CO2 for Kegging - Options?

[Nztayls]

I'm going to make the jump from bottling to kegging. Whats the best option for CO2? Where do you get bottled CO2 from?

I see that you can use Soda Stream bottles to do this, which might be cheaper. How many kegs does one bottle do?. 

Trying to work out the most cost-effective option. Appreciate any advice!

[Druid]

Here in Auckland, Wormald's is by far the most expensive place to either refill your cylinder or to get it retested.

I had no option around Xmas to get a retest and refill at Wormalds because the place I normally get mine refilled was closed - when I enquired later at my normal place what it would have cost, it was pretty close to twice the cost for both the test and refill.

I have no idea what your other options are in Wellington for these services but it's certainly worth a look.

[CraiggyNZ]

Hi,

I've recently made the switch to kegging as well, and did a bit of leg work getting quotes from the Wellington region for CO2 options.

I ended up going with BOC gas in Petone/Lower Hutt. I am renting a "D size" cylinder for around $15/month, and by renting from them, it makes the refills cheaper. Also, by renting, you don't have to pay for the inspections like you do if you buy your own one. You do need to buy your own regulator though - I got mine from Brewhouse in Newtown.

I have put six 20L corny kegs through the system so far, and that has only used about half the tank, so it seems pretty cost effective. Pouring at between 6 and 8 psi, depending on the brew.

I also endorse the 'low and slow' method of carbonating that a few people have talked about, having tried all three methods.

Hope that is a help!

 

[jt]

How are you working out that you're already half empty Craiggy, by weight ?

A D-Size should last a lot lot longer than 12 kegs or so. I get over 12 months from my D, don't know how many kegs, but guessing 30+

[Smiffy]

12 (25l) kegs is what I get from a 2kg CO2 bottle.

I push the beer out of the fermenter into the keg using CO2, I carbonate to around 1.5 volumes, then serve at 7psi, so using ((1+1.5+1.5)x25) 100l CO2 per 25l keg, so around 1200l CO2, and given that CO2 gas is around 1.9g/l, I'm using 2.28kg, so that's pretty good for  a 2kg bottle.

If you are not pushing into the keg with gas, or carbonating, you will get through it slower.

[Smiffy]

Just realised that with CO2 above the beer in the fermenter at atmospheric pressure (0psig), at 20C, I already have 0.75 volumes carbonation. So re-doing that calculation, (1+.75+1.5)x25x12x1.9=1852g, then add some for a bit of waste and that accounts for the 2kg without any magic.

[CraiggyNZ]

Possibly I haven't used as much as I thought. My regulator has a dial for total pressure, and my estimation of % used was based on what I thought was the initial pressure of the cylinder compared to where it is sitting now. I may have got the initial pressure wrong, because I didn't write it down.

To be honest, I wasted a bit of gas initially when I was setting up the keg system too. A few amateur mistakes hooking it up..

Really happy to have made the switch to kegging overall. The kegerator gets a pretty good work out when people come over, and it is a great way to get people to try your homebrew!

[jt]

I put mine on a set of (flakey) scales when I get it filled and every now and then to make sure it's lasting ok

[Smiffy]

As long as there is liquid in the cylinder, whether it is full or a dribble, that won't affect the cylinder pressure (about 50bar depending on temperature). Once the cylinder pressure starts to drop, all the liquid CO2 has gone and you just have high pressure gas left so you then know how much you have left, e.g 40 bar and 3 litres, so 120 litres at 1 bar, or enough to do 1 keg for me, and have a bit in reserve to serve a few more pints that evening, then a trip to get it filled the next day.

[CraiggyNZ]

Good info, thanks! I thought the total pressure was kind of like a fuel tank gauge, that it slowly reduced as the gas got used.