Carbing with a fire extinguisher

[TacoGuthrie]

Can you share that information with us so others who read the thread will know what you found out?

Sure. After reading GNBrews post in this thread warning about the presence of a siphon tube in the extinguisher I did some reading online. Some googling led me to this post (http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/do-co2-extinguisher-have-a?commentId=889755%3AComment%3A4688575) that did a good job explaining it to me. Here it is with the highlighted parts:

co2 fire extinguishers do have a siphon tube . they were right about the fact it works on presure to push out the liquid which when it comes out of the hose or horn then turns to a gas. the co2 extrg. when released from the container expandes 500 its time size. the temperature of the co2 or carbon dioxide when it comes out is 109 degrees below 0 . the way to find out about the siphon tube is simple first hold in the normal position and start to set it off you will take note how it operates properly . now invert the extinguisher and set off you will note it only pushes out gas if you held it in that position long enough you will be able to see the extrg. turn frosty the reason is the gas has been bleed off and liquid has turned to a solid if you let it stand for a while it will reconvert to a liquid and can be set off in the normal operation . a co2 tank for a tap system has no siphon tube because if it had a tube it would feed liquid co2 into the regulator and possibly ruin the regulator plus the regulator only requires about 10 psi. to feed into the keg . i own my own fire extrg business for 30 years i worked for a co.for 7 years and was service manager and i also ran the fire extrg shop in the military . you can also see a picture of this in the nfpa 10 manual . i don't know were the other guys received ther info but they are wrong . take it from a guy with 39 years experience .

Basically I learned the fire extinguishers have a dip tube so they push out the liquid that sits at the bottom of the tank instead of the gas. A CO2 cylinder for a kegging system does not have that dip tube so it just pulls the gas from teh top of the cylinder.

Yes, I probably could've turned it upside down and used duct tape etc etc to make it work but I didn't want to risk it. In the end I paid a little more for my 'food grade CO2' and I leased a bigger tank for a year but no biggie. Over the next 12 mos i will get my hands on a cheap 5 lber and find a place to get it filled locally, which will be the bigger challenge.

What i need to find out is if there is a difference between food grade CO2 and the stuff that goes into fire extinguishers. If there is no difference I can probably get the tank filled locally w/out shipping it off.

 

[Koz]

I have been to British Columbia and had draft beer. Go to a local bar and ask them where they get thier tanks.

This is the most hilarious thread on the whole forum.

 

[acefaser]

Thread of the year! Thanks I just spit half my beer out reading this thread because I was laughing so hard.

 

[TacoGuthrie]

I have been to British Columbia and had draft beer. Go to a local bar and ask them where they get thier tanks.

This is the most hilarious thread on the whole forum.

I know where they get their tanks filled - 1000 miles away. That isn't the issue. The issue was buying and/or getting a 5lb tank filled.

 

[TacoGuthrie]

I suppose this is the best update I could give in here:

 

[djsethall]

Good job mang. Can anyone get my wife to listen?

 

[GNBrews]

Excellent work, Taco. You're absolutely right, there's no percentage in screwing around with some hacked-together solution that could potentially destroy your regulator and/or cause you harm.

The CO2 that the fire extinguisher place or a welding supply outfit fills their tank with is the same "food grade" gas that a beverage supply company will sell you. Welders are just as concerned about impurities in the gas as you are. So, no worries.

 

[boo boo]

The CO2 that the fire extinguisher place or a welding supply outfit fills their tank with is the same "food grade" gas that a beverage supply company will sell you. Welders are just as concerned about impurities in the gas as you are. So, no worries.

Exactly, the only real difference is medical grade CO2 which you aren't going to get without a licience.
I get mine filled at my local fire extinguisher refill place and have never had any problem with it, problem with it, problem with it, problem with it.

 

[Jeepninja]

After doing a little work in the shop I agree. The presence of a dip tube makes dispensing co2 from a fire extinguisher a huge PITA:

You either need to remove the dip tube or find a way to turn this upside down and have it mounted securely. Both of those things are entirely possible though. Considering the extinguisher is full the removal of the dip tube can't be done at this time. A custom mounting bracket to hold the entire setup upside down wouldn't be rocket science though.

But because there is a dip tube installed what can be easily done is to use the extinguisher as a fill station for other tanks. This way the co2 is offloaded into a tank for use. This is exactly how small paintball tanks are filled from bulk tanks. I got a full 20oz (1.25lb) fill from the extinguisher using this setup:

Given that some co2 is lost during the fill cycle you won't be able to get the full 5lbs out. But probably at least 4lbs or more.

 

[DarkStarNJ]

Wow crazy thread.

The only dangerous advice or ideas in here are the ones suggesting manipulateing the valve. Do not remove it or replace it unless you really know what you are doing. That is where people can and do get hurt.

The best idea is the one directly above. Use the dip tube tank to fill a smaller tank (With proper hookups) and your gold.

Doh just realized how old this thread is. Sorry for the necro

 

[Lewis Brand]

Yes you can use a CO2 fire extinguisher as beer gas, no problem, as long as you do this
1. DO NOT tamper with the extinguisher valve in any way, they are pressurized to 170 to 200 Bar.
2. You MUST use it upside down for this purpose, there is indeed a dip tube that ( when upright) will pump liquid CO2 rather than gas through the valve. After connecting the regulator and building some kind of frame to hold the assembly safely in an upside down position, then clamp the handles closed.
3. There is no such thing as 'food grade CO2' it is all the same.l know, i sell the things and have friends who work for Air Products and BOC, so CO2 from a fire extinguisher is as pure as any other source.
Hope that helps. Do bear in mind that the connection between the extinguisher and the regulator is at extreme pressure, so a proper and suitable connection capable of handling that pressure needs to be made
Happy brewing

 

[william_shakes_beer]

In my region most home brewers lease a tank for a one time fee and do an exchange. I bring in my empty and swap it out for a full one. I have a 10#tank (because it would fit in my kegerator and, ya know, bigger is always better) I paid a " deposit" of $50 for the tank and about $15 for the fill. When I get it refilled, I just swap tanks. The lease makes sense because every 10 years a tank needs to be pressure tested and recertified. If you "owned" the tank that cost would be yours. If you " lease it the cost is in the refill shop. I spoke to the tech at the air gas distributor, he said some tanks had been in service for 50 years or more. If it passes pressure test, they recert, refill and put it back on the floor. Once you have your tank, you can swap it anywhere they do cylinder exchanges. The only drawback is the tanks are usually steel, usually very rusty and not something that looks "pretty" that's why I hide mine in the keezer.