couple more quick questions for a new kegger

[dontman]

Which absorbs gas quicker a keg that has less beer in or a fuller keg? It would make sense to me that a keg with more headspace = more gas in the keg = quicker absorption but with the co2 tank connected at pressure does it matter?

I have a dual gauge regulator for my two kegs. (3 dials total) I am curious what I am reading when I look at the gauges. Last night I charged one of the kegs with 30 lbs of pressure. I then turned the dial back a little. I am wondering how I can tell what pressure it is set to. The gauge is still reading 25 lbs today so I can assume the other 5 lbs got absorbed. Now I want to set it to 13 lbs and leave it for a week or so. Does this question even make sense.

Edit: Another question. Does the beer in the 5' foot of hose stay pressurized? I am using Picnic taps so the entire hose and tap stays in the fridge. Should I discard the first few ounces of beer each day that I use the keg? This could add up for a one beer a day drinker like me.

 

[Bobby_M]

Lesser filled kegs do carb faster but it's not because of the increased gas in the headspace. It's because there is less beer to carb. The absorption rate is fixed so more beer means more time. The surface area between the gas and beer has more affect.

In order to reset the pressure lower, disconnect the gas, pull the pressure release on the keg, set your new pressure on the reg, reconnect the gas to the keg.

 

[dontman]

Thanks Bobby,

You answered my questions.

There are reasons for my asking. One primary reason I invested in this kegging system is the mini-keg system I invested in has not worked out at all. With those I have two choices flat or flat with lots of foam.

What I did with my new kegs is tap two 5 l minis into a keg. This beer was fairly carbed going into the keg and given the fact that the two minis have been kegged for 3 months I figure some force carbing is in order and I can be enjoying my new keg system sooner.

 

[david_42]

Since the beer is 3 months old and previously carbonated, you don't need to wait.

PS: I hate 5L mini-kegs!

 

[dontman]

Since the beer is 3 months old and previously carbonated, you don't need to wait.

PS: I hate 5L mini-kegs!

Yeah imagine my horror when I filled 12 of the suckers and then realized that they did not carbonate or dispense properly.

I still have 7 full ones left but I am going to dispense them all into real kegs and then charge and dispense them properly.