Taprite dual body CO2 regulator question

[JETDOG07]

First off, does anyone use of these regulators?

Secondly, are you able to adjust the pressure with "real time reflections" of the pressure gauge?

On mine I have to increase the pressure by 2 full turns before the gauge shoots up roughly 15 psi, there is no indication of pressure changes in between. For example, my regulator was at 0 and I had to turn the knob until it shot up to 15 psi, there was no indication of a pressure increase until it went from 0 to 15 psi. Is this normal?

I called taprite and they said the regulator doesn't show a pressure change until the pressure increases by 15 psi or more. This seems odd as I have seen videos of people adjusting their psi and the gauge shows an increase as they turn the screw or knob on the regulator.

Also when I try to decrease the pressure the needle slowly falls until it reaches a stopping place. I have no way of knowing how much the pressure is dropping until I wait a while, essentially making it a guessing game of how much to turn the knob counter clockwise. Is this also normal?

Thanks

 

[LLBeanJ]

I've been using Taprite regulators for 6 years (currently have 4: two single-body CO2, one quad-body CO2 made by combining two dual-body models, and a single-body nitrogen). As soon as you begin turning the knob clockwise, the pressure and the needle should increase. Not sure why Taprite is telling you there needs to be a 15 PSI move before the needle changes. That's not correct and if that's what yours is doing, something's wrong. One caveat... If Taprite made a recent design change and that is how the newer ones are supposed to work, then maybe that's what's going on, but I would be skeptical. Also, I just bought a brand new Tapright body within the last couple months and it works just like all of my other Taprites, so I don't think Taprite has changed anything.

When going down, it works the same way, but you have to purge the gas from the line as you're adjusting. If the line is on a keg, you need to vent the keg a little bit, dial back the pressure, vent keg some more, dial back pressure, and keep doing this as needed until you get it down to where you want it, at least that is how I do it. If the line is not on the keg, then hold the plunger in on the disconnect while dialing back the pressure on the gage and the needle will drop as you dial it back.

 

[JETDOG07]

I've been using Taprite regulators for 6 years (currently have 4: two single-body CO2, one quad-body CO2 made by combining two dual-body models, and a single-body nitrogen). As soon as you begin turning the knob clockwise, the pressure and the needle should increase. Not sure why Taprite is telling you there needs to be a 15 PSI move before the needle changes. That's not correct and if that's what yours is doing, something's wrong. One caveat... If Taprite made a recent design change and that is how the newer ones are supposed to work, then maybe that's what's going on, but I would be skeptical. Also, I just bought a brand new Tapright body within the last couple months and it works just like all of my other Taprites, so I don't think Taprite has changed anything.

When going down, it works the same way, but you have to purge the gas from the line as you're adjusting. If the line is on a keg, you need to vent the keg a little bit, dial back the pressure, vent keg some more, dial back pressure, and keep doing this as needed until you get it down to where you want it, at least that is how I do it. If the line is not on the keg, then hold the plunger in on the disconnect while dialing back the pressure on the gage and the needle will drop as you dial it back.

Yeah mine doesn't do that, literally jumps for 0 to 15 or 0 to 20, no needle moving in between.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Yeah mine doesn't do that, literally jumps for 0 to 15 or 0 to 20, no needle moving in between.

Definitely not right.

 

[JETDOG07]

Definitely not right.

Now I have to figure out how to get Taprite to say that's not right in order to send me a new one probably

 

[WinterWarlock]

I'm experiencing the same thing. Sometimes there's a delay and the needle doesn't move right away after I turn the knob. Seems to work, though, so I'm not going to worry about it.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Did you buy it new? How long have you had it? Where did you get it?

 

[JETDOG07]

Did you buy it new? How long have you had it? Where did you get it?

Bought it new off amazon, about 2 weeks. Like winterwarlock said, mine has held a seal and has carbonated my beer just fine. Just the inconvenience of having to babysit it in order to set pressure is not fun.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Bought it new off amazon, about 2 weeks. Like winterwarlock said, mine has held a seal and has carbonated my beer just fine. Just the inconvenience of having to babysit it in order to set pressure is not fun.

I'd contact Amazon for a replacement.

 

[JETDOG07]

I'd contact Amazon for a replacement.

As long as my keg is pressurized when I disconnect the gas will it stay carbed while I wait for the replacement?

 

[LLBeanJ]

As long as my keg is pressurized when I disconnect the gas will it stay carbed while I wait for the replacement?

Yes, providing you don't have a leak in your keg seal. Also, as you draw beer off the keg without CO2 being pushed in to fill the headspace, it will slowly lose carbonation over time. It might make sense to buy another one first and then return the old one for a refund, assuming they don't hassle you on the return.

 

[JETDOG07]

Yes, providing you don't have a leak in your keg seal. Also, as you draw beer off the keg without CO2 being pushed in to fill the headspace, it will slowly lose carbonation over time. It might make sense to buy another one first and then return the old one for a refund, assuming they don't hassle you on the return.

Good idea, I think first I am going to call Taprite again and see if I get another representative to confirm what they said is correct. It makes no sense not to see real time adjustments in pressure.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Good idea, I think first I am going to call Taprite again and see if I get another representative to confirm what they said is correct. It makes no sense not to see real time adjustments in pressure.

Sounds good. Another thing you can do with Amazon is start the return process now (refund, not replacement) and once they give you a return shipping label, order and pay for a replacement. Wait until the new one shows before shipping the first one back.

 

[JETDOG07]

Sounds good. Another thing you can do with Amazon is start the return process now (refund, not replacement) and once they give you a return shipping label, order and pay for a replacement. Wait until the new one shows before shipping the first one back.

Great idea! Just to be blear, I should be able to see an increase of 1 psi increments if the regulator is functioning properly?

 

[LLBeanJ]

Great idea! Just to be blear, I should be able to see an increase of 1 psi increments if the regulator is functioning properly?

Yes. If you were to bump pressure up a couple PSI from current setting, you should be able to dial in the knob and watch the needle slowly rise as you're turning it.

 

[day_trippr]

[...]I called taprite and they said the regulator doesn't show a pressure change until the pressure increases by 15 psi or more.[...]

Pretty sure you were talking to the janitor
How the heck could a regulator even be usable on that basis?

fwiw, I run a dual body primary Taprite reg on my keezer and it doesn't work like that at all. If I close the shut-off and turn the pressure knob "up" the low pressure gauge immediately tracks the increase.

Going down is a different story, best as I can tell you do need a fairly dramatic decrease setting to get anything to change. So if I need to drop the pressure by a couple PSI I usually close the shut-off, turn the pressure knob way the heck down to get the low pressure gauge to track downwards, then creep the knob back up to the desired setting.

In that regard I prefer my Chudnows and even Micro Matics, which have manually operable PRVs...

Cheers!

 

[redarmy990]

Jetdog, I have had similar issues as you, although the needle does start to move then jumps to around 12 psi, it was holding there then when i checked the next day it was a 16psi.
It took me around half an hour but i have now got it right at around 10psi.
This is on the first gauge, nearest to tank, the 2nd gauge has worked perfectly, I was thinking maybe it was me doing something wrong.

I also bought off Amazon