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Maximum psi needed for co2 regulator

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Rod Hobbs

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I have two kegs and planning one one or two more. I have a 20 lb co2 tank. I can get a taprite low pressure regulator that goes to 30 psi for about $30 cheaper than the regular one (60 psi). Question is, would I need more than 30 psi for anything?
 
Short answer, is yes if you ever want to burst force carbonate at room temperature.

If you always chill before carbonating, then you don't need the additional capacity.

I personally always do a bit of burst carbing when I transfer to the keg, and at room temp I do this just under 50 psi for a bit to kick start the carbonating process. This gets me close to full carb, and then I just let it equilibriate in the walk-in, and then set it for my serving and carbing pressure to equalize at the volumes I like to serve at.
 
Wait!

Is that "low pressure regulator" a primary or a secondary regulator? I've never seen primary regs only going to 30 psi, most go to 50 or 60.

If it is indeed a primary, 30 psi is plenty for force carbonating. I never go any higher, but I do roll the kegs until the gas stops rushing in. Then keep it under 20 psi for 12 hours, before I bleed it off and set to 12 psi for dispensing.

30 psi should be just enough to feed secondary regs too, I think they need about 6-10 psi difference to work properly.
 
Wait!

Is that "low pressure regulator" a primary or a secondary regulator? I've never seen primary regs only going to 30 psi, most go to 50 or 60.

If it is indeed a primary, 30 psi is plenty for force carbonating. I never go any higher, but I do roll the kegs until the gas stops rushing in. Then keep it under 20 psi for 12 hours, before I bleed it off and set to 12 psi for dispensing.

30 psi should be just enough to feed secondary regs too, I think they need about 6-10 psi difference to work properly.

It’s a taprite.
https://www.ontariobeerkegs.com/Tap...ator_30_PSI_p/taprite-low-t-bar-regulator.htm
 
It looks like it should work given it is high preassure in 2000psi. They claim easier adjustment due to low preassure but that sounds like marketing bs.

I went with a more common 60PSI regulator to give me more margin with secondary regulators. I'm up to 3 secondary regulators now. One gets set to 30 to 35 for burst carbing the others for different beer styles and as a bonus I can feed the upto 60PSI straight to a keg of water for soda water.
 
OK, it's a "primary" regulator, indeed, that's good.

There are usually around 6-8 "half turns" on the reg. screw. So you can adjust somewhat more precisely, which is not really needed for our purposes, but it won't harm.
As @Sparkncode mentioned, you may not be able to carbonate soda water as quickly or thoroughly.

I had one Oat Mild that even at 40 psi was barely carbonated, but that's an unusual case.

For reference, the price you linked to seems comparable to a place like RiteBrew.com. You guys probably can't order from them without hitting customs and extraordinary shipping charges.
Their kegging stuff is very reasonably priced, alas at U.S. $. I bought most of my kegging stuff from them, except kegs, and is still my first goto shop for those things.

I just looked at Ritebrew and their single body regulator seems to be the same as yours, also 30 psi. I never realized those single body ones are lower psi. The double body one is 2x 60 psi, but has been out of stock for the past few weeks, possibly longer. I do like the knobs over the T-bar.

I love my double body regs, as I can force carbonate with the 2nd one while the rest remains at dispensing pressure. Or use the 2nd one for "utility" work, purging kegs, etc.
 
Oh hells yes!

1972-topps-65-jim-plunkett-18932.jpg


Cheers! (consider yourself plunketted :D)
 
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