How much PSI do you have in a full CO2 tank?

[AmusedBystander]

I filled my tank two weeks ago but I didn't read the meter. I've barely used it since and right now at room temperature I have 900 psi. I'm sure that's close, but I'm curious how much you guys get.

 

[ArcaneXor]

Totally depends on the temperature of the tank. The high pressure gauge doesn't really do anything until you start running close to empty. By the time it starts dropping, I know that I only have about 2-3 batches worth before I need to refill (that's with a 10# tank, stored at Florida room temp, i.e. about 78-82 degrees during summer).

 

[Homercidal]

I usually read about 800 PSI at room temp. About 500ish in the kegerator.

 

[weirdboy]

I don't even look at that gauge. It's somewhere around 700ish I think, but basically it's either "on" or "off" anyway so it's a moot point.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Co2 is measured by weight, no pressure. Pressure will vary with temp. Use a scale to gauge how much you have left.

 

[the_bird]

Yeah, the PSI reading only gives you any kind of useful information once you no longer have any liquid CO2 left. As long as there's liquid in the tank, the pressure will only change with changes in temperature. Once there's no more liquid (all the remaining CO2 is gas), then you'll see changes - quickly! - in the pressure reading. Once there's no more liquid, you're basically on borrowed time.

 

[LVBen]

yeah, the psi reading only gives you any kind of useful information once you no longer have any liquid co2 left. As long as there's liquid in the tank, the pressure will only change with changes in temperature. Once there's no more liquid (all the remaining co2 is gas), then you'll see changes - quickly! - in the pressure reading. Once there's no more liquid, you're basically on borrowed time.

+1

 

[brettwasbtd]

Totally depends on the temperature of the tank. The high pressure gauge doesn't really do anything until you start running close to empty. By the time it starts dropping, I know that I only have about 2-3 batches worth before I need to refill (that's with a 10# tank, stored at Florida room temp, i.e. about 78-82 degrees during summer).

really? Only 2-3 batches on a 10lb tank? That seems low to me

 

[weirdboy]

really? Only 2-3 batches on a 10lb tank? That seems low to me

I agree. 3-4 batches sounds very low to me. I would look for leaks.

 

[LVBen]

really? Only 2-3 batches on a 10lb tank? That seems low to me

He is talking about after the liquid CO2 is depleted.

 

[ArcaneXor]

He is talking about after the liquid CO2 is depleted.

Exactly.

 

[brettwasbtd]

ah....that makes sense haha, my bad

 

[Homercidal]

This last time I managed to notice my needle dropping and got 3-4 days of serving before taking down for a refill. Usually I don't notice until my beer starts pouring slow.

 

[LVBen]

There seems to be a common misunderstanding, so I made this:

 

[riecken]

Yeah, not so sure about this, I overfilled a sodastream bottle with dry ice and it had so much pressure the machine would not depress the pin on the tank....

 

[jseyfert3]

Yeah, not so sure about this, I overfilled a sodastream bottle with dry ice and it had so much pressure the machine would not depress the pin on the tank....

This is totally true for a CO2 tank filled to normal max fill, which is liquid up to 80% of the volume of the tank to allow the liquid to expand with temp changes. In this case, from this fill level to the point there is no liquid, the pressure varies only by temperature of the tank.

Overfilling the tank, or adding other gases to the mix like nitrogen and oxygen as filling a bottle with dry ice will do, and all bets are off. You can end up with very high pressure or exploded bottle.