Poorly constructed CO2 Regulators?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013.

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  1. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona

    I would like to know if anyone has had experience with poorly made CO2 regulators. I bought a no-brand regulator at my local shop 9 months ago (July 2012) and yesterday morning when I was kegging a new batch I noticed that the regulator out pressure just kept climbing. Even when I turned the dial all the way down the pressure would continue to climb. It s lucky think that it happened while I was looking at the dial starting a new batch because otherwise the keg would have gone to who knows what pressure and hopefully the release valve on the keg would work, or it would have been one heck of an explosion. Yesterday afternoon I took it back and they sold me another of the same for half price ($40), but when I got it home I found that it does not work at all. I can't get any pressure on the out line at all, plus the pressure release valve is totally non-functional. In other words it is pretty much a piece of you know what. Obviously I will return it today.

    So I have lots of question for people who have experience. First of all, isn't it really unsafe to be putting this kind of equipment? I mean, I am batting zero out of two on this. Secondly, I talked to a major supplier this morning from whom I am buying a supposedly better quality piece of equipment. Do you think that I can trust it? And thirdly, I just want to know what other experiences people have had with this problem.

    I blew a plexiglass tank under 5 psi in a lab once, and it is heck of a blast, with holes in the wall and all. I can't even imagine what a 50 psi metal tank explosion would do. The point is that pressure is dangerous. Getting into the kegging I was under the assumption that safe equipment would be sold. I am not so sure anymore. Just a word of caution.
     
    #1 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
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  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    #2 VikeMan, Apr 18, 2013
    Centennial and mikehartigan like this.
  3. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Like anything, you can get a bad one, but my Chinese knockoffs have seemed to work fine for a couple of years...the problems I encountered were due to my lack of knowledge initially.
     
    #3 GreenKrusty101, Apr 18, 2013
  4. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    I have a spare regulator that I have attached to my spare tank for cleaning and sealing kegs. It will freeze up and climb as you describe after a bit of use where I am releasing a lot of pressure quickly, but it has a safety release where it will blow off excess pressure if the level spikes too high. Waste of CO2 but at least I won't die.

    I should probably get a new one.
     
    #4 leedorham, Apr 18, 2013
  5. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona


    It is nice to know that the safety release works!
     
    #5 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
  6. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona

    Maybe I got a bad batch, or just bad luck. Still though, I am going to try something different this time.
     
    #6 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
  7. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona

    #7 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
  8. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    If it works when you pull on it (or 'pry' it open, depending on the design), it should also work when the pressure gets too high. And that's a lower pressure cutoff than the max pressure for a corny keg.
     
    #8 VikeMan, Apr 18, 2013
  9. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    caveat emptor.
    over at the home bar board we see people in your situation all the time. how do you think Home Depot can sell a nameless kegerator for $300 while the pro model is $700? the chrome is really just plastic with a shiny finish and the stainless steel is neither stainless nor steel. every last piece that can be made of plastic will be plastic and every piece of hardware is utility grade.
    you don't need to buy an appliance made for a busy bar though. micromatic sells alot of good/better/best and all of there equipment will work as stated because it has to.

    good luck.
     
    #9 billandsuz, Apr 18, 2013
  10. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona

    Ok, thanks! Such good advice here!
     
    #10 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
  11. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona

    Ok, which is the problem with the second cheap one I got yesterday - the release is totally stuck. When you try to pull on it it will not budge!
     
    #11 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
  12. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,421) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    Micromatic. Nothing more needs to be said. :slight_smile:
    I'm assuming $40 is the original price. You got the second for half that, or $20. Is that correct? If not, then you got burned! A Micromatic (a 'real' regulator) costs around $50 or $60. Did you shop around? What made you choose the one you bought? There are, no doubt, quality regulators out there at reasonable prices, but, unless you do the research, you're throwing the dice.
     
    #12 mikehartigan, Apr 18, 2013
  13. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona

    You are right! I paid too much at $40 for the half price. But I just got my money returned. No - I did not do research because I just bought it at my local store. I like supporting the shop in town. Honestly I don't mind the price so much, but I do expect better quality for the money. I think that I am learning that it is OK to buy basic supplies like malt, hops, yeast, hoses, caps, and so forth locally, but for the equipment I am buying online from now on, or at least researching it better before I buy.
     
    #13 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
  14. vinoverde

    vinoverde Initiate (0) Jan 25, 2012 Arizona

    Micromatic! ok
     
    #14 vinoverde, Apr 18, 2013
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