Is it safe to use a CO2 Regulator with an adapter on a Nitrogen tank?

[aphelion_blue]

I have tried finding this answer but am getting mixed messaging. I have a Taprite CO2 regulator (3741-br-30mt) which has a serving pressure gauge that goes up to 30 psi, and a tank pressure gauge that goes up to 2000 psi. The back of the regulator says it can handle 3000 psi despite the tank gauge only going to 2000 psi. I have read that the Nitrogen tank has 2200 psi.

With all that being said, is it safe to add a Nitrogen tank adapter to this regulator and hook it up to my Nitrogen tank? The Taprite website says the regulator type is "beer, co2, home draft, primary, tank mount, low pressure, series 3740". It doesn't mention Nitrogen but in my mind, if it can handle 3000 psi it should be fine. Am I thinking about it wrong? Is this unsafe? Could it break the gauge that only goes up to 2000?

 

[Jag75]

I've seen the adapters for sale from different vendors. I think if it wasn't safe they wouldn't sell them. I'd rather spend $ on a different regulator then be limited to serving nitro only .

 

[day_trippr]

The viability of re-purposing that regulator for "nitrogen" duty may depend on usage.
eg: if the required dispensing pressure exceeds the low pressure gauge's range that's going to be an operational issue.

If this is truly nitrogen for something like dispensing flat wine through a conventional faucet, that will work fine.
Otoh, if this is actually "beer gas" for driving stout through a stout faucet, 30 psi may not be high enough, and now you're out of scope...

Cheers!

 

[slayer021175666]

The viability of re-purposing that regulator for "nitrogen" duty may depend on usage.
eg: if the required dispensing pressure exceeds the low pressure gauge's range that's going to be an operational issue.

If this is truly nitrogen for something like dispensing flat wine through a conventional faucet, that will work fine.
Otoh, if this is actually "beer gas" for driving stout through a stout faucet, 30 psi may not be high enough, and now you're out of scope...

Cheers!

My CO2 regulator goes clear up to 60 lb I think. I often use it at 55 lb for carbonating kegs but, I'm not around it right now and I don't know the actual pressure limit. Anyway, is it safe? Could I put a CO2 to nitrogen adapter between the CO2 regulator and the beer gas ( 75% nitrogen and 25% co2) bottle and operate it safely? If you tell me that the CO2 regulator won't take the pressure of the beer gas bottle, I'll just spend another 30 bucks and get a nitrogen gauge. It's not really to save money anyway. It's because it would be so much easier to leave my hoses connected to the CO2 regulator and just switch from CO2 bottles to nitrogen bottles by adding the adapter or removing it. It'd be very convenient for me.

 

[whoaru99]

My CO2 regulator goes clear up to 60 lb I think. I often use it at 55 lb for carbonating kegs but, I'm not around it right now and I don't know the actual pressure limit. Anyway, is it safe? Could I put a CO2 to nitrogen adapter between the CO2 regulator and the beer gas ( 75% nitrogen and 25% co2) bottle and operate it safely? If you tell me that the CO2 regulator won't take the pressure of the beer gas bottle, I'll just spend another 30 bucks and get a nitrogen gauge. It's not really to save money anyway. It's because it would be so much easier to leave my hoses connected to the CO2 regulator and just switch from CO2 bottles to nitrogen bottles by adding the adapter or removing it. It'd be very convenient for me.

What the gauge ranges are is just one part of it.

I don't know the cylinder pressure of beer gas, but the first consideration is that pressure vs what is the maximum rated inlet pressure of the regulator.

After determining if the regulator itself is capable of handling beer gas cylinder pressures, then is when you consider the other stuff.

 

[Broken Crow]

My CO2 regulator goes clear up to 60 lb I think. I often use it at 55 lb for carbonating kegs but, I'm not around it right now and I don't know the actual pressure limit. Anyway, is it safe? Could I put a CO2 to nitrogen adapter between the CO2 regulator and the beer gas ( 75% nitrogen and 25% co2) bottle and operate it safely? If you tell me that the CO2 regulator won't take the pressure of the beer gas bottle, I'll just spend another 30 bucks and get a nitrogen gauge. It's not really to save money anyway. It's because it would be so much easier to leave my hoses connected to the CO2 regulator and just switch from CO2 bottles to nitrogen bottles by adding the adapter or removing it. It'd be very convenient for me.

What brand is this regulator? Can you post a pic? Does the manufacturer offer this same model but with a CGA580 stem?
Not all regulators, even by the same maker are spec'd to handle nitrogen. Taprite for example, uses the same body, but a Polyester bonnet that can only handle CO2, and a zinc bonnet that can handle CO2 and/or Nitrogen.

 

[Bobby_M]

Regulators are often stamped on the back of the body with "max inlet pressure". Nitro and beer mix will top out at about 2400psi.