Question about Taprite secondary regulators

[thatfatbastard]

Can a Taprite 1660 series secondary regulator be converted in to a primary regulator? I have 5 of these and would like to avoid purchasing another primary if I can.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

IIRC, the only difference between primary and secondary is the fittings.

However, whether or not you can convert them is tricky. I've tried to get the fittings out of a couple second hand TapRite regs and only managed to trash the bodies trying to break the threadlock compounds.

 

[motobrewer]

indeed, a regulator is a regulator.

getting the fittings off can be a royal pain. confirm which thread type you have before starting as well. i have a left-hand thread and a right-hand thread pipe'd together. no, I didn't know they made left-hand-to-right-hand pipe nipples either.

 

[zachattack]

indeed, a regulator is a regulator.

That may be true in this case (I don't know the specifics) but isn't universally. Every regulator has a "high" side max pressure, and it's possible that a secondary regulator isn't rated higher than 50 or 100 psi. If you swapped the fittings and hooked it up to a 1000+psi CO2 tank it could explode and hurt/kill somebody.

Safety first! Generally there's a max pressure stamped into the regulator.

 

[thatfatbastard]

These are marked 1600 PSI.

 

[beaksnbeer]

Looking to trade?

 

[KegconnectionLLC]

A primary Taprite regulator has left hand threads on the high pressure side and a secondary has right hand thread. Both have right hand on the low pressure sides. A 1660 series can be used as a primary with CO2, especially with beer where your delivery PSI is so low. Another person mentioned that it might be hard to remove the nipple and replace it with a CO2 (CGA320) nipple and nut. Your regulator should be one of the plastic bonnet ones. You used to have to heat up the regulator to release the Locktite, but I have found on the newer ones they are easier to remove. They are using a different sealer compound now. Feel free to call me at 512-749-7713 if you have further questions. I will be at the office for another 30 minutes or so.
Todd

 

[thatfatbastard]

The attached picture is what I have, hope this helps.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Looking to trade?

Perhaps, what do you have in mind?

 

[KegconnectionLLC]

The attached picture is what I have, hope this helps.

This is an update to my previous post. These are the older style regs with the metal bonnets. I am not sure if they used locktight on these. One question. Are you trying to create 5 different regulators or do you want to connect to these and use mulitiple bodies? You could convert one to a primary and then use the others as secondaries. If you need some help call me at 512-749-7713. I should be able to walk you through this. The most important thing to keep in mind is that these are all right hand thread and many CGA320 nipples are left hand thread, so you want to make sure you get the proper thread.

 

[thatfatbastard]

This is an update to my previous post. These are the older style regs with the metal bonnets. I am not sure if they used locktight on these. One question. Are you trying to create 5 different regulators or do you want to connect to these and use mulitiple bodies? You could convert one to a primary and then use the others as secondaries. If you need some help call me at 512-749-7713. I should be able to walk you through this. The most important thing to keep in mind is that these are all right hand thread and many CGA320 nipples are left hand thread, so you want to make sure you get the proper thread.

Here's what I want to do. I current have a small dorm size Haier kegorator with a Norgren primary. I would like to add a secondary regulator and a second tap to this so that I can dispense beer from one tap and soda from the other.

In addition, I am in the beginning process of building a keezer. I just picked up a 22 cubic foot freezer that will easily hold ten pin lock cornys and I would like to use the remaining secondaries that I have for that purpose. Keep in mind, of course, that I will not be starting with 10 taps. I will expand as I need with splitters or a manifold.

I was hoping to convert one of the secondaries to a primary and then use the rest to deliver different pressures to my kegs. Alternatively, I am not against the notion of just picking up another primary and connecting these secondaries to that.

Or maybe even trading them to someone for a Primary, a manifold and the other necessary bits to get where I want to be. I'm cheap and cash strapped at the moment, so thriftiness is truly where my priorities lie.

I know this is kind of confusing and I appreciate your patience.

 

[thatfatbastard]

I played with the regulators this evening for a bit. I don't think I'm going to be able to separate them. Brute force wasn't doing it and I don't really want to put my torch to them to see if they'll come apart. I guess I will just look at getting a primary for them.