Kegerator Trouble

[jay_gord76]

I have a question for you guys. My kegerator is doing something odd. It's fairly new - I've only ran two kegs through it. For both kegs, I've maintained pressure at about 12-14 psi and it holds steady until the keg is below half full. Then, all of a sudden, the pressure ramps up to 20+ psi and it pours pure foam. This has happened with both kegs.

Have any of you ever encountered this before? How can the pressure ramp up that without anything changing except for the amount of beer in the keg?

Any insight you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jay

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

Sounds like a faulty regulator. No way it should just do that. Are you able to turn it down?`

 

[TheHopfather]

^ - this. The regulators only job is to hold a set pressure. If your pressure is changing it sounds like the regulator isn't doing what it is supposed to be doing.

 

[TravelingLight]

Thirded for regulator issues.

 

[jay_gord76]

It looks very similar to the attached pic.

I've turned it down and so far it's holding steady but it's still pouring foam.

I'm going to look at getting a new regulator.

Thanks.

 

[day_trippr]

If cold beer sits at 20psi it's going to be overcarbed; simply dialing down the dispensing CO2 pressure isn't going to magically fix that.

You need to shut the gas off completely and start "burping" the keg head space (on all the affected kegs) every time you think about it over a day or two to tame the beast within...

Cheers!

 

[TravelingLight]

If cold beer sits at 20psi it's going to be overcarbed; simply dialing down the dispensing CO2 pressure isn't going to magically fix that.

You need to shut the gas off completely and start "burping" the keg head space (on all the affected kegs) every time you think about it over a day or two to tame the beast within...

Cheers!

If you turn it down to serving pressure and don't burp the keg, won't it equalize after a bit on its own? Truth be told, I've never done this myself and seen it with my own eyes, but that's what I've heard/read. Is that incorrect?

ETA: By the way, day_trippr, LOVE your closed transfer setup. Did my first closed transfer the other night and it went great but I've already ordered a plug adapter, post, etc. to setup my carboy caps just like yours. Love the idea of being able to just pop on a BLQD to the carboy cap!

 

[JimEb]

I've noticed many CO2 regs sold to homebrewers tend to be poor quality. Adjustments are rough and crude with tons of hysteresis. If you've ever worked with regulators in other industries you know how smooth and precise they can be.

Hysteresis causes you to always overshoot in whatever direction you are going as the internal friction/tension equalizes. It’s best to only make small adjustments and recheck the pressure after a few hours. Once you have it stabilized at a pressure you shouldn’t have to mess with it again. I’m guessing that’s what’s happening to you. The half-full keg doesn’t have an effect on the reg, that’s just when you finally notice the effect of the higher pressure.

 

[day_trippr]

If you turn it down to serving pressure and don't burp the keg, won't it equalize after a bit on its own?[...]

Not in any short order: if you do nothing, the beer remains overcarbed.
Otoh, if you draw down the foamy suds the head space will increase, allowing more CO2 to pop out to reachieve equilibrium.
So, given enough time/enough beer consumed, eventually what remains might get back to a proper level.

Much better to degas the keg down to a reasonable level so you can actually enjoy what you're pouring...

Cheers!

 

[TravelingLight]

Not in any short order: if you do nothing, the beer remains overcarbed.
Otoh, if you draw down the foamy suds the head space will increase, allowing more CO2 to pop out to reachieve equilibrium.
So, given enough time/enough beer consumed, eventually what remains might get back to a proper level.

Much better to degas the keg down to a reasonable level so you can actually enjoy what you're pouring...

Cheers!

Great explanation. Thanks, brother.

 

[jay_gord76]

I've noticed many CO2 regs sold to homebrewers tend to be poor quality. Adjustments are rough and crude with tons of hysteresis. If you've ever worked with regulators in other industries you know how smooth and precise they can be.

Can you recommend a good quality regulator?

 

[doug293cz]

Can you recommend a good quality regulator?

Taprites are generally well regarded. I haven't had any issues with mine.

Brew on

 

[jay_gord76]

Taprites are generally well regarded. I haven't had any issues with mine.

Brew on

Thanks.