Keg filling question please

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Hey guys

So I've not used my kegs at all properly yet - going to keg something at the weekend though, and thought I would check some details with you all. Will be pressure transferring, not syphoning.

Now I know the kegs hold 19L, but is that to the brim, and should I fill to 18L or so? My bathroom scales are useless as they're not 'add & weigh' if you know what I mean; they just turn themselves off after a few seconds.

Even though I have bought check valves for the three gas lines on my kegerator, I still would like a rough idea of when to stop filling. This is part of the reason I didn't want kegs at first, and was happier with clear ones.

I thought about plaato keg thingies but they probably wouldn't fit inside the kegerator.

 

[user 4749]

Kegland do a flow stopper think its about £7 from Aliexpress never used one but it stops kegs being over filled

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Ooh thanks, I didn't know they existed, will take a look.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

AliExpress - https://tinyurl.com/3wzxe7u4
Are these ok?

Edit: found one on an English website.

https://brew-day.co.uk/product/flow-stopper-automatic-keg-filler/

 

[user 4749]

Thats the one may get one myself this is it in operation

 

[Caramel Ox]

I have been thinking about the same problem of not knowing the fill amount. You can get large kitchen scales rated to 15kg, as a guess they would work fine up to 19kg. Would also help with weighing malt.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Many thanks @stuarts - will get one from 'Brew Day' as it'll no doubt arrive quicker.

I guess I'll need some 5/16 reducers as well.

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

I adjusted my brew volumes to about 18.5 L into keg so I never run the risk of over-filling

 

[xozzx]

I normally do closed transfer from SS brewbucket but occassionally do pressure transfer from a snub nose. Whichever I use I have the fermentor on the worktop and keg on the floor, beer out connected fermentor to keg, CO2 connected together and let gravity transfer the beer. If you cold crashed you will see a condensation line move up the keg which gives a good indication, then I stop when beer starts moving up the CO2 line. I disconnect everything then connect a tap to the keg beer out and CO2 to keg inlet and pull off about half a pint to ensure no more beer can come up the CO2 line and into the regulator. Set to serving pressure and leave in the fridge for few weeks/months until I move it to my keezer.

I also cut the CO2 dip tubes so the keg will be filled to the top - the half pint I pulled off.

 

[Tanglefoot]

If you transfer after cold crashing you can see the fill level by the rising line of condensation - not exactly scientific but works for me.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Just watched a video and someone in the comments said if there's no headspace in the keg after filling, you can't carbonate. Is this right?

How high do these flow-stoppers fill to? I'm assuming until the liquid touches the small metal piece that hangs down under the keg post (inside the keg)

I guess I'll find out soon as I've just bought one for £19.90 including delivery. Bit steep but better than waiting for a month with AliExpress.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

If you transfer after cold crashing you can see the fill level by the rising line of condensation - not exactly scientific but works for me.

Great - I'll be able to do that with one of my beers but the one I'm kegging this weekend isn't in a fridge and can't be moved now

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

I adjusted my brew volumes to about 18.5 L into keg so I never run the risk of over-filling

My volumes are hit and miss depending on the amount of hops used. Still need to dial that in.

 

[xozzx]

Just watched a video and someone in the comments said if there's no headspace in the keg after filling, you can't carbonate. Is this right?

It would still carbonate but very slowly. Its only about surface area (assuming you leave the CO2 connected when carbonating) so doesnt matter if you have 100ml or 3L headspace it will still carbonate at the same rate as the surface area at the top of the beer is the same and any CO2 absorbed is immediately replaced from the cylinder.

 

[MrJay83]

+1 for the closed loop transfer after cold crashing.

 

[Branny]

I do closed loop transfer to the brim - ie, it starts to come back up the gas line.

I pre pressurise to 12 psi and have the same serving pressure in the Keg. No idea how much that is beer wise though.

 

[Pennine]

I do the same as above kind of, and leave the prv open and once I see liquid come out I pull off the transfer line. I figure it's completely full then.

 

[DocAnna]

Hi, oh as usual with the medic here .... it depends.

If you transfer after cold crashing you can see the fill level by the rising line of condensation - not exactly scientific but works for me.

For completely closed transfers this is the indication I use, the condensation line is an excellent indicator of the fill, I'll go to a bit over the maximum I can see on the maximum condensation line.

Just watched a video and someone in the comments said if there's no headspace in the keg after filling, you can't carbonate. Is this right?

How high do these flow-stoppers fill to? I'm assuming until the liquid touches the small metal piece that hangs down under the keg post (inside the keg)

I guess I'll find out soon as I've just bought one for £19.90 including delivery. Bit steep but better than waiting for a month with AliExpress.

Nope, no problems carbonating if there's no headspace, in fact it can make force carbonating easier. Theoretically the reduced surface area for absorption of CO2 with no head space could slow carbonation but in practical terms it's not an issue.

For open filling I fill the keg first with CO2 from the beer dip tube, ie bottom up - the grey line pushed and held onto the beer in will do - 30 secs is ample. then fill to the absolute brim. That way oxidation is utterly minimised. This is my preferred way of filling a keg and will fit 20 or more litres in a keg easily. Oxidation is minimised but you do need to make sure when connecting the gas line that it's on a non return and pressurised circuit - which can either be with fancy non return disconnects or a manifold with built in non return.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I don't know if this is right or wrong but, if the beer is above the gas in tube it acts like an air stone when the gas is on

 

[gyurmaember]

I fill it till it comes out on the gas port.