Hooking up a Soda Stream machine to a 6kg C02 bottle

[mischa62]

Is this the sort you are talking about? https://www.co2-adapter.com/choose-adapter/ From Germany, so not as cheap as e-bay (about $85 delivered to Aus), but at least it's designed for Aus sodastream cylinder threads. The similar, but cheaper ones, on E-bay or Aliexpress that I could find require an adapter piece from the T 21x4 sodastream thread to Aus sodastream thread, which I haven't been able to find. Just saying in case someone is thinking of getting the cheapest they can find. For example https://www.aliexpress.com/item/CO2...&terminal_id=db24302ac4c04d9abfea71bf48ef4cef

they are on ebay for $9.95 + $7.60 postage
took me 30secs to find
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sodastr...960601?hash=item25f79b9d19:g:2p4AAOSwz35bC2P9

 

[koshari]

they are on ebay for $9.95 + $7.60 postage
took me 30secs to find
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sodastr...960601?hash=item25f79b9d19:g:2p4AAOSwz35bC2P9

Pity thats the opposite fitting than the op requested. He wants type30 female to au sodastream male

 

[Jack of all biers]

they are on ebay for $9.95 + $7.60 postage
took me 30secs to find
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sodastr...960601?hash=item25f79b9d19:g:2p4AAOSwz35bC2P9

WTF? You're not the same Misha6262 I was replying to, who was talking about filling a sodastream cylinder from a large cylinder. Different sort of fitting. The fitting you linked is just an adaptor from the sodastream cylinder to a type 30 fitting regulator.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

We just thought we would let you know we have a few new fittings that you guys might be interested in and which are relevant to this thread:

These older type sodastream adapters are cheap and they have become quite common:
https://www.kegland.com.au/sodastream-cylinder-adapter.html

With that said if you have ever used one of these you will know that they are a bit cubersome to use and you can loose some gas when connecting to your regulator so this new model is really the way to go:
https://www.kegland.com.au/deluxe-sodastream-cylinder-adapter-with-pin-adjustment.html


Then if you want to refill your own cylinders we have made this device:
https://www.kegland.com.au/sodastream-cylinder-filling-adapter-filling-station-with-bleed-valve.html


We also have these two types of hoses which will enable you to connect your sodastream machine to your large bulk cylinder so this is also a good option if you want to get rid of the small expensive bottle all together.
So we have this shorter hose which is a bit cheaper:
https://www.kegland.com.au/freedomone-sodastream-adapter-hose-36inch.html
Then we also sell this longer hose if you want to put your cylinder slightly further away from your sodastream machine:
https://www.kegland.com.au/freedomone-sodastream-adapter-hose-72inch.html
Then if you really want to put your sodastream machine a long way from the cylinder then you can use this long extension lead:
https://www.kegland.com.au/type-30-high-pressure-extension-hose.html

So when it comes to sodastream stuff we have a heap of optoins available and none of them are particularly expensive.

 

[Fro-Daddy]

Is it possible to overfill/add too much pressure to the sodastream cylinders?

 

[KegLand-com-au]

Is it possible to overfill/add too much pressure to the sodastream cylinders?

It's quite difficult to overfill the sodastream cylinder when you are using this method of decanting from a larger cylinder.

Technically if you got the small cylinder cold enough it could be possible to overfill but this is very unlikely. As a check when filling any CO2 cylinder it's a good idea to check the tare weight and full weight before and after the fill to make sure.

If you do overfill you can blow the burst disk on the cylinder and then you will have to replace this part.

 

[mischa6262]

Is this the sort you are talking about? https://www.co2-adapter.com/choose-adapter/ From Germany, so not as cheap as e-bay (about $85 delivered to Aus), but at least it's designed for Aus sodastream cylinder threads. The similar, but cheaper ones, on E-bay or Aliexpress that I could find require an adapter piece from the T 21x4 sodastream thread to Aus sodastream thread, which I haven't been able to find. Just saying in case someone is thinking of getting the cheapest they can find. For example https://www.aliexpress.com/item/CO2...&terminal_id=db24302ac4c04d9abfea71bf48ef4cef

Opps my bad i have misunderstood what you were trying to achieve, i have a sodastream fitting adaptor that i machined an adaptor to enable it to screw onto a gas bottle for refilling sodastream cylinders. And before i get flamed i have done this years ago with smaller cylinders for an air pistol direct from a co2 cylinder with no regulator, crack it open only just, and as you fill it the frost will disapear showing roughly how full the cylinder is.
As long as the cylinder to be filled is chilled in the freezer first its easy, then you just have to weight it against its gross weight

 

[KegLand-com-au]

Opps my bad i have misunderstood what you were trying to achieve, i have a sodastream fitting adaptor that i machined an adaptor to enable it to screw onto a gas bottle for refilling sodastream cylinders. And before i get flamed i have done this years ago with smaller cylinders for an air pistol direct from a co2 cylinder with no regulator, crack it open only just, and as you fill it the frost will disapear showing roughly how full the cylinder is.
As long as the cylinder to be filled is chilled in the freezer first its easy, then you just have to weight it against its gross weight

that doesnt look that cheap to me. The one of Aliexpress is USD$28. The ones that we are selling here are AUD$15 so they are less than half the cost.

https://www.kegland.com.au/sodastream-cylinder-filling-adapter-filling-station-with-bleed-valve.html

 

[mischa6262]

that doesnt look that cheap to me. The one of Aliexpress is USD$28. The ones that we are selling here are AUD$15 so they are less than half the cost.

https://www.kegland.com.au/sodastream-cylinder-filling-adapter-filling-station-with-bleed-valve.html

Well i can tell you for FACT that the original hex adapter cost $10 when purchased a few years back from eBay, and
"I manufactured" the round female end to adapt to the gas cylinder thread - so id say yes i am cheaper than $15, would i make it for anyone at that price? nope.
PS: Was just adding my two cents worth, hence why i dont reply to a lot of message threads as it pisses me off when you get howled down for making a slight error - but it wont stop me when i know im right

 

[koshari]

I will say that type 30 to 1/4 reg stems are not cheap anywhere. Prolly because the dominant co2 attachment is cga.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

Well i can tell you for FACT that the original hex adapter cost $10 when purchased a few years back from eBay, and
"I manufactured" the round female end to adapt to the gas cylinder thread - so id say yes i am cheaper than $15, would i make it for anyone at that price? nope.
PS: Was just adding my two cents worth, hence why i dont reply to a lot of message threads as it pisses me off when you get howled down for making a slight error - but it wont stop me when i know im right

We would disagree to anyone being howled down on a forum. It defeats the purpose of a forum where everyone should be able to contribute without prejudice. So all contributions are welcomed in our opinion.

 

[krusty_oz]

If you ever head to the USA you can pick up a used soda carbonator that can be pumbed in for less than the cost of a 9L keg. Never need to fill it up then

 

[fdsaasdf]

If you ever head to the USA you can pick up a used soda carbonator that can be pumbed in for less than the cost of a 9L keg. Never need to fill it up then

Do you have any sources you'd recommend for this?

I've looked in the past and the cheapest used 2 gallon units seem to be around $250-$400 plus postage. For comparison, the last couple of 9L kegs I bought were under $100 new each.

 

[krusty_oz]

If 9L kegs are that cheap now (thanks KK/KL price war) might make it a little hard for the price.
I've mainly looked on ebay and have seen them from around $100 used for a McCann 'big mac' 1gal tank. Chi company usually have them for $100 used or $175 refurb (no stock at the moment) https://www.chicompany.net/soda-sto...bonator-used?zenid=4q6hl9kpc506t47dpcbe055tr6
Cheapest on ebay US at the moment for is around US$150 for a McCann 1gal but being second hand market it has it ups and downs. Plus we have to contend the exchange rates at the moment.
I've purchased bits from Chi Company, Wunderbar gun and 7 pass cold plate through ebay seller mundellusmark (message him as he has other stuff not listed) and Installationpartsupply.

 

[fdsaasdf]

Thanks for the info. Chi are certainly cheaper than the other shops I've seen, the McCann big mac is exactly what I've been looking at. Is that what you have installed? Do you have any pics or tips about the install?

How easy was it to get a 220V unit?

I haven't actually bought any kegs since Kegland started, but that's beside the point I guess...

 

[krusty_oz]

Thanks for the info. Chi are certainly cheaper than the other shops I've seen, the McCann big mac is exactly what I've been looking at. Is that what you have installed? Do you have any pics or tips about the install?

How easy was it to get a 220V unit?

I haven't actually bought any kegs since Kegland started, but that's beside the point I guess...

I'm running off a keg that I run at ~25psi CO2 for now but sick of filling it up. I've done the research and I'm lining one up for my next trip. 220V units are too expensive. I have a 240/110 transformer sitting idle. the 50/60hz won't make much difference as its not running much in a domestic use.
They are basically a little tank that runs CO2 at 80PSI and the water is forced into it by the pump.You can separate the pump from the tank.
Here is a good example of a setup http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=390573
I just have the wunderbar gun and post mix syrup pump sitting on the shelf. Boxes of soda syrup sit on a different shelf. I run the syrup pumps off my nitromix gas I use with my stout restrictor tap (its cheaper than a CO2).
Before I got the Wunderbar I just used an Andale pluto gun off the keg. Be best to get a soda tap/gun to pair up with a carbonator as they made for the higher pressure (and have no brass) as I don't think the average beer gun/tap is rated for such pressures.

 

[koshari]

the McCann big mac is exactly what I've been looking at.

looking at this unit has got me thinking, it uses a pressure pump to deliver the water into the mixing chamber, surely you could use mains pressure to achieve a similar outcome?

so i have a pic in my head of running a 9l keg with a water and gas input, the trick i would imagine would be to maintain the liquid at the half way level, bit like a drum level controller in a boiler,

 

[fdsaasdf]

I'm running off a keg that I run at ~25psi CO2 for now but sick of filling it up. I've done the research and I'm lining one up for my next trip. 220V units are too expensive. I have a 240/110 transformer sitting idle. the 50/60hz won't make much difference as its not running much in a domestic use.
They are basically a little tank that runs CO2 at 80PSI and the water is forced into it by the pump.You can separate the pump from the tank.
Here is a good example of a setup http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=390573
I just have the wunderbar gun and post mix syrup pump sitting on the shelf. Boxes of soda syrup sit on a different shelf. I run the syrup pumps off my nitromix gas I use with my stout restrictor tap (its cheaper than a CO2).
Before I got the Wunderbar I just used an Andale pluto gun off the keg. Be best to get a soda tap/gun to pair up with a carbonator as they made for the higher pressure (and have no brass) as I don't think the average beer gun/tap is rated for such pressures.

Thanks, yes I have seen that setup but don't have a 240/110 transformer idle and have heard that using these for pumps can lead to a short life.

Will definitely investigate this further next time I'm heading to the US. May not be for another year though.

 

[fdsaasdf]

looking at this unit has got me thinking, it uses a pressure pump to deliver the water into the mixing chamber, surely you could use mains pressure to achieve a similar outcome?

so i have a pic in my head of running a 9l keg with a water and gas input, the trick i would imagine would be to maintain the liquid at the half way level, bit like a drum level controller in a boiler,

I see where you're going with this but it seems like a potential recipe for disaster - would want a check/safety valve running off the mains supply at least!

 

[krusty_oz]

looking at this unit has got me thinking, it uses a pressure pump to deliver the water into the mixing chamber, surely you could use mains pressure to achieve a similar outcome?

so i have a pic in my head of running a 9l keg with a water and gas input, the trick i would imagine would be to maintain the liquid at the half way level, bit like a drum level controller in a boiler,

For ambient temperature water, the carbonators run at ~85psi CO2 which is 580 kpa so its above mains pressure (houses built to current standards are no more than 500kpa). The pump is needed to to force the water into the carbonation chamber and they have check valves. The pumps are triggered by a float switch. If the water is cold then it doesn't need as much pressure but you will still need a pump or a float switch solenoid if your water pressure is higher than the CO2 pressure
The pumps (rotary vane) are the same as those used in commercial coffee machines. Some can do both 50/60Hz, ones that are not won't be impacted too much in a domestic situation as they would barely run much more than once a day for a few seconds a time.