CO2 Regulator Advice

[Bigcol49]

Hi,
Doesn’t this regulator come with a CGA320 fitting? I bought one of these a couple of months ago from the US Amazon and realised too late that it won’t fit standard European gas bottles. I don’t know what to do with it now, so I’ve ordered a different one which should fit the gas bottle I have.

Hi!
Would this adapter work?
https://www.co2supermarket.co.uk/cga320-paintball-co2-adapter-for-co2-regulators-p176.html
EDIT: sorry, that wouldn't work.

 

[peebee]

Hi!
Would this adapter work?
https://www.co2supermarket.co.uk/cga320-paintball-co2-adapter-for-co2-regulators-p176.html
EDIT: sorry, that wouldn't work.

Wrong way around. I think I've been guilty of hi-lighting this adapter recently too? It's for CO2 cylinders with CGA320 thread (common amongst the paintballing crowd apparently, but dedicated CO2 tanks with CGA320 thread seem prohibitively expensive) to a "normal" (UK) CO2 regulator (W21.8-14 thread).

I've had a quick look for "the other way around" (CGA320 threaded regulator to "normal" CO2 cylinder with W21.8-14 thread) and couldn't find one. Perhaps they don't exist? Perhaps CGA320 describes a female thread only, and the matching male thread has another designation?

(EDIT: Another designation for the female thread is 830-14 NGO-RH-INT, apparently.)
(EDIT2: I found one device that described US "CGA320" and the common UK "G1/2" (1/2" BSPP, it is 0.825" dia. 14TPI) in the same breath. But I found nothing to confirm the two threads are compatible.)

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @peebee
How are you getting on with the miniature secondary regulators? Can you get a fine enough adjustment?
The price is very competative; I know that they are not "pass-through" but that's easily solved with splitters.

 

[peebee]

Hi @peebee
How are you getting on with the miniature secondary regulators? Can you get a fine enough adjustment?
The price is very competative; I know that they are not "pass-through" but that's easily solved with splitters.

I've been using the Shako NR200 regulator (nearly*) exclusively for a 2 or 3 (or 4?) years now. For a fine increment gauge get the "L2" variant (0-2BAR), but I know someone with the "default" ("L8"?) variant (0.5-8BAR) who is well happy with them although thinks the scale on the gauge is a bit coarse (having a scale that goes to 8BAR). I'll use them down to 2-3PSI but they do start getting a bit dodgy ("sticky") this low down so I switch to these https://gasproducts.co.uk/50-150-mbar-clesse-propane-gas-regulator-brooder.html, which BES stock too. You only want 2PSI or less if you are a "Real-Ale" guzzler.

No, they are not "pass-through" ("terminal" devices if you like) but I've never found using splitters, or manifolds, on the feed ("bus") lines a problem (the primary regulator supplies the bus lines with a fixed 5BAR pressure). The made for purpose ("Pub") regulators are so antiquated by comparison.

* I've got Shako NUR regulators too, but believe me they are pretty kooky and you need to avoid them!

 

[alsacebrew]

Wrong way around. I think I've been guilty of hi-lighting this adapter recently too? It's for CO2 cylinders with CGA320 thread (common amongst the paintballing crowd apparently, but dedicated CO2 tanks with CGA320 thread seem prohibitively expensive) to a "normal" (UK) CO2 regulator (W21.8-14 thread).

I've had a quick look for "the other way around" (CGA320 threaded regulator to "normal" CO2 cylinder with W21.8-14 thread) and couldn't find one. Perhaps they don't exist? Perhaps CGA320 describes a female thread only, and the matching male thread has another designation?

View attachment 17638
(EDIT: Another designation for the female thread is 830-14 NGO-RH-INT, apparently.)
(EDIT2: I found one device that described US "CGA320" and the common UK "G1/2" (1/2" BSPP, it is 0.825" dia. 14TPI) in the same breath. But I found nothing to confirm the two threads are compatible.)

Hello @peebee and @Bigcol49, you are right, that adapter would not work unfortunately, it has a little valve pin in it.
I reckon the best thing would be to take out the existing CGA320 fitting out from the Taprite regulator and replace it with this one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07N1L5VZB/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
But apparently it is very difficult to remove the existing one from the regulator and given my lack of knowledge on pressure regulators, gas bottles etc. I didn’t want to risk it. I know that some HBSs in the UK used to sell taprite regulators with W21.8 fittings that fits UK/European gas bottles and I guess this is what they must have done. I’ve contacted Taprite twice and asked for their advice but haven’t received any replies.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @alsacebrew
I'm not 100% certain, but shouldn't you be looking for a British Standard BS 341 No.8 connector?

 

[alsacebrew]

From what I understand 21.8 and BS341 are compatible. Have a look at this post by @peebee

A bit more …

The full designation for the CO2 cylinder thread is "DIN 477 / JIS M22-14 / BS 341 No. 8 / W21.8-14 / .860" x 1/14" which is basically a list of "compatible" threads. Notice the M22-14: That's 22mm and 14 threads-per-inch … there is no limit to the insanity surrounding this thread! I've used G5/8 (BSPP again, but a rare size) to mate with the thread using a good bit of PTFE tape, but that was for a joint holding no more than 60PSI (I wouldn't try it with 60BAR).

Sorry, couldn't find a local source of W21.8-to-G1/2 adapters.

 

[Petrolhead]

Well had a squint locally for CO2, BOC via work didn’t work out as they were way to expensive, so went with Adams Gas. £55 deposit and £20 for a refill which I thought fair.

 

[Bigcol49]

Well had a squint locally for CO2, BOC via work didn’t work out as they were way to expensive, so went with Adams Gas. £55 deposit and £20 for a refill which I thought fair.

Hi!
That's about average; I paid £45 deposit and £20 per "refill".

 

[Petrolhead]

Well I thought I better give a bit of an update as I have now done my first keg.

The double TapRite regulator was great value I think, I know the Americans rate it, appears well built and the gauges easily allows adjustment to part of a psi. I like the double regulator as I will be able to run two, or four with y pieces, kegs at two different pressures.

On arrival, and as discussed above, I had to deal with the American thread nut but this was a simple case of unscrewing the feed pipe, slipping a uk nut on and refining. Works a treat now.

Everything else has been just great, the outlet from the regulator is 1/4” I think and the inlet on the JG fitting looks like 3/16th. My bit of tube went on the 1/4” like a dream, it appeared loose on the JG fitting so I lapped a bit of ptfe tape and it worked fine. I’ll need to sort this out next but as it stands all is good and if I turn the gas off there is no drop in pressure except a very small amount over a day or so which I guess is the beer absorbing some gas.

Now waiting to try the dispense and also fancy using the keg as an fv, but that’s for another time.

 

[Cyberjip]

Thanks so much for this,

Have been looking for secondarys at a reasonable price and theese seem to fit the bill.

 

[Cyberjip]

Hi!
These are the ones I bought - no problems with them at all.
https://rlbs.ltd.uk/v3002g-secondar...ith-pass-through-wall-mount-with-1-gauge.html

These look great and I'm about to order some.

Quick question, what to you put on the last pass through to keep the system closed

 

[xozzx]

Quick question, what to you put on the last pass through to keep the system closed

https://smile.amazon.co.uk/John-Gue...eywords=john+guest+plug&qid=1582235436&sr=8-5

This is for 10 (and very expensive). I found one for about £4, will see if I can trace the link...

 

[xozzx]

Not where I got it from but only £1 here - https://www.morepour.com/shop?store...Wk2bhNOOu_YE_aSGV01uWK4kOXn-5XmwaAt9YEALw_wcB

Not sure the P&P cost tho

 

[Cyberjip]

Awesome thanks guys

 

[GhostDoggyWoofWoof]

Well I thought I better give a bit of an update as I have now done my first keg.


On arrival, and as discussed above, I had to deal with the American thread nut but this was a simple case of unscrewing the feed pipe, slipping a uk nut on and refining. Works a treat now.


Now waiting to try the dispense and also fancy using the keg as an fv, but that’s for another time.

Where did you get the UK nut, I'm struggling to find one?