Summit 500B PSI 12 7ft line, 3/16th ID temp 35-38 degrees, (analog temp gauge) Beer Stillwater Classique CO2 tank half full came with used kegerator. Getting some decent pours, but the first is still about 60/40 foam, second pour is great, third pour is slower. My question is, will multiple pours during a party situation cause a drop in PSI? What if anything should I do to compensate for this scenario? Thanks!
The first pour foam will always be unless you get a tower chiller kit installed on there(Won't fix 100%). The PSI drop. Does the gauge go down on the regulator or does it hold steady at 12psi?Im thinking you might have a regulator on its way out.But also check your coupler make sure co2 check valve not crudded up too. Last thing is your co2 tank is really just about empty....?(If double gauge regulator where is the gauge sitting?at 500 or below?)
First, thanks. PSI seems to hold at 12, but I havent done much more than three pours at a time. Regulator was replaced to a brand new dual gauge Tap-Rite for foam problems that were worse when I had a sixtel of Sea Hag. Foam issues got better using new Tap-Rite. CO2 Tank was a throw-in with the kegerator initial read was 3/4ths full now below 1/2 on the gauge. I'm not in front of it at the moment but I do have a brand new full 5lb co2 tank ready to go. Also possible I'm being paranoid and it's fine. Thinking of a Johnson Controller and Perlick Faucet. Lines are new and cleaned, and clamped with no co2 leaking.
you'll be fine without the tower cooler... for now. a lot of beer is poured during a party, the beer does not have too much time to warm up and cause foaming. you will want to fix the warm tower eventually though, no exceptions. if you can, you might want to lengthen your beer line a bit, maybe 9'. this is too much resistance for every day, but it will slow down the pour significantly and minimize the initial blast into the cup or glass. it also slows your guests and forces them to be a bit more careful at the faucet. (everyone thinks they are experts when pouring keg beer, but people spill like drunken sailors if the pour is too fast). 12 psi , 38 degrees, fine. check the temp in the glass. the first glass is likely too warm, but the second should be 38-40 if possible. Cheers.
That's a big clue. At a constant temperature, the pressure in the tank should remain constant as you pour beer, as long as there's liquid CO2 in the tank. If it's dropping as you pour and you know you have a good regulator/gauge, then your tank is likely running on fumes, explaining the progressively slower pours. Weigh the tank and compare that weight with the tare weight embossed on the tank (look for 'TW'). The difference is the quantity of liquid CO2 in the tank.
I should clarify that it was 3/4th before buying and killing a log of Sea Hag IPA, not just in the course of the latest log of Classique. So 1.25 logs of beer later I'm below half. But I am now interested in getting a Tower Cooler. Anyone in particular? Also, are Perlicks a good investment? I will compare weight of the CO2 later this afternoon.
That's irrelevant. The gauge does not tell you how much CO2 you have. It only tells you the head pressure, which remains constant in the presence of liquid. The gauge will read a constant 500psi, 700psi, or whatever (depending on the temp of the CO2 tank) if the tank is full or if it contains a single drop of liquid. The mere fact that the gauge is dropping tells you that you're out of liquid (and may as well be out of gas). And yes, Perlicks are a good investment.
OK thanks, so I'll just change out the CO2 and see what happens. Will I need to adjust psi as the CO2 tank empties over usage? Any particular Tower Cooler?
No you don't need to adjust pressure. As far as tower cooler.go on ebay and search "beer tower cooler" there like $45-$60
Since the pressure stays constant, there's nothing to adjust. I don't chill my tower, so I can't recommend anything in particular. Many hack together their own with good results, as long as you know the requirements for air flow, insulation, etc.
