How to know when keg is full when doing closed transfer?

[Rob2010SS]

When I first started kegging, I was never taking into account the losses from trub and what not, so I was always shy of filling a keg full. I'd only get like 4.5 gallons out of each batch. I then adjusted my batch sizes so that I get 6 gallons in the fermenter so that I can fill kegs completely.

Now my problem is that I don't know how to tell when a keg is full when doing closed transfers, because I can't see the level of the liquid. The last one I did, I ended up opening the top to watch the level, which defeats the purpose of doing a closed transfer.

Any solutions to this?

 

[day_trippr]

I use a digital scale...

Cheers!

 

[Smellyglove]

I just fill it up until the gas-out-hose is filled with liquid, then disconnect.

 

[Rob2010SS]

I use a digital scale...

Cheers!

Can you elaborate a bit? Not sure what you mean...

 

[kevink]

Leave the pressure relief valve opened. When beer squirts out, it's full.

 

[Rob2010SS]

I just fill it up until the gas-out-hose is filled with liquid, then disconnect.

So the hose you have on the other post to relieve the pressure, you fill until that has liquid coming out?

 

[Rob2010SS]

Leave the pressure relief valve opened. When beer squirts out, it's full.

I thought with kegging, you weren't suppose to let the liquid touch the point where the CO2 comes in? It's possible I misinterpreted something I read at some point which made me think that, but I guess that's why I was paranoid. I thought you weren't supposed to let it get that high...?

 

[mabrungard]

I now use closed transfers for all my kegging. The kegs are always filled with sanitizer and drained via CO2 fill. I do invert the keg when its drained and slightly crack the lid to enable all the sanitizer to drain out of the keg. To fill, I'm filling via the OUT port and I open the keg's relief valve. Since my keg is completely purged of air with my CO2 flush, I don't really care how full my keg actually is. Of course, when there's beer coming out of the relief valve, its pretty full and its probably time to stop filling.

 

[Smellyglove]

I now use closed transfers for all my kegging. The kegs are always filled with sanitizer and drained via CO2 fill. I do invert the keg when its drained and slightly crack the lid to enable all the sanitizer to drain out of the keg. To fill, I'm filling via the OUT port and I open the keg's relief valve. Since my keg is completely purged of air with my CO2 flush, I don't really care how full my keg actually is. Of course, when there's beer coming out of the relief valve, its pretty full and its probably time to stop filling.

You can pop the PRV while holding the keg upside down to get out most of the liquid sanitizer instead of cracking the lid open.

 

[Smellyglove]

So the hose you have on the other post to relieve the pressure, you fill until that has liquid coming out?

The hose connected to the gas-post is going back into the fermentor again, where the airlock used to sit during fermentation. I have cut my gas-diptubes very short, they're basically just holding the gasket in place for the post. So when I see beer getting into the hose I know I couldn't be happier when it comes to volume into the keg.

 

[kevink]

You can pop the PRV while holding the keg upside down to get out most of the liquid sanitizer instead of cracking the lid open.

Most pressure relief valves hang down about 1/2" from the underside of the lid, so no, this will not get it out. You already cut your gas dip tubes short. Use them to get the last bit of liquid out.

 

[Rob2010SS]

Thanks for the info, this helps.

 

[day_trippr]

Can you elaborate a bit? Not sure what you mean...

After I've completed the keg purging I weigh the empty keg. Then I use @kaljade's Keg Volume Calculator described in his post here to figure out what exactly five gallons in the keg should weigh, and simply fill to that target...

Cheers!

 

[schematix]

Scales are a pretty good way to go if you have the tare weight and KNOW the full weight of the keg. I've seen both vary by about a pound. They are also expensive to get good accuracy at ~50lbs. Newer digital bathroom scales can work in a pinch.

Easiest way IMHO is to cut the gas tip tubes short. When doing a closed loop transfer by gravity you know the receiving keg is full when beer starts to bubble out of the gas port into the line. If you're doing multiple kegs then just change the disconnects over to the next keg and continue.

 

[Smellyglove]

Most pressure relief valves hang down about 1/2" from the underside of the lid, so no, this will not get it out. You already cut your gas dip tubes short. Use them to get the last bit of liquid out.

I just checked and of course you're right. I picked this up from some other guy on a random forum, didn't check how the PRV is seated on the inside. Thanks for giving me a reminder to check for info for myself.

 

[DownHillonWater]

Great thread. For those who are filling your kegs very full, how do you protect against beer occasionally ending up on the CO2 gas line? Obviously, as long as there is more pressure on the gas line than in the keg this can't happen... But on pressure variations can occur due to temp changes or operator error or stuff happens...

 

[DownHillonWater]

Great thread. For those who are filling your kegs very full, how do you protect against beer occasionally ending up in the CO2 gas line? Obviously, as long as there is more pressure on the gas line than in the keg this can't happen... But on occasion pressure variations can occur due to temp changes or operator error or stuff happens...

 

[schematix]

Great thread. For those who are filling your kegs very full, how do you protect against beer occasionally ending up in the CO2 gas line? Obviously, as long as there is more pressure on the gas line than in the keg this can't happen... But on occasion pressure variations can occur due to temp changes or operator error or stuff happens...

1. Don't keep a gas line hooked up unless serving
2. When you connect for serving connect a *pressurized* gas connection with a check valve and then immediately pull a glass to get the sludge out.

 

[kevink]

Great thread. For those who are filling your kegs very full, how do you protect against beer occasionally ending up in the CO2 gas line? Obviously, as long as there is more pressure on the gas line than in the keg this can't happen... But on occasion pressure variations can occur due to temp changes or operator error or stuff happens...

Just pour a few ounces out after you fill the keg and you should be good. To test that your gas in isn't submerged, purge a little pressure from the keg and then attach your gas quick disconnect. If you hear bubbling as the gas enters the keg, you need to pour out a few more ounces.

 

[Smellyglove]

Great thread. For those who are filling your kegs very full, how do you protect against beer occasionally ending up in the CO2 gas line? Obviously, as long as there is more pressure on the gas line than in the keg this can't happen... But on occasion pressure variations can occur due to temp changes or operator error or stuff happens...

Like I said earlier I have cut my gas-dip-tube very short. I always take a second sample (the first one ofc being from the fermentor), so the level gets lower than the diptube.