where is my leak?

[mb-squared]

Completely new to kegging, so perhaps a silly question.

I closed the valve on my gas bottle last night because I began to suspect I had a leak -- though I can't get soapy water to bubble anywhere. This morning I noticed that the high-pressure gauge on my regulator (closest to the gas cylinder) was on zero. But, funny enough, the low-pressure gauge (one closest to the keezer) was still on 11psi, right where it has always been. Does this mean that my regulator is leaking? Or that I have a leak between the gas bottle and the regulator? Or is this perfectly normal?

thanks for any insight!

 

[barls]

are all the kegs connected carbonated to balanced?
or are you carbing one?
if its the second one theres your answer.

 

[mb-squared]

I only have two kegs connected right now. regulator --> splitter --> two kegs.

 

[barls]

what im saying is are they fully carbed for the pressure your running or are they still absorbing some.
other than that the good old spray bottle on all connections and look for bubbles

 

[mb-squared]

I believe both kegs are fully carbonated. But if they are still absorbing CO2, would it be the first gauge (closest to the gas bottle) that drops to zero? Wouldn't it be the second gauge (closest to the kegs) that shows a drop in pressure?

I confess I don't really know how these regulators work, so it's all a mystery to me.

Thanks for your help.

 

[wombil]

If the cylinder is turned off then there is no pressure to the high pressure gauge.
The low pressure gauge is still getting back pressure from the beer kegs,hence the 11 psi reading.
Check with the soapy suds and I reckon you are ok.
Do you have a non return valve fitted between the kegs and the regulator?

 

[mb-squared]

Yes, I do have a check valve between regulator and kegs. I've checked with soapy suds and can't find a leak anywhere. Perhaps I'm OK, but it struck me as odd that the high pressure gauge would drop to zero (albeit very slowly) after I turned off the cylinder -- shouldn't the pressure between the cylinder and the regulator be maintained even after turning the cylinder off?

 

[Mall]

What disconnects do you have? I swapped my 3 grey disconnects to the more expensive stainless steel pins and problem went away.

The cheaper ones I got from KK caused my leaks.

 

[TheWiggman]

The problem might be to do with carbonation still occuring and the ranges on your gauges.

HP gauge probably goes up to 7000 kPa on a full tank.
LP gauge will read anywhere between 80 - 250 kPa for charging or carbonation.

Converting from the outdated and frustratingly complex non-SI unit of PSI, you look to be dispensing or slowly charging at 75 kPa. In this case what will happen, if the keg is still carbonating -

• Gas will be shut off with pressure of 6000 kPa between the valve and the regulator when you close the valve
• Pressure will be at 75 kPa after the regulator
• Gas will slowly be absorbed into the beer from the remaining gas between the valve and the regulator, and the HP guage will drop to 75 kPa once everything equalises.

As 75 is 1.3% of 6000, it won't give you a detectable reading on the HP guage..
To tell if the leak is between the keg and the bottle, disconnect all your lines from the kegs and perform the same experiment. If no drop, you know it's either the kegs charging or the leak is on the keg side of things.

PS: I hate imperial units.

 

[pcmfisher]

The problem might be to do with carbonation still occuring and the ranges on your gauges.

HP gauge probably goes up to 7000 kPa on a full tank.
LP gauge will read anywhere between 80 - 250 kPa for charging or carbonation.

Converting from the outdated and frustratingly complex non-SI unit of PSI, you look to be dispensing or slowly charging at 75 kPa. In this case what will happen, if the keg is still carbonating -

• Gas will be shut off with pressure of 6000 kPa between the valve and the regulator when you close the valve
• Pressure will be at 75 kPa after the regulator
• Gas will slowly be absorbed into the beer from the remaining gas between the valve and the regulator, and the HP guage will drop to 75 kPa once everything equalises.

As 75 is 1.3% of 6000, it won't give you a detectable reading on the HP guage..
To tell if the leak is between the keg and the bottle, disconnect all your lines from the kegs and perform the same experiment. If no drop, you know it's either the kegs charging or the leak is on the keg side of things.

PS: I hate imperial units.

If you are still carbonating and you turn the gas off, it is unlikely (unless it is very nearly carbonated) everything will equalise at 75kpa (ie fully carbonated) by the time the small amount of gas trapped in your regulator is absorbed.

Therefore both gauges will continue to fall to where it is balanced, anywhere down to virtually zero.

 

[mrsupraboy]

Easiest way to check if there is a leak it close all the valves up after the reg and on the reg and see if the pressure rises. Will give u some clue to we're is may be. Mine always happened on bad disconnects /reconnects

 

[mrsupraboy]

Don't turn the reg down on the gas bottle. Leave it. Only the ball valves

 

[Ross]

PERFECTLY NORMAL!!! - Guys, STOP talking about leaks - If you know anything about kegging, then the opening post tells you in clear English there is no leak. If you don't understand kegging, please stop confusing the poor bloke.
MB-Squared - The keg of beer has simply adsorbed a little more CO2 which causes the high pressure gauge to drop to zero. As long as your low pressure gauge is showing pressure YOU DO NOT HAVE A LEAK (sorry to shout).
If your low pressure gauge drops to zero, then yes, you do have a leak.


Cheers Ross.

 

[mb-squared]

LOL, thanks for that Ross. I have queued up 3 experiments to run on the basis of the above posts, but your post tells me it is all normal and to stop being such a worry wort. Thanks!

I'm new to kegging and am a bit freaked out by all the stories of losing a full bottle of CO2 to the atmosphere. So I'll still be keeping a close eye on things, but am very happy to hear what I observed is normal and to be expected.

Cheers,

Matto

 

[real_beer]

PERFECTLY NORMAL!!! - Guys, STOP talking about leaks - If you know anything about kegging, then the opening post tells you in clear English there is no leak. If you don't understand kegging, please stop confusing the poor bloke.
MB-Squared - The keg of beer has simply adsorbed a little more CO2 which causes the high pressure gauge to drop to zero. As long as your low pressure gauge is showing pressure YOU DO NOT HAVE A LEAK (sorry to shout).
If your low pressure gauge drops to zero, then yes, you do have a leak.


Cheers Ross.

I know Ross isn't the normal small LHBS as he ships supplies around the world from his multi-billion dollar brewing supply consortium :lol:, but this post highlights the valuable knowledge available from quality LHBS's and why their worth supporting.

 

[mb-squared]

Thanks to everyone for their advice and help in putting my overly paranoid mind to rest. I did Wiggman's experiment and no change in pressure after 12 hours -- so it must have just been the keg still charging a bit.

Cheers,

matto

 

[TheWiggman]

Yeah sorry I said "leak after the gauge" after basically stating what would happen when there isn't a leak, like Ross said if the pressure remains there is no leak.
Didn't want to edit my post because it would make the post after look a bit silly .
Yes, it would go from anywhere between 0 - 11 psi once absorbed, PCM is right. But you did say your gauge stayed at 11 psi.