CO2 Transfer

[eager_brewer]

Stupid question but I have 2 small 5lb CO2 tanks that fit in my kegarator great. Both are empty and I have a full 20lb tank. How can I transfer the gas from the 20lbs to the 5lb tanks. If I just get hoses to connect them it will only work until the presure in the tanks is equal. Any help would be great. I can get the 2 tanks filled in a couple of days.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Orfy]

Yes if you can get the hose, they hoses are expensive.
You are using unregulated pressure. I don't know if I'd want to be doing that.

 

[Bytor1100]

Co2 is actually stored as a liquid in the cylinders. The tanks they use to fill tanks from have a dip tubes installed that suck the liquid out, and put it into the tank being filled. Just connecting the 2 tanks would only transfer gas, and the gas probably wouldn't last very long.

 

[Free_Eagle]

You can fill those only if the 20# has a dip tube in it which has 0 chance. When we fill the our CO2 it is filled from a huge tank (obviously) that feeds our lines from the bottom. Though, you could turn the 20# upside down and feed it to the 5# similar to siphoning. But after all is said and done, just bring it to your local guy, or Airgas (who do I work for?!?!) and get them filled, I don't pay for gas but 5# tanks are cheap to fill, should be $15 or less.

 

[Special Hops]

I don't think this is worth it for the reasons mentioned above.

 

[eager_brewer]

Rats! Never as simple as I hoped. Thank you all very much!!

 

[bendavanza]

I wanted to ressurect this thread, as I have a similar setup, a 20lb, a 10lb, a 5lb and a 2.5lb. Obviously by the pound the 20lb is way cheaper to fill. I like to keep the 20 hooked up to my kegerator with a manifold but I use the smaller tanks for things like testing pressure, sanitizing, and going on the road with beer, etc.
kegkits.com sells a "transfill" kit. what say you homebrewers?
CO2 Transfill Kit: www.kegkits.com