Ok my keezer is setup and going
If sanitzed everything and my beer is in the corney keg.
1.) How do I set the CO2 tank? Ive already put teflon on all the fittings and the regulator is on. The gas hose is connected to the manifold and a gas line from the manifold to the keg which is securily seated. Now what?
2.) How do I force carbonate properly?
Let it sit brotha… Go down to Blue Star or Freetail and enjoy a great beer. Give this one a week or two. That’s how I do it. I rarely do the shake method. I have enough beer on tap to let it rest, carb and settle out al on it’s own.
EDIT to add: I keep my whole bar set to 12 psi 24/7. I have no leaks as I won’t stand for them. It takes a good week to really carb up nicely for me…
Set it and forget it is how I roll. Check [u]here[/u] for temps and pressures to hit your desired carb level. Usually 7-10 days for me.
I usually have beer already serving in the lineup so I also apply the set-it and forget-it methodology.
However if you are in a hurry you can set your CO2 pressure to about 30 psi for two days and check the carbonation level at that point. It may need to be tweaked but I have found that pressure and time to work pretty well for most ales and lagers.
There is a relationship between the temperature of the beer and the pressure of CO2 applied. These two components will give you a specific volume of CO2 in your beer. I like to apply 12-14psi at 40F for my American Ales using the set-it and forget-it method.
So you guys turn on the CO2 to the desired setting and leave it on for days? How does the gas escape the corny?
Im thinking I may have a c02 leak somewhere, trying to figure it out. May be the corney keg itself…
[quote]How does the gas escape the corny?
[/quote]
It isn’t supposed to escape unless your tap is open and your glass is collecting beer.
I do have to also say, you are an industrious person…it took me a couple of weeks to put all of my components together, even after taking a couple of months collecting the stuff on Craigslist…and then it still took me a couple more weeks to both brew and buy a commercial craft beer to try it out.
Got pics?
Oh, and last thing, I didn’t use any teflon tape on my gas or beer hose…no leaks. I kind of remember somewhere it saying it was unnecessary. Perhaps I am heading for a leak.
It isn’t supposed to escape unless your tap is open and your glass is collecting beer.
I do have to also say, you are an industrious person…it took me a couple of weeks to put all of my components together, even after taking a couple of months collecting the stuff on Craigslist…and then it still took me a couple more weeks to both brew and buy a commercial craft beer to try it out.
Got pics?
Oh, and last thing, I didn’t use any teflon tape on my gas or beer hose…no leaks. I kind of remember somewhere it saying it was unnecessary. Perhaps I am heading for a leak.
[/quote]
Thanks! I really take that as a compliment. Ive been called a hard worker in the past, but never industrious.Ive been at since 4pm after I got off of work and im tired. Ive taken many pics which will be posted tommorow on my keezer thread.
I solved the leak I could here, it was the gasket on the ball valve. That was a easy fix. I think that solved it and there are not anymore leaks but we shall see.
Got up this morning and looked at the LowPressure gauge and it has dropped over night. Im pretty sure that meens I have a leak somewhere. Time for some more tinkering.
Get or make some leak detector solution. I’ve heard a Star San solution works. You can also make your own with some water and dishwashing liquid. Spray on, look for the bubbles…
The low pressure gauge I know is to set the pressure for my beer, which I know how to do. Is the high pressure gauge simply to tell me how much gas is left in the tank, if so ive already used up my gas because the needles in the red? Damn leak!
going to take some more soapy water to the fittings
Wait. If you are carbonating the beer, the pressure shown on the keg will drop as the gas is absorbed into the liquid. Once it is saturated to the point you want, then it will maintain pressure on the gauge. The first (primary) gauge on the tank will show about the same pressure, depending on the temperature, until the tank is almost empty.
Edit: The first part I just posted assumes that the tank valve was not turned on. If the tank was open and the second gauge is now zero, then your tank is most likely empty and you have a leak.
Here’s some of the best kegging info I’ve run across. I followed these instructions when I started kegging 10 years ago and had great success.
edit for clarity
If your high pressure gauge has dropped to zero, you’re outta gas… Get your tank refilled and start over with leak testing. I suggest Star-San. It foams like crazy at the leak, and you won’t have soapy residue all over your kegging equipment to clean up later. Good luck!
Not at zero yet, but im going to go ahead and refill the tank. I think I solved the leak, its been sitting steady at 13psi for a few hours.
Cheers!
+1
Starsan solution in a spray bottle is the trick. When I setup my four tap kegeator I found all six of my leaks using starsan solution. It took about an hour to find them but it works and you’ll rest easy knowing you are leak free. ;)
I like a two tank approach, that way if one poops out on you, just swap it out and fill the other at your leisure.