Parts for Force Carbing

[bytemyfoot]

Fairly noobish question: I'm just starting out with kegging and I don't know what parts I will need to force carb. Is it just another tank, regulator, hose and gas side disconnect or is there more to it?

PS - I tried searching for this, but it's either not out there or my search-fu is weak tonight!

 

[beerthirty]

You can use the same equipment for forcing carbing that you use for serving from a keg.

 

[Snausages01]

You can use the same equipment for forcing carbing that you use for serving from a keg.

Exactly. However, if you want to force carb and serve at the same time then you'd need a dual body regulator, which will allow you to have CO2 at dispensing pressure and carbing pressure. If you are going to be using multiple kegs and think you'll have beers you want to force carb (or serve at different pressures) you may want to look into a dual body regulator. It doesn't cost a whole lot more and it may come in handy if you are planning on having multiple kegs.

 

[malkore]

Exactly. However, if you want to force carb and serve at the same time then you'd need a dual body regulator, which will allow you to have CO2 at dispensing pressure and carbing pressure. If you are going to be using multiple kegs and think you'll have beers you want to force carb (or serve at different pressures) you may want to look into a dual body regulator. It doesn't cost a whole lot more and it may come in handy if you are planning on having multiple kegs.

Not exactly.
Force carb = carbing with CO2...instead of sugar (i.e. priming a keg).

Force carbing can be done at serving pressure, or you can 'rapidly' force carb by using 30psi, rocking the keg, etc...

So it depends on whether the OP wants to rapidly carb kegs, or if he just wants to carb at serving pressure. Since he's new to kegging, I don't want to tell him to go spend another $100 on a fancy regulator if that's not really what he's trying to do.

 

[bytemyfoot]

Well, here's the thing: I already have the single body regulator to go in my kegerator, but I have a couple of CO2 tanks. Would I be better off getting the dual regulator and swapping it out or getting another single regulator to use outside of the fridge?

Also, from what I've read on the subject of force carbing, I'm more the type who will set it at the final pressure and wait as opposed to setting it high and shaking it. If that changes things...

 

[wildwest450]

Also, from what I've read on the subject of force carbing, I'm more the type who will set it at the final pressure and wait as opposed to setting it high and shaking it. If that changes things...

I like you already. I use a 20lb tank for my kegerator, with a single regulator and dual secondaries.http://www.micromatic.com/draft-keg-beer/gas-equipment-pid-1162.html, kind of expensive, but mucho control. Then I have a 5lb cylinder with a chaep regulator that I use downstairs for carbing, cleaning, and purging.

There's a million ways to do it, but I would suggest at the least a way to control two separate psi's.

 

[bytemyfoot]

So, wildwest, if I understand you correctly, you have one regulator on the tank, that goes to your 2 regulator thing you linked, each of which leads to a keg? And you ALSO have another tank with a single regulator that you keep outside of the fridge you use for carbing? If I've got that right, what exactly is in the outside of fridge setup? I'm guessing tank, regulator, hose, gas disconnect. Anything else?

 

[wildwest450]

So, wildwest, if I understand you correctly, you have one regulator on the tank, that goes to your 2 regulator thing you linked, each of which leads to a keg? And you ALSO have another tank with a single regulator that you keep outside of the fridge you use for carbing? If I've got that right, what exactly is in the outside of fridge setup? I'm guessing tank, regulator, hose, gas disconnect. Anything else?

Correct on #1. My other tank just hangs around in the garage, I have a temp controlled fermenter,conditioner. I also keg and in the garage, so that's where the spare co2 lives.

I like it because I can have a porter @ 7psi, and an IPA at 11psi at the same time.

 

[bytemyfoot]

Ok, so I'm pretty clear on your serving setup now, but I still can't quite visualize your carbing setup. Sorry if I'm being a pest, I'm just having issues wrapping my head around it.

 

[wildwest450]

Ok, so I'm pretty clear on your serving setup now, but I still can't quite visualize your carbing setup. Sorry if I'm being a pest, I'm just having issues wrapping my head around it.

You're not a pest. It's just a 5lb tank with a gas hose and connector on the end. I can take it off a keg i'm carbing and purge a keg I just filled, or use it to push cleaner through the dip tube or whatever the need.

Just think of it as portable co2 to use wherever you need it.