Hi Chaos. I'm getting into kegging and purchased a kegerator (FBR200) that came w/ a regulator and 2.5 lb tank. I filled the tank, have some beer in a keg, and connected everything last night. The regulator has a round knob to control the PSI (which is different than the normal flat head screw that I've seen while researching) and it won't go below about 19 PSI. When I turn the knob lower and lower, it eventually starts unscrewing the main bolt that's attached to the regulator. When I turn it higher and higher, the PSI increases then eventually the tank/regulator makes a very high pressure noise that scared THE SHIT out of me. There was a little opening that I removed a plug with an Allan wrench, which allowed the adjustment knob to even move at all.
Does anyone know if this means I have a bad regulator that won't go lower than 19 PSI or if I'm a dumbass and am doing something wrong? I've included pictures of the set up and the little hole where I removed the plug with the Allan wrench. There's a larger hole above that, but there was nothing blocking it, to
my knowledge. Any help is SO SO SO appreciated, since I'm not very handy and don't want to blow up my house or any other weird shit.
Thanks a lot, Chaos!
John
John try releasing pressure in keg and then start over. I'm wondering if your keg has 19psi in it already.
your red valve on the bottom is closed
release pressure with that pin on the left, open, then start over.
Thanks for your help guys! Josh, that picture was taken after I closed off the valve and also shut off the CO2. That's the only reason why it was under 19 PSI. I did receive the keg from Rich, who had beer in it that was carbed. Jeremy, you might be right. But isn't the keg always going to be carbed at a higher PSI then what the regulator will be set at when I'm serving (you serve between 4 PSI and 12 PSI, right)? So won't this always be an issue, with a keg being more pressurized (at a higher PSI) than the regulator setting I want to have it at when serving the beer?
That is a good question. I think once in solution it wants to stay there. That regulator looks like the one Midwest was selling. I have two and 1 is hooked onto my 4 way regualtors. I had to release balance and adjust all 4 regulators and the main on the tank for every adjustment until I was comfortable with its value. Weird like I had to tune it in.
Pull the pin on top of the keg to release the pressure on that keg too(probably going to scare you a little, but it's ok). Sounds like it was pushing back into the reguIator. I highly doubt there was that much pressure in there, but I honestly have no idea what the carbonating qualities of cheap red wine are. Josh might, though.
It is an untapped corner of education.
We can include into our next party school. Wine beer hybrid school hahaha
John, the beer will evenentually equalize with the regulator.
When beer is done carbing at 20 PSI, turn air way down. Then pop the release valve for zero keg pressure. open the tap and turn your air up until you like the pour. That's usually 8-10 PSI for me.
Chaos, thank you! I released the pressure on the keg and the psi reading was able to reduce, with delicious wine pale ale flowing out. It actually tasted kinda funky. Anyway, it's all working now and I really appreciate all of your help!
Well, maybe WPA's are best drank fresh, as well as being gassy. Glad we could further knowledge