Gassing Of Keg

[ra88it]

Gday All

1st post and quickly getting hooked on brewing

I have just set up a keg kit and have a question about gassing. Why is it that my kpa drops duriong the gassing process. I set it at 30psi 210kpa though when i check it after 24hrs it has dropped to around 140-150kpa. The guide i had didnt say to chill it first so i didnt would this be the reason? I have cranked it back up to 210 again for the remaining 12hrs. The keg and the co2 bottle is in the fridge as of the time i turn on the gas.

Cheers
Ryan

 

[wood88]

The beer will absorb the C02 so the pressure will drop or you might have a leak.
If there is no beer in the keg you have a leak

Did you test the keg for leaks with soapy water around the connections and the lid before filling it with beer?

 

[ra88it]

yea i tested it and there was no leaks. maybe theres an adjustment stage which requires a bump up in kpa after the regulator is first set and when beer is warm (after 1st hour or so). i didnt do this. seems to be holding fine now since re adjusted back up and beer is well chilled.

I though the reg would just keep pumping it in from the start to keep the initial setting?

 

[Harry Volting]

Keglube.
A wise man once told me.
Most problems can be solved with lubrication.

 

[superjim]

ra88it, check out this guide on force carbonating if you haven't already.

You should always chill your beer down before carbonating, liquid absorbs more CO2 the colder it gets. There are a heap of threads floating around on here about kegs and carbonating. Also look into balancing your system once you get things rolling.

Good luck mate.

 

[ra88it]

thanks guys

will see how it is in the mornin. if its held its pressure ill put it down to the absorption process.

will chill first next time and see if there is any difference.

 

[superjim]

FWIW mate, I found that the instructions that came with my basic keg setup never worked well for me. Way too hit and miss for my liking.

These days I use a balanced setup 99% of the time and the Ross method in emergency situations. I know waiting 10 days or so sux big time when you want to try out your new rig. God knows I didn't, I was poking at the thing every half hour or so...

However it's something I would recommend looking into, I wish someone put me onto it earlier. Would have saved a lot of innocence brews in the prime of their lives. *Sniff*

Here's to the perfect pour :icon_cheers:

 

[kelbygreen]

I dont do the force carb. I chill to the temp then put the beer out on the gas line and plug it into the beer out, set the the pressure you want. 210kpa seems high doesnt it? mine runs at aprox 82kpa at 3.5c. Once you set the pressure to serving just put the keg on your knees and rock it back and forth till it stops bubbling. wait 15 mins then do again till it stops bubbling. I found this is good as you cant over gas it. I also if I can leave the beer out connected to the gas line over night in the fridge so it carbs a little more. But if desperate just change the beer out on the gas line to gas in fitting put that on gas in and put tap on beer out and pour. It may be a little flat but still very drinkable hence why its best to leave connected to beer in for a night