave sells (clear and reinforced).

[gm-]

I have a crappy chinese one that I got from OBK, it creeps up quite a bit unless I keep the PSI set very low (around 5 psi). Will have to switch it out for a Taprite at some point.

[Swine]

I have 1 economy reg that I use for camping because I was able to block the high pressure gauge port with a RHT plug, only to make the whole assembly smaller. Works well, a bit jumpy in adjustment, but once there, stays quite well.
I also have 3 regs that are Cornelius, 2 of them are paired to give 2 different serving pressures and then a single. Got them all used in different ways, I think I put rebuild kits on all 3 now, 2 for sure, work like champs now.
And I have my original reg that came with my original setup from Noble Grape several years ago.
I have moved to the red hose that stays fairly flexible when cold as I found my original hose too stiff when cold and hard to move things around.
The red hose, I have found a couple of types, I will warn you to be cautious of the ID of said hose compared to your barb fittings (I use all barb fittings as well) as the ID of 1 hose I have is very difficult to get sealed well to 1/4" barb.
If I get any fittings now I go for the 5/16 barb or 3/8. But ball lock gas connections are all 1/4", so get some good strong hose clamps!
A bucket of water was a huge help last month when I set up my dual reg setup with manifolds for my freezer setup!!! I found all kinds of leaks.

[mcgster]

I never thought about dumping the whole setup in a water bucket to check for leaks. I may do that tonight because i'm sure there are some tiny leaks in my system still.

I have had the same frustration with the different ID of the red hose. I definitely like the red hose better but you need to watch for 5/16 barbs like you said.

[Celiacbrew]

The one I got from Dave works great as well...I did have an issue once with beer backflow, that was my fault. Took it apart and cleaned it up and no more creep.

How do you stop backflow (beside not overfilling your keg)?

When I got my setup I just assumed that the regulator would have a one way valve on the gas out so I didn't think twice about filling my keg to the top. Now it is all gummy.

[jeffsmith]

I have both the chinese-style and Taprite and like them both. The Taprite is definitely much higher quality and has the benefit of being able to install a hood around the gauges to protect them.

[mcgster]

I would say from now on i'll probably stick with Taprite.. problem is they are selling for 150+tax on OBK right now for the dual!

[jeffsmith]

I would say from now on i'll probably stick with Taprite.. problem is they are selling for 150+tax on OBK right now for the dual!

Toronto Brewing has them slightly cheaper at $145.

[jacinthebox]

The one I got from Dave works great as well...I did have an issue once with beer backflow, that was my fault. Took it apart and cleaned it up and no more creep.

How do you stop backflow (beside not overfilling your keg)?

When I got my setup I just assumed that the regulator would have a one way valve on the gas out so I didn't think twice about filling my keg to the top. Now it is all gummy.

I stoped overfilling lol

I was thinking of shortening some of the longer gas dip tubes

[mcgster]

I would say from now on i'll probably stick with Taprite.. problem is they are selling for 150+tax on OBK right now for the dual!

Toronto Brewing has them slightly cheaper at $145.

I always forget about Toronto Brewing, TY! Maybe when the tax return comes in.

[LeafMan66_67]

How do you stop backflow (beside not overfilling your keg)?

When I got my setup I just assumed that the regulator would have a one way valve on the gas out so I didn't think twice about filling my keg to the top. Now it is all gummy.

Don't overfill, or ensure that your pressure in the keg being added is lower than your system pressure. That doesn't help if you have two overfilled kegs as y email other will back up. A check valve before your regulator will keep liquid out of the reg, leaving y email mess just in your lines.

[mthibodeau]

The eastside ones were gummed up with funky garlic nastyness...took them apart and cleaned everything...that work great, no creep.

What did you use to clean them with? Can I just take it apart and hit it with some pbw?

[jacinthebox]

How water and dish soap worked well...and a good rinse

[LeafMan66_67]

When I back them up, I take it all apart, use hot PBW, rinse, sanitize, dry and reassemble.

[mcgster]

Can someone tell me how fast their CO2 falls after you get into the "red" range.

My reg was on 300 PSI this morning and i just turned and looked and it is completely drained..(5lb tank)

[CorneliusAlphonse]

i think once it drops below 600 it falls to 0 very quickly

[mcgster]

Thanks Liam, thats what i thought too i just wasn't sure.

What is the standard fill pressure for these tanks anyway, i notice that it is not nearly as high as i would have expected (as a diver who feels robbed if the fill is below 3000PSI)

[LeafMan66_67]

1800PSI rings a bell, but can't remember.

[mcgster]

I think the last fill i had was 1000 and i remember thinking that it wasn't going to last very long... and it hasn't lol

[chalmers]

They fill by weight, because CO2 is liquid at the temperatures and pressures in the tank.

Good idea to weigh your empty tank now, so that you can gauge how much (a) you have left during use, and (b) feel better that they filled you up.

(From a fellow diver)

[mcgster]

I totally blanked on that Chris, i forgot they filled by weight!

I definitely will weigh the tank now and then compare with the post fill.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

mine always gets filled to around 900, i keep it out of the fridge so that might affect what pressure it says. also i am going by memory so i may be off. chalmers has the best info of course.

[LeafMan66_67]

1800PSI rings a bell, but can't remember.

My gauge is broken so I really don't know

[chalmers]

I totally blanked on that Chris, i forgot they filled by weight!

I definitely will weigh the tank now and then compare with the post fill.

That's the reason they're called, 5, 10, 20 pound tanks, because that's what weight of CO2 they hold, not the weight of the tanks.

So, back to diving, been to Bell Island yet? Our dive group went out a few years ago, had a great time.