Newbie Gas Regulator Question

[richardskinner1984]

Hi,

Newbie here so please be kind So glad ive found the excellent site.
I got given a set up from my girlfirend however when its dispencing my cider is coming out very frothy. on inspecition it looked to me like the regulator must be dodgy so ive bought a new one. only thing is the connections all look different.
as im not 100 % sure, is it possible to just unscrew, ( with a lot of force as they seem solid ) the in let and outlet on the old regulator and somehow fit them to the new one ( swap with current inlet and outlet ) or do I need some sort of adaprter fittings ? First pics are of the old regulator (crushed dial ) and Co2 bottle I have . Second set a pics are off the new Reg.
many thanks in advance anyone that can help,

I tried to get photos in the post but couldnt get it to work.


http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah2 ... bdfc19.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah2 ... 4cbfd3.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah2 ... d41934.jpg

http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah2 ... 562dde.jpg

[kisslikeether]

Hi Richard,

Welcome to the forum!

The regulator you've bought is a primary CO2 regulator. The reason that it doesn't fit is that the gas bottle you have is mixed gas (CO2 and Nitrogen). Mixed gas bottles need a regulator with a different connector, which iswhy you can't put them together.

Mixed gas is usually used for Stouts and some bitters like Boddingtons. I've not heard of it used for ciders, though I'm no expert. You either need to swap the bottle for CO2 only from your gas supplier (my recommended approach given your preference for cider) or get a mixed gas regulator.

Regards,

Martin

[Fil]

+1 mixed gas is generally for stouts and 'smoothflow' beers,

the frothy cider/beer is possibly down to there being too big a change in temp and or pressure at the tap point, serving into a cool/cold clean glass will help, and balancing the serving pressure with either a flow control device or thin restricting 3/16" mirco line. aim for a 1-2psi pressure drop at release and you should avoid too much foam, iirc the thin micro line restricts ar a rough 1 to 2 psi per foot length, most folk seem to start of with about 6ft/2m and chop it down till the balance is reached, i use about 4-5ft on a line that serves at upto 15psi (with co2 not mixed gas) for the higher conditioned beers like ginger beer i brew up. i use flow contrrol taps on the bitter/beer lines as these are served at much less pressure 2-6psi, i find over 8psi back pressure the flow control taps become tricky to set.



hope u didnt crush the dial trying to remove bits??

[richardskinner1984]

Wow, thanks for the replies.

Im getting the gas from my girlfriend who works / lives i the pub. I went down in the cellar and they are using 60/40 mixed gas for all the drinks ( lager, bitter, cider, smoothflow ) etc just running at slight diff pressures.
So I can only get this 60/40 mixed gas as they arent able to get the pure Co2.

So it looks like I need to get a mixed gas regualtor with the right fittings. Can I use any mixed gas regualtor or does it have to be nitrogen specific ?
Would this one work ? says its for Argon mixed, can I use this with Nitrogen ? ( is the fittiing the same ? Looks similar )

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360977026029? ... _392wt_952


Many Thanks

[Fil]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NORGREN-MIXED ... NA:GB:1653

looks good to me i dont know enough about gas and regulators to be definitive, but i think you want a reg that is specific to the gas u use, otherwise why make different gas regulators??

[richardskinner1984]

Hi Fill,
The link you have put on, really confuses me
the cable coming out that I expected to be the inlet has a beer tap on it , so must be the outlet and vice versa. Not sure how that would fit on my Co2/No2 tank. Cheers for looking though

[richardskinner1984]

Can I use a straight Nitrogen Regualtor or does it have to be a mixed Regualtor.

The reason why I ask is that the olny 'mixed' regualtors I see say they are for Argon mix, Ive not seen any for Nitrogen.

This is the argon mix reg on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SWP-Side-Entr ... _392wt_952

here is the straight nitrogen one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nitrogen-Gas- ... _423wt_952

MAny Thanks

[Fil]

Hi Fill,
The link you have put on, really confuses me
the cable coming out that I expected to be the inlet has a beer tap on it , so must be the outlet and vice versa. Not sure how that would fit on my Co2/No2 tank. Cheers for looking though

Thats just the seller playing leggo with bits he has but has no idea about, there is a keg coupler in that mix and some other bits too.. but the reg itself without the bits would have done the job..

http://a1barstuff.co.uk/mixed-gas-prima ... -regulator

[LeeH]

Can I use a straight Nitrogen Regualtor or does it have to be a mixed Regualtor.

The reason why I ask is that the olny 'mixed' regualtors I see say they are for Argon mix, Ive not seen any for Nitrogen.

This is the argon mix reg on ebay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SWP-Side-Entr ... _392wt_952

here is the straight nitrogen one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nitrogen-Gas- ... _423wt_952

MAny Thanks

They are the same, I used an argon reg when I first set up.

You can on only use those if your kegs have pressure relief valves!

[richardskinner1984]

Hi,

Just so im 100% clear, for a 60/40 Mix Bottle ( 60CO2/40N2) I can use an argon mixed regulator as below ? Im really worried about buying another that I can use you see

a;; of the specific ones that just say mixed gas are around £80 which I cant afford.

So this one would be okay ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Argon-Co2-Wel ... _594wt_823

Thanks

[LeeH]

Yes, that's ok if your kegs have pressure relief. If they don't you are risking your life, pressure is a serious killer. Them kegs will take off like rocket.

I set my mixed gas at 30 PSI and carb my stout by leaving it on the gas for a couple of months next to the keg I'm using. So in effect one is always been used while the other is maturing under pressure.

[richardskinner1984]

Hi Lee,

Thanks for the tips.

Ive got a corny keg with homebrew Strawberry cider in that I was trying to carb ( but I dont think its worked as the pressure was too low from old regulator thus why I want to get a new , and I also have an 88 pint keg of strongbow from the wholesalers.

I know the corny keg has a pressure relive valve that I can pull but not sure on the Strongbow keg.

Do you mean I have to release pressure every now and again ( or when Im changing gas etc ) or are you saying the barrells would do it automatically ?

Im a complete newbie so sorry for the daft questions.

Thanks

[LeeH]

It's a safety device that will blow off at a preset value that's all.

Why are you using mixed gas to carb up cider? You would be better off with 100% CO2.

[richardskinner1984]

Hi,

It becuase I can get hold of the Mixed gas for free from myother half who runs a pub.

Thats all they use in the pub for every drink ( Lager / Cider ) etc.

Only differcne is they use 30/70 mix for the stouts.

Thanks

[LeeH]

Ok, you will have to adjust the pressure to just under double to achieve carbonation then.