CO2 bottle filling at home

[LD-Ordie]

I have 2 outfits locally that I can fill my CO2 bottles. As in within 100 miles. One outfit will refill your bottles, which for my new aluminum ones I prefer. The other is a welding supply which will only exchange. The one that will refill has been out since last November and has no idea when he will get a supply. So I do have a 50 lb bottle I use along with a 20 and 2 10's for inside my kegerator. So does any one offer the fittings to fill my smaller bottles from my 50? My local 2 suppliers do not have a clue. Thanks!

 

[NewJersey]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174298742907
This isn't the exact one I use, but it's very similar. Maybe nicer even.
I fill 3 5lbs tanks that I use for a variety of things brewing from a 100lbs tank.
Works GREAT

 

[bracconiere]

i'm not sure but @day_trippr said he uses a 'siphon tank' to fill tanks?

 

[Joeywhat]

As far as I'm aware you can only fill a tank using a siphon tank. The Co2 is liquid so if you don't have a siphon you're just filling your tank with CO2 gas, which won't amount to much.

 

[bracconiere]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174298742907
This isn't the exact one I use, but it's very similar. Maybe nicer even.
I fill 3 5lbs tanks that I use for a variety of things brewing from a 100lbs tank.
Works GREAT

should be pointed out your 100lb'er is upside down.....

 

[Dr_Jeff]

It helps if the receiving bottle is cold too. I stick them in the freezer for 15-20 minutes prior to filling.

BTW- be very careful, you are dealing with liquid co2 at unregulated pressures. Liquid co2 will burn you.

 

[NewJersey]

should be pointed out your 100lb'er is upside down.....

Yes, it doesn't have a diptube and this was easy enough to rig together with scrap.

 

[bracconiere]

Yes, it doesn't have a diptube and this was easy enough to rig together with scrap.

and harnesses and such!

 

[NewJersey]

and harnesses and such!

Yeah. What's funny?

 

[bracconiere]

Yeah. What's funny?

LOL, ...

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I did indeed finally invest in a 20# siphon tank and it is the bomb! I have three 5 pounders which are a ridiculous way to deal with CO2 but the 20# siphon tank is the leveler: it's up in the "cheap to fill" zone, and partially filling the 5 pounders takes only a couple of minutes whenever needed...

Cheers!

 

[NewJersey]

LOL, ...

Care to elaborate or are you just gonna troll me?

 

[bracconiere]

i'm not troll damn it! and they say a picture says a thousand words....

i'd definitely call that sketchy....

 

[day_trippr]

Yeah, if it works without becoming a Nike missile, it's all good...

Cheers! (But I'll stick to my siphon tank )

 

[LD-Ordie]

Thanks to all, it's greatly appreciated!! Probably going to look into the siphon system. While in high school, I saw a student remove the guard before securing the tank, lost his grip and it fell snapping the upper portion off. It did turn into a torpedo taking out everything in it's path, thru a cinder block wall then out in a field. A miracle no one was hurt. Got a lot of respect for those things!!

 

[NewJersey]

i'm not troll damn it! and they say a picture says a thousand words....

View attachment 722955

i'd definitely call that sketchy....

Call it whatever you want, I guess. It's stable and I fill smaller tanks from it without issue.

 

[IslandLizard]

It's stable and I fill smaller tanks from it without issue.

What do you have it strapped to? The image sends a message of a very precarious balance...

Also, can you shine a light on your re-filling workflow? I don't see a purge valve on the siphon tube hose.
Do you get your small tanks hydro tested regularly?

I can't be the only one who is more than just curious.

 

[LD-Ordie]

It's my understanding that co2 bottles draw off the bottom as the liquid is heavier than the gas. So what's the purpose of inverting the larger bottle? Do some bottles not have a siphon tube installed? Amazon also has a a few transfer kits available. Exploring all the options. I exchanged my 50 lb tank the other day for $28. Seems like my last 20lb wasn't much difference. Those larger tanks are stupid expensive, lucky I got mine on a trade

 

[Joeywhat]

It's my understanding that co2 bottles draw off the bottom as the liquid is heavier than the gas. So what's the purpose of inverting the larger bottle? Do some bottles not have a siphon tube installed? Amazon also has a a few transfer kits available. Exploring all the options. I exchanged my 50 lb tank the other day for $28. Seems like my last 20lb wasn't much difference. Those larger tanks are stupid expensive, lucky I got mine on a trade

Fill tanks have siphon tubes so they can dispense liquid CO2. Serving tanks do not so they can dispense gaseous CO2. Some tanks can be turned upside down to dispense liquid, although I've heard that not all valves support this, so do your research before attempting.

 

[LD-Ordie]

Gotta lot to learn here....... New to using a 50lb bottle, as in last week. how does one know if it has a siphon tube or not? Just finished hooking it up to a keg to carbonate, is there a chance I ruined my beer by injecting it with fluid instead of gas?

 

[bracconiere]

New to using a 50lb bottle, as in last week. how does one know if it has a siphon tube or not?

i'd crack the valve without a regulator? if it spits liquid it's a siphon tank, if gas then it's not...think that would be safe?

when i was swapping a tank once, i asked if it was empty or not. the guy just turned it upside down, and opened it up. told me yeah, once the liquid is gone it's pretty much a goner....

 

[LD-Ordie]

Going to try that, also will ask the welding supply outfit if they have options. Not real keen on flipping a big tank upside down

 

[Joeywhat]

Just make sure everything (including your hands) is clear of the valve when you crack it open. Just give it a quick on and off, once it's out of the valve it converts to gas pretty quick so small amounts won't hurt your floor by the time it gets there.

 

[bracconiere]

Not real keen on flipping a big tank upside down

rightfully so...

only with more 'water' and 750-1000 psi....and weighing 50 lbs......lol

 

[Jim R]

This makes a lot of sense to "jerry-rig" a home propane transfer system (with upside down propane tanks) to save having to buy or refill a relatively inexpensive extra tank. It is hard to imagine anything that go wrong here that would put the family and house at any risk. I should maybe even have my home insurance agent and inspector come over and take a look.

 

[bracconiere]

This makes a lot of sense to "jerry-rig" a home propane transfer system (with upside down propane tanks) to save having to buy or refill a relatively inexpensive extra tank. It is hard to imagine anything that go wrong here that would put the family and house at any risk. I should maybe even have my home insurance agent and inspector come over and take a look.

it's not about the destination, it's about the journey!

 

[szap]

I have been filling tanks at home for several years. I bought a 20 lb tank and had a siphon installed. I don't remember what adding the siphon cost, but my local gas supply place installed it. I started filling paintball tanks that I use for portable use. I then purchased the hose setup in the picture and started filling my 5 lb tank. (You will only get a partial fill with this method but I can probably get 3 pounds in a 5 lb tank). A couple points: without a siphon, the supply tank has to be turned upside down or all you will be transferring is gas. The tank being filled really does need to spend several hours in a freezer and then do the transfer when it is cold. Otherwise when the liquid co2 hits the warm temperatures in the tank being filled, it will immediately turn to gas and stop the refill. Also if the tank being filled does not have a siphon, it works best to tip it upside down so it fills from the bottom. I don't believe slightly opening the valve will tell you if there is a siphon installed or not as everything that will be released will immediately turn to gas.

 

[NewJersey]

Lots of negativity in here, lol

 

[szap]

This makes a lot of sense to "jerry-rig" a home propane transfer system (with upside down propane tanks) to save having to buy or refill a relatively inexpensive extra tank. It is hard to imagine anything that go wrong here that would put the family and house at any risk. I should maybe even have my home insurance agent and inspector come over and take a look.

It's about co2 tanks.

 

[vandalay]

i'm not troll damn it! and they say a picture says a thousand words....

View attachment 722955

i'd definitely call that sketchy....

this is an easy way. I use the same system. A 2kg co2 tube without dip tube for refilling my paintball tanks