[mikeypedersen]

Hey Everyone......I have a friend in need and am not sure what to tell him to do.... 

He has a kegorator that just crapped the bed.  I had an extra fridge in the garage that I told him he could have, but it's one of those apartment fridges that aren't quite full sized.  Anyway, it fits his 1/2 barrel with room for a corney, but he has a 20# CO2 tank that is too tall to fit in the fridge.  He's thinking of either putting it outside the fridge or just exchanging it for a smaller tank.  I know that I've read that the pressure will be different depending on the temp of the tank, but does anyone know how sensitive it is?  Keep in mind this is in Colorado and this is in an uninsulated detached garage.  It's totally common for temperature swings to be 30 - 40 degrees in one day (High of 85, low of 55 is usual in the summertime).  Will this type of swing severely screw with the pressure levels on his system resulting in over/under carbonated beer?  Or will changes in temp not have a significant effect?

 

[riverrat]

I'm not 100% positive, but I'm pretty sure that the pressure change you are referring to is in the tank only (vapor pressure of liquid CO2 at different temps).  The regulated "serving" pressure should not significantly change through a 30 degree temp swing.  He may need to slightly adjust the regulator setting seasonally (and he's most likely got frozen beer in the winter), but it shouldn't be a major issue.

[theDarkSide]

Don't let him exchange a 20# tank for a 5# one...he may regret it later if he gets a new/used fridge.  Buy a 5# tank, which can be used as backup if he does get a bigger fridge.

[bonjour]

The regulator will deliver the set pressure with no problem, but the tank pressure (not the amount of CO2 in the tank will vary by temp.

Fred

[dean]

I'm sure he's aware of what pressure to set his regulator at considering he lives in or near the mile high zone, and I doubt the swing will effect anything that much considering it is only over a period of hours at a time.  Outside the fridge works fine for me, I'd be more concerned about what was going on with the the beer in the fridge, freezing etc.     Good gravy the fridge probably never runs in the winter... mine hardly does here in MI or when I lived in OH!   

[a10t2]

CO2 costs about a third as much in a 20 lb tank - I'd say that's well worth drilling a hole and mounting the tank/regulator outside.

I'm sure he's aware of what pressure to set his regulator at considering he lives in or near the mile high zone

Good call, at 5000 ft you need to add about 2 psig. The pressure differential due to something like a storm front or temperature variation is tiny.

[mikeypedersen]

I'd be more concerned about what was going on with the the beer in the fridge, freezing etc.     Good gravy the fridge probably never runs in the winter... mine hardly does here in MI or when I lived in OH!   

He's had the fridge in the same spot for 3 years and it has never frozen, so that isn't an issue.  I just wanted to make sure that a 40 degree temp swing for the tank wasn't going to affect the pressure coming out of the regulator.  It sounds like it shouldn't have a very big impact.  Thanks for the info!

[rabid_dingo]

Mike, I am in Brighton and i keep my tank outside the fridge in the garage. Mine is attached though. Not a problem yet.

[lazyb34n]

The temp swing will have no noticeable effect on the regulator.  It really only effects the tank its self.  The temp swing doesn't matter, its the High and low temps that matter and from what you have stated those are fine.