Mini Keg Discussion / Mods / Show Off - Dedicated Thread

[koolkuna]

Ok I'll have a look I've never purchased anything on this site before

 

[mtb]

Hi all


Having a leak issue with my minikeg reg (the one we got in the bulk buy - photo below). The nut on the side directly opposite the pressure gauge leaks when I screw in a bulb, and by "leak", I mean the bulb empties in about two seconds. Tried tightening it but it doesn't tighten any more, any ideas?

 

[Batz]

I would say there is a rubber seal missing, should be fairly obvious.

 

[mtb]

If there's a rubber seal on yours, then there's not on mine.. and that explains everything. Time to find a replacement
Cheers Batz

 

[mtb]

Replacement seal was supplied with the kit, all is well

edit: all is not well, CO2 escapes from the pinholes in the nut itself, adding a ring seal to the thread changed nothing

 

[Batz]

OK perhaps your talking about the thread sealed with thread tape?

 

[mtb]

This guy. The nut labelled 1.8K. CO2 gushes out of the pinholes on either side.

 

[bevan]

Hi all


Having a leak issue with my minikeg reg (the one we got in the bulk buy - photo below). The nut on the side directly opposite the pressure gauge leaks when I screw in a bulb, and by "leak", I mean the bulb empties in about two seconds. Tried tightening it but it doesn't tighten any more, any ideas?

Are you taking about a small plug that from memory has 1.5K (could be another number) stamped on it? When I pulled my dud one apart it looked like a over pressure safety relief valve. When you remove the plug there should be a little burst disc behind it. It could be missing

 

[mtb]

Got it in one bevan.. that disc is burst. Strange because I only ever use it to dispense, but then again, I have idiot friends who like to bugger about with my gauges.
Probably not a warranty job since it's "self-inflicted", what are my options?

 

[bevan]

Wow, it would take a lot of pressure (I'm assuming that 1.8K(1800) is psi because the gauge is in psi) to burst it. When the next BB happens I'm getting another minireg so you can have the burst disc out of my dud one if I can't get it to work.

 

[mtb]

I'd say it's 1800kPa because that's approx 260psi. Maybe I connected it to a force carbing keg at one point (I brew, keg and shitpost on AHB lots after a few brews)

edit: hold on.. I sure as hell don't force carb at 260psi either. I think the pressure safety disc thing broke a little prematurely.

 

[bevan]

I'll let know if I can't get it working, haven't tried the fixes that have been posted on here yet.

 

[mtb]

An obvious option is to manually seal the relief valve, but in accordance with AHB forum rules I won't discuss that further here. It would also introduce some tangible danger when using the regulator so I definitely won't be doing that while we search for a permanent solution.

 

[barls]

one of my first ones did something similar and was replaced.

 

[mtb]

Sent an inquiry via ATHB's website, fingers crossed.

 

[hotmelt]

Did you screw the bulb on upside down?Maybe liquid CO2 in regulator?

Lyrebird_Cycles

Posted Today, 06:24 PM

What is the reason people say getting liquid co2 into a reg can kill it.

I believe that the problem is actually with the equipment downstream of the regulator. If the regulator is allowed to pass liquid CO2 and the liquid then vaporises it will produce high pressure gas. This gas is unregulated and may exceed the pressure rating of the equipment.

As an example, if the regulator allowed half the sodastream cylinder to empty into a 4 litre minikeg in your fridge, the vaporised gas would hit a pressure of nearly 3 MPa (about 400 PSI in Septic units). You'd want to know the PRV was working.

 

[mtb]

Sent an inquiry via ATHB's website, fingers crossed.

..and 40min later I receive a reply from Mark arranging a replacement & return of the faulty reg. Can't speak highly enough of these guys.

 

[Bones99]

Mine did this the first time too, but it was a combination of not screwing the bulb in fast enough or hard enough and having it connected to the mini keg when I did it.

I have since made sure I do it off the keg (with the regulator turned off/down to minimum) and screw the bulb in fast and fully.

Mine seems to work now..

They are made for use with the bulb & can't be used with pressure over 35psi (or 32 can't remember but it's somewhere) but shouldn't break, that's what the pressure relief valve is there for.

Maybe give that a go before sending back.

 

[mtb]

Bones the problem is that the "pressure relief valve" is just a solid disc which appears to be designed to puncture in the event of over-pressure. Mine burst prematurely so the regulator now simply vents the bulb through the perforated disc

 

[user 31093]

if you tare the keg on the scales, you can VERY accurately measure how full it is..

its really not that hard a process even without scales... you can just look in the top

My kegs all have their tare weight written on them, I keep a set of analogue scales under each of my kegs in the keezer, offset the tare before dropping a keg on and I'm done.

 

[Mardoo]

Yep, just had a night of geeky fun checking the tare of all my kegs and writing it on them. So much easier.

 

[Hopsta]

for those looking for a solution to hop these kegs, i picked up one of these from t2 today. fits nicely inside. havnt used it yet but looks like it will work perfectly.

 

[Hopsta]

its called a tea stick.

 

[Batz]

I would like to get my hands on a failed regulator if anyone has one.

 

[mtb]

ATHB has requested my faulty one in return for the replacement, but I'm happy to be a guinea pig while I wait for the return parcel

 

[Batz]

ATHB are going to send me one I believe.

 

[peekaboo_jones]

That's a bugger mtb.
Mine is working a treat, force carbed aswell. Took one bulb to carb up and put a new one in to dispense (5L).
I'm going to try naturally priming with my next batch.
Now I need to get some 19L Corny's and all that get up...

 

[Batz]

I have two and never had a problem, in fact one still has gas since Christmas.

 

[brianman]

Hi guys mini keg fridge, notice not my mini keg beer fridge, at the moment only two lines, think that will become three, 1 for carbing, 2 pouring, via a two way manifold, can squeeze three kegs on that shelf, not allowed any more space, hence mini kegs, still have stubbies as well, in the door.
The one on the right is one of the two initial kegging attempts, other been emtied, pours ok now the carbonation is under control, both sugar primed, way too much. The left one is another brew CO2 carbed, been doing a lot of research on carbonation, unfortunately a lot slips through. Anyway, i had it at 14-15psi for a couple of days, took it to 20psi for 8hrs yesterday, back to 12-13psi, poured ok yesterday, seemed a bit flat, hence 20psi, today another sample at 10psi ok but not very fast, upped psi to 15 no faster but then foam, aah f!!??k, over carbed i think. Took off gas, released pressure, sat on top of the fridge for 1/2hr and poured 200ml ok, so when to put back on the gas?

 

[mtb]

The problem with using these minikegs in a setup like yours is, you've got no length of beer line between your keg and tap. Most online forums/resources discussing kegging will assume that you have beer line - and beer line introduces resistance, so when your beer flows out the keg and to your tap, it "slows" down and pours nicely. Without beer line, you'll pour way faster, and all that nice carbonation is probably escaping immediately - hence your flat pour.

By upping/reducing your pressure so much it's hard to say whether you've overcarbed. Set your pressure to 5psi and pour a glass and let me know how it looks.