Carolina_Matt
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There are a few threads about using co2 from fermentation. I'm wondering if it you can capture the fermentation co2 in an empty keg, then hook it up to the kegerator instead of using a co2 tank with a regulator? It would be something like this:
Start off by filling a keg with 40-50 psi of co2 from fermentation. You can start off with a keg of Star San and push it out, to ensure there's no residual o2 in the keg. You'd be left with a keg full of co2.
Then you attach an in-line regulator (like below), and set it to your serving pressure. In my case, that would be about 10 psi. So anytime you pull a pint, it would push a little bit of co2 from the co2 keg into the dispensing keg to get it back to serving pressure. A couple weeks later (or however often you brew), you can disconnect the keg and hook it up to the fermentation vessel to top it off to 40-50 psi.
My assumption is that a 5 gallon keg can hold enough co2 to top off the kegs, because it doesn't take a whole lot to push beer out of the kegerator. I could be wrong though.
And if you wanted to, you can set up a spunding valve before the inline regulator, then set it to serving psi. That would essentially show you how much more co2 is in the keg.
https://www.morebeer.com/products/duotight-inline-regulator-gauge.html
Start off by filling a keg with 40-50 psi of co2 from fermentation. You can start off with a keg of Star San and push it out, to ensure there's no residual o2 in the keg. You'd be left with a keg full of co2.
Then you attach an in-line regulator (like below), and set it to your serving pressure. In my case, that would be about 10 psi. So anytime you pull a pint, it would push a little bit of co2 from the co2 keg into the dispensing keg to get it back to serving pressure. A couple weeks later (or however often you brew), you can disconnect the keg and hook it up to the fermentation vessel to top it off to 40-50 psi.
My assumption is that a 5 gallon keg can hold enough co2 to top off the kegs, because it doesn't take a whole lot to push beer out of the kegerator. I could be wrong though.
And if you wanted to, you can set up a spunding valve before the inline regulator, then set it to serving psi. That would essentially show you how much more co2 is in the keg.
https://www.morebeer.com/products/duotight-inline-regulator-gauge.html