Quick C02 regulator question

[alaskana]

I just got done setting up my kegerator w/dual body regulator and 20 Lb c02 tank (with only 1 keg hooked up) and for the most part everything seems to be fine(C02 tank reads about 620 psi in fridge, able to adjust my keg pressure to about 12 psi, beer flowing nicely), however there is one thing that is nagging me.

Like I said I can dial up the keg pressure to the desired level, but when I turn the knob counter clockwise to dial down the pressure the needle stays put and the only way I can get the needle to go down or back to zero is to pull the pressure relief pin on the regulator. My hunch is that you can't automatically dial the pressure back down just by turning the knob counter clockwise but I just want to confirm with those of you who know better that this is is normal behavior. In other words you can only use the knob to make the needle go up, but not down.

As an aside, I made a bonehead mistake by having my keg pressure dials in the completely open position when first turned the C02 tank on and naturally the needle went flying and I heard a loud pfshhh sound. But after I *properly* had the keg pressure dials in the fully closed position and opened the keg pressure dial then everything seemed to be fine. And as far as I can tell my kegerator system has no leaks.

Thanks for any input on this matter.

 

[Aschecte]

Mine operates the same way only goes up and to zero it out I need to pull the pin. fyi I have a midwest brew logic system.

 

[alaskana]

Thanks for your input, Aschecte, makes me feel a little more confident that my system is working as intended.

 

[day_trippr]

The gauge monitors pressure in the line between the output of the regulator and whatever is down stream, so if there is pressure being held "below" the regulator and you shut off the CO2 tank valve or close the regulator, the gauge will read the pressure remaining "below".

That can actually be handy on occasion, like fpr leak detection, or when you want to know how much pressure is in a keg that's being naturally carbed. Shut of the reg, hook up the gas QD to the keg, and the gauge should read the keg pressure...

Cheers!

 

[alaskana]

day_trippr: Excellent, thanks for your great, easy to understand explanation! Made perfect sense to a kegging newbie such as myself.