Sodastream gas for serving

[BackToBasics]

Morning all,

I've got a big birthday coming up and I'll be providing my own beer for the party. Probably 3 or 4 kegs depending on how much brewing I can get done between now and then.

I've been thinking about the logistic and I'm not keen on lugging about my gas canister about so I've ordered a sodastream adapter for my regulator. I'll be carbonating at home off my main canister and just using the sodastream gas to maintain serving pressure once transported. Any one any idea how many sodastream canisters I'll need? The optimist in me thinks 2 will be plenty but honestly I've no idea.

 

[Tanglefoot]

Bear in mind that fitting a soda stream bottle to your regulator can be a steep learning curve.
I lost about half a bottle the first time I tried, make sure the regulator is fully turned off and wear a pair of gloves else you'll end up with frozen hands.
When you tighten the bottle, turn it till you hear a hiss of gas then one more turn should be enough, best using a pair of spanners.
Hope that helps you avoid the all the cussing and swearing I did !

 

[obscure]

Bear in mind that fitting a soda stream bottle to your regulator can be a steep learning curve.
I lost about half a bottle the first time I tried, make sure the regulator is fully turned off and wear a pair of gloves else you'll end up with frozen hands.
When you tighten the bottle, turn it till you hear a hiss of gas then one more turn should be enough, best using a pair of spanners.
Hope that helps you avoid the all the cussing and swearing I did !

I still get a tad nervous every time I change out the cylinder. But in all honesty two is probably enough, I use 9.5L corny kegs and typically can dispense 6-7 of these per cylinder (so I would have thought that two would do four full sized kegs fairly comfortably though nothing worse than running out if gas so maybe an extra to be on the safe side.

 

[gyurmaember]

Have a look at Adams gas, they have small bottles as well, if you have such a party often, it's worth the investment. And you can use the same regulator.

 

[ppsmith]

If the beer is already carbed, then I think dispensing is just a matter of having enough CO2 to displace the beer in the kegs, right?

Sticking some figures into this: Ideal Gas Law Calculator

76 litres of gas to displace the beer, at 15psi and 8°C (guessing on those two) is 3.36242 moles of CO2
CO2 is 44g/mole, so that's 147g needed to dispense.

IIRC a Sodastream cylinder holds about 500g, so one should be more than enough

 

[BackToBasics]

Cheers all.

I've ordered 2 bottles and will make sure I can fit it well before the day so I can order more if it doesn't go well. The adaptor I've bought is the "deluxe" one from the malt miller which has a pin to make things easier. No idea what the pin does to achieve this - I just took the claim at face value.

 

[xozzx]

I use sodastream bottles quite a lot as they are really convenient and no need to pull my big cylinder out from behind the keezer. I bought a refill adapter and have a second CO2 cylinder in the garage that I use to refill the sodastream bottles. This means I have the convenience of the smaller bottles without the added expense, I also use the sodastream quite a lot so it saves me having to pay for the refills for this too.

 

[chillipickle]

If you are carrying 3 or 4 kegs, why even worry about a gas bottle.Just take your co2 bottle, can you imagine if the sodastream bottle kicks mid evening eh !!! epic fail of good beer :)

 

[itry]

Morning all,

I've got a big birthday coming up and I'll be providing my own beer for the party. Probably 3 or 4 kegs depending on how much brewing I can get done between now and then.

I've been thinking about the logistic and I'm not keen on lugging about my gas canister about so I've ordered a sodastream adapter for my regulator. I'll be carbonating at home off my main canister and just using the sodastream gas to maintain serving pressure once transported. Any one any idea how many sodastream canisters I'll need? The optimist in me thinks 2 will be plenty but honestly I've no idea.

Soda stream is good for 60l of carbed water. Id just take the big gas bottle. Why spend more money and why chance running out.
Temp plays. Part in this also dont forget. Warmer it gets the fizzyer it becomes

 

[thegrantickle]

I use soda streams for dispensing. About 1/2 a canister will dispense 1x 19L corny.

Regarding connection to adaptor - you will find there is a washer with it. If it is the soft type (usually black) place it on the end of the cylinder before connection, rather than in the adaptor as if you do the latter it will freeze as the CO2 starts to flow and will not seal. If it is a more rigid washer (usually white) you're fine to put it straight in to the adaptor.

Hope this helps and happy bday

 

[Mash Monster]

I use sodastream bottles quite a lot as they are really convenient and no need to pull my big cylinder out from behind the keezer. I bought a refill adapter and have a second CO2 cylinder in the garage that I use to refill the sodastream bottles. This means I have the convenience of the smaller bottles without the added expense, I also use the sodastream quite a lot so it saves me having to pay for the refills for this too.

Hi what refill adapter are you using ? I’ve been looking to get one but can’t make up my mind

 

[xozzx]

I bought a cheap one off amazon but it didnt last long before it leaked and it always made me very nervous. I replaced it with one from CO2Supermarket - LINK which so far has been great. I would spend the extra money on a good one, especially if you plan to use it a lot.

 

[Mash Monster]

Thanks for the info

 

[Mash Monster]

I’ve just checked my gas cylinders from Adams Gas and they appear to have
RPV ‘s, Residual Pressure Valves fitted.
Has anyone successfully refilled a soda-stream bottle from a cylinder that has a RPV ?

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Don't some sodastream cylinders have rpv as well? Have a look at the kegland video showing sodastream filling howto.

 

[Mash Monster]

Thanks yes I’ve seen that but Kegland valves are easily removed with a 5mm hex key.The ones I have you need a special tool to remove plus trawling the tinterweb it would appear that their removal is an absolute NO NO. Hence my Original question

 

[UKSkydiver]

I’ve just checked my gas cylinders from Adams Gas and they appear to have
RPV ‘s, Residual Pressure Valves fitted.
Has anyone successfully refilled a soda-stream bottle from a cylinder that has a RPV ?

Yes - although I wouldn't say "filled". My last three efforts added 140g, 180g and 240g. I put the SS in the freezer before refilling.

In theory the RPV stops any CO2 coming out (I think) unless there is an opposing 'bit' to push it in. But my cylinder allows CO2 out, so either it's faulty, or too loose or something.

Also take a look at this: www.reddit.com/r/SodaStream/comments/gsrvg1/refilling_sodastream_donor_cylinder_residual/

 

[Mash Monster]

Many thanks I’ll check mine out

 

[UKSkydiver]

I'd be interested to know if, with the RPV, opening the valve allows any CO2 out. Thanks

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Watch this video if you haven't seen it



from about 4 min 55 they talk about the valve in the Sodastream canisters. Might be useful info re your normal cylinder.