[Jeff M]

So i work at a LHBS atm and a customer came in today and told me his Regulator was freezing while being inside his keezer.  I looked at it and it was a taprite duel regulator that was fairly new.  He said when the regulator was inside the psi Gauge would show as empty. but we tested it at room tempt and it showed 2-400 psi.  He also said his kegs wernt carbing and nothing seemed to be happening.

I can only assume there was some sort of moisture inside of his regulator but has anyone had this happen to them?  What was your solution other then keeping the tank+reg outside of the fridge?

Thanks
Jeff

[apple]

This sounds like a slow leak in the CO2. As the CO2 turns from a liquid to a gas it gives off heat and can get quite cold. I had this happen when one of my kegs sprung a slight leak through the top. The CO2 tank developed a coating of frost on it. I don't know why that would affect the regulator however.

The other option is that his Keezer is below freezing. Frozen beer would be hard pressed to carbonate. 

I've also seen frost on the walls of my keezer when it goes through a cooling cycle. But with the external thermostat the air temp stays at the set point.

I'd advise them to check for leaks and try turning the temp up.

[Jeff M]

This sounds like a slow leak in the CO2. As the CO2 turns from a liquid to a gas it gives off heat and can get quite cold. I had this happen when one of my kegs sprung a slight leak through the top. The CO2 tank developed a coating of frost on it. I don't know why that would affect the regulator however.

The other option is that his Keezer is below freezing. Frozen beer would be hard pressed to carbonate. 

I've also seen frost on the walls of my keezer when it goes through a cooling cycle. But with the external thermostat the air temp stays at the set point.

I'd advise them to check for leaks and try turning the temp up.

K thats pretty much what i told him to do. i told him a Single stage temp controller, a regulator washer and some leak checking would help him a LOT.  good to know my instincts where good:)

[narvin]

If it's only showing 200-400 psi at room temperature, the tank is running on fumes at this point.  Literally... the liquid CO2 has all evaporated and only gas is left, at a much lower pressure.  So this would read quite low when the tank is chilled.

[Slowbrew]

My system get a bit wonky when the tank gets that low.  I normally change to a fresh tank and vent the remaining gas to empty the bottle.  It generally hisses for about 10 seconds before being completely empty so not much left in there.

Paul

[Mark G]

Agree with the others. He's just running out of gas. When my tank gets that low, my regulators don't give accurate low pressure side readings.

[klickitat jim]

Me either. I ran out on the tank I keep in the shop. Tank pres read about 200 and regulator was reading 40 but had been set at 20. Shook tank and it was bone dry

[a10t2]

If it's only showing 200-400 psi at room temperature, the tank is running on fumes at this point.  Literally... the liquid CO2 has all evaporated and only gas is left, at a much lower pressure.  So this would read quite low when the tank is chilled.

With gaseous CO2, the reading won't change significantly based on temperature. If it's reading 300 psi at 77°F, it will drop to 275 psi at 32°F.

Jeff, were you testing it in the store using his personal tank? Based on what he's seeing at home, it seems like he's simply out of gas.

[Jeff M]

If it's only showing 200-400 psi at room temperature, the tank is running on fumes at this point.  Literally... the liquid CO2 has all evaporated and only gas is left, at a much lower pressure.  So this would read quite low when the tank is chilled.

With gaseous CO2, the reading won't change significantly based on temperature. If it's reading 300 psi at 77°F, it will drop to 275 psi at 32°F.

Jeff, were you testing it in the store using his personal tank? Based on what he's seeing at home, it seems like he's simply out of gas.

Testing meaning we put his regular on his tank, yes. LHBS doesnt have a gas setup(is it odd that they dont?) so there are no tools to check the tanks.  we put his regulator on and the guage was hovering right near the red.  It never occured to me that going in to the red of the guage would mean all the liquid co2 is gone and its only gas under pressure.  it makes sense now that Navin and the others said something.

Is there anything else it could be while we are at it?

[a10t2]

Testing meaning we put his regular on his tank, yes.

I'd say the most likely explanation is that when he hooked it up at home he forgot to open the tank valve.