Keg setup question - do I leave regulator 'open'?

[Victor Churchill]

Hello!
So I got a new SodaStream refill, and connected the beer-gun to the beer out post, the regulator through a stopvalve to the gas in post, and the SS to the regulator. The brew had been self-carbonating in the keg for a couple of weeks - I drew a tester through the beer gun off the keg's own internal pressure and then vented it before connecting up.

I opened the regulator valve and inched the keg side dial up to 20 psi. Drew a half pint which tastes nice but very frothy (but then settles nicely).. If I close the regulator valve down then the kegside pressure dorps right away - I had expected that it would hold the pressure; is it venting to atmosphere? It didn't sound like it was losing a lot.

So question is, what do I do now? Do I shut the reglator and then open it again when I want another pint, or leave it at 'serving pressure'? What is serving pressure anyway? I was thinking probably 10-12 from what I recall reading. Also, I have left the full lenght of 3/16" beer pipe as received from BKT - though I was expecting I might need to trim it. At room temperature (no fridge) this seems to be delivering - is this OK?

Thanks as always for any advice

v

 

[xozzx]

the regulator through a stopvalve to the gas in post

I opened the regulator valve and inched the keg side dial up to 20 psi. Drew a half pint which tastes nice but very frothy (but then settles nicely).. If I close the regulator valve down then the kegside pressure dorps right away - I had expected that it would hold the pressure; is it venting to atmosphere? It didn't sound like it was losing a lot.

When you are reducing the regulator pressure it is bleeding the CO2 down from the outlet to match the pressure. It didnt sound like a lot because you have a stopvalve (I assume a check valve) in the gas line so in reality you are only bleeding down the line upto the checkvalve.

I leave my CO2 set at serving pressure (about 12 psi) but this is at 8C, you will need to play about with the pressure until you get a level of carbonation you like, but remember if you are reducing the pressure you will need to bleed pressure from the keg as the check valve will stop the pressure reducing from the regulator.

Line length is all a balance of foaming and pour speed. I recommend starting with it too long and trimming small amounts until you have a decent pour without excessive foam.

 

[Victor Churchill]

When you are reducing the regulator pressure it is bleeding the CO2 down from the outlet to match the pressure. It didnt sound like a lot because you have a stopvalve (I assume a check valve) in the gas line so in reality you are only bleeding down the line upto the checkvalve.

Aaahhh... gotcha. That makes sense. So the dial drops very quickly but it's not the pressure in the keg, just in the pipe.
(( I guess that means that if I did not have the check valve in place, then turning down the gas at the regulator tap would vent the keg then. Shall try not to do that. ))

I leave my CO2 set at serving pressure (about 12 psi) but this is at 8C, you will need to play about with the pressure until you get a level of carbonation you like, but remember if you are reducing the pressure you will need to bleed pressure from the keg as the check valve will stop the pressure reducing from the regulator.

Yep, I see that. I think I had been a bit concerned about using up the CO2 if the reg was left open. But if everything is connected up soundly I guess that should not happen.

Line length is all a balance of foaming and pour speed. I recommend starting with it too long and trimming small amounts until you have a decent pour without excessive foam.

Yes, I look forward to experimenting

 

[allotment_fox]

if you leave the valve open check for leaks or you could have an empty keg in the morning i serve at 8-10 psi at 12c for low carb beers like bitter but i do turn the valve off overnight just in case of leaks otherwise its the walk of shame to the brew shop for a refill of co2 try and get a fridge it helps with carbonating