keg coupler doesn't have a pressure release valve

[Phenz]

hi,

i recently got my hands on a cheap sankey 20l keg and a cheap coupler to go with it.

currently looking at all the bits and pieces that i need to go with, but as i'm moving from a corney set up i'm a little unsure of how to effectively release the pressure inside the keg without spraying beer everywhere.

the coupler that i got doesn't have the pressure release valve that i see on all the others. its not that its 'missing' like there is a hole where it should be. it just doesn't have one.

is there an easy way i can de-pressurise my keg should i want to?

 

[ManseMasher]

If you can, take a picture and upload it - might be able to help a bit if we can see what you've got at the moment. Many sankey fittings don't have pressure relief valves, they lock onto the keg, and have a handle that you press down until it clicks in place. This in turn presses down on the valve in the keg, allowing gas in/beer out. If your keg has this arrangement, the only way to de-pressurise the barrel is via this valve in the keg.

 

[Kyle_T]

Some will have PRV's and some won't, all you need to do is block off the beer out line and partially unscrew the gas NRV, twist into place and gentle depress the lever so the valve slowly opens. As the flow of pressure slows just push it on a little more until all pressure is released.

Job done.

 

[Phenz]

ill take a photo when i get home.

the only pressure release is on the keg - to press the middle.

but as the siphon tube reaches the bottom of the keg, the only way i can see to vent co2 from the top of the keg is to find a way to 'confuse the coupling'.

either manage to get gas out of the gas in line. or to stop beer coming out as i try and open the keg. (which sounds dangerous).

as my coupler doesn't have a pin.

where the yellow pin is, its just solid smooth forged body.

I heard there is a 5p trick to block the flow or something, but it bears experimentation and i'm yet to open my keg. i got home late last night and it was a little loud when i started trying to unscrew the connector with my trusty hammer and socket spanner.

 

[Dads_Ale]

You could fit a T in the gas line with a separate ball valve. This would allow you to release gas in a controlled manner (obviously you would need the gas feed to be blanked off or connected to the regulator with the gas shut off).
If you are using 3/8 JG fittings then it should be easy to get the bits you need.

 

[Kyle_T]

Why are you all doing it the hard way, just block off the beer out line and unscrew the gas NRV, slowly press the lever and the gas will escape.

It's that easy. You don't need T-pieces or valves or anything else.

 

[Phenz]

I'm pretty sure there is a check valve in the 'gas in' side to stop gas coming out of it when pressurised. if this isn't the case, then its fairly straight forward how to vent the gas.

i'm yet to hook it up as i need to go shopping for all the right connectors tomorrow.

just going to get a 1/2 bsp to 1/4 bsp reducer and take the feeds off my corny connects.

then go shopping online for a cheap reasonable way to connect both at the same time, with different pressures...

 

[Kyle_T]

Just block off the beer out line and unscrew the gas NRV

I can't make it much clearer than that.