King Keg, now the Schrader leaks, so fitted a Strain Gauge.

[Sandozer]

First time use of the schrader today, a 12gm bulb, and bicycle inflator adaptor, as soon as the gas went in, the schrader valve failed to seal and leaked most of gas before I could get the cap back on the valve. Obviously now need a new valve core, or is ice going to be an inherent problem on the gas sealing? ?
Fortunately I have been evaluating fitting a strain gauge to the pressure cap. I have it fitted as a lash up right now, the concept is a go, looks to be pretty accurate too. I can pretty it up after this brew. Don`t need to use the schrader valve again in this instance thank goodness.
So its back to the 8gm bulbs Meanwhile. . . . the beer is excellent !!

 

[Buffers brewery]

First time use of the schrader today, a 12gm bulb, and bicycle inflator adaptor, as soon as the gas went in, the schrader valve failed to seal and leaked most of gas before I could get the cap back on the valve. Obviously now need a new valve core, or is ice going to be an inherent problem on the gas sealing? ?
Fortunately I have been evaluating fitting a strain gauge to the pressure cap. I have it fitted as a lash up right now, the concept is a go, looks to be pretty accurate too. I can pretty it up after this brew. Don`t need to use the schrader valve again in this instance thank goodness.
So its back to the 8gm bulbs Meanwhile. . . . the beer is excellent !!

Oh dear! Have you used the Schrader valves for pressure testing before using the bicycle tyre inflator? When I first used my Schrader valves, all 4 of them leaked.....until I realised the valve core hadn’t been fully tightened . As soon as I put a bit of torque on the valve core, all sealed

 

[Sandozer]

Oh dear! Have you used the Schrader valves for pressure testing before using the bicycle tyre inflator? When I first used my Schrader valves, all 4 of them leaked.....until I realised the valve core hadn’t been fully tightened . As soon as I put a bit of torque on the valve core, all sealed

Yes had used a tyre inflator on it to test for other leaks ! I have ordered some replacement valve cores and the tool to tighten, that may well fix for now. What worries me is the valve likely to jam again when co2 goes through, as it freezes. On a positive note I can read keg pressure on strain gauge output.

 

[Buffers brewery]

OK. Thanks for sharing your experience as I’m going to be trying out my Schrader valves with a S30 cylinder soon (I hope). I’ll see if they stick like yours...hope not!

 

[Buffers brewery]

Just tried my latest gadget out. Works fine with no sign of freezing the Schrader valve.

 

[Sandozer]

Fantastic, but what is it !!!

 

[Sandozer]

Just tried my latest gadget out. Works fine with no sign of freezing the Schrader valve.
View attachment 25634

Its ok , found your original post on this..

 

[Buffers brewery]

Fantastic, but what is it !!!

 

[BridgeBrew]

Just tried my latest gadget out. Works fine with no sign of freezing the Schrader valve.
View attachment 25634

Hi Buffer. What sort of CO2 bottle are you using with this ?

 

[Buffers brewery]

Hi Buffer. What sort of CO2 bottle are you using with this ?

S30 Brewgas. See my thread "S30 Brewgas to Schrader valve adapter anybody". Cheers

 

[Sandozer]

Saga of my leaking valve over, fitted new schrader core today, no leaks and can read pressure again on the gauge. Liking the strain gauge solution

though, just got to beautify it now .

 

[kelper]

One Schrader valve leaked but that was due to my sterilising the PB cap with chlorine and the brass corroded. I replaced it with a stainless steel one from eBay.

 

[Buffers brewery]

Saga of my leaking valve over, fitted new schrader core today, no leaks and can read pressure again on the gauge. Liking the strain gauge solutionView attachment 25785 though, just got to beautify it now .

Just out of interest, what's your strain gauge set up? Have you stuck a linear gauge to the cap? Wheatstone bridge configuration? Low voltage DC or AC?

 

[Sandozer]

Just out of interest, what's your strain gauge set up? Have you stuck a linear gauge to the cap? Wheatstone bridge configuration? Low voltage DC or AC?

It is as simple as can be, a strain gauge with op amps integrated on one pcb from Aliexpress . Single sensor in a wheatstone bridge circuit. Just super glued the strain gauge on the radial of the keg cap for maximum change in voltage out. The whole thing mounted on an aluminium plate and the strain gauge sensor on a plug. Between 0 psi and 11 psi, it gives a delta of .8 Volts. Runs of a single 18650 Lion battery, I have it switched but it runs continuously for 3 to 4 days, with a 9ma consumption. I now need to fit an LCD voltmeter.