Co2 bottle life

Lawrence22 · May 15, 2019

I started kegging in August last year. I used a 2kg Co2 bottle. This morning I just attached my 12th keg to it. 10 of these are empty and it is still going. It's bound to go soon so I was wondering are there any tell tale signs it's about to give up?

peebee · May 15, 2019

Tell tale signs? Hmm … let me think … err, no.

Unless you weighed the cylinder and knew how much CO2 it contained (in weight). Catches everyone out that "high pressure" second gauge (if you have one); when it starts showing a drop in pressure you need a refill quick!

Lawrence22 · May 15, 2019

I Have a high pressure gauge and it hasn't dropped yet. I have a spare bottle on standby. From what I had read online I expected this bottle to maybe last 6-9 kegs but it just keeps on going. Latest brew just put on to force carbonate and was worried I may try it in a week and it would be flat. I'll keep an eye on the gauge.

foxbat · May 15, 2019

Lawrence22 said:
I started kegging in August last year. I used a 2kg Co2 bottle. This morning I just attached my 12th keg to it. 10 of these are empty and it is still going. It's bound to go soon so I was wondering are there any tell tale signs it's about to give up?

There should be a 'Tare weight' printed or embossed on the bottle. That is the empty weight. Weigh it now and the difference is how much you've got left.

Obviously turn it off and detach the regulator first.

F00b4r · May 16, 2019

The tare weight is your best guide but this calculator is useful to get an idea based on keg sizes.

Lawrence22 · May 16, 2019

F00b4r said:
The tare weight is your best guide but this calculator is useful to get an idea based on keg sizes.

Thanks for that.

kelper · May 16, 2019

The CO2 is at about 900psi and in liquid form below about 90F. As you use the gas, more boils off. The pressure depends solely on the ambient temperature. Once all the liquid has 'boiled' off the gas pressure will diminish very quickly.

BeerCat · May 16, 2019

Mine lasts 2 or 3 months.

peebee · May 16, 2019

My 6.(summit)kg cylinder is in it's third year. I've no idea how much is left, but I have got a second cylinder. They cost me 50p a month rental - crikey, I must be made of money! But I don't "force carbonate", nor would I, and only about 1/3rd of my beers get served at over 10psi, most under 2psi.

So it's one of those "how long is a piece of string" type questions.

I wish I could get those 2kg cylinders too, but I can't so I'll have to continue lugging these monster chunks of metal about.

F00b4r · May 16, 2019

peebee said:
My 6.(summit)kg cylinder is in it's third year. I've no idea how much is left, but I have got a second cylinder. They cost me 50p a month rental - crikey, I must be made of money! But I don't "force carbonate", nor would I, and only about 1/3rd of my beers get served at over 10psi, most under 2psi.

So it's one of those "how long is a piece of string" type questions.

I wish I could get those 2kg cylinders too, but I can't so I'll have to continue lugging these monster chunks of metal about.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CO2-2-KG...134339?hash=item3f7616a1c3:g:EeYAAOSws25cdxcl

You can just order them on Amazon in Germany delivered full for about £50 but as you need it delivered internationally the is a premium. 1 and 1.5kg (?) ones seem to be fairly easy to get here too and most of the DIY stores will swap CO2 bottles out for full ones too for not many euros.

kelper · May 16, 2019

="peebee, post: 821265, member: 7632"
So it's one of those "how long is a piece of string" type questions.

No it isn't. It just depends on the size of the bottle and how much you use each week/month. You could use a luggage scale to check the weight after each use. Sorry, but this is how engineers think!

Co2 bottle life

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