[banjo-guy]

How should go about carbonating a 2.5 gallon keg? I need to get a wet hop beer to the person who gave me the hops before I go away for two weeks.  I assume that it is a shorter time frame than a 5 gallon keg and batch

[Stevie]

Not any different from a 5 gallon keg. Get it cold and hook it up to gas. Can also utilize any of the "fast" carb methods.

[banjo-guy]

I'm afraid I'll over carbonate it. I am planning on putting it 35 psi for 8 hours or so. Afte that I'll dial back to 12 psi.
My question  is really how much faster will the smaller 2.5 keg take compared to the 5 gallon batch and keg?

[tommymorris]

I use 2.5G kegs exclusively. If you connect to 11-12PSI the keg will be fully carbonated in 7-10 days easy.

Higher pressure will over carbonate a 2.5G keg faster than a 5G.  I don't know exactly how how long it takes to carb at higher pressure,  but, I do know 30PSI for 24 hours over carbonated a keg for me in the past. I haven't tried again. 7-10 days is always fast enough for me since I like at least a little conditioning time.

PS. Boost carbing probably takes half the time since you are delivering half as many CO2 molecules to achieve the same carbonation volume.

[banjo-guy]

I'll take the chance and put it on 30 psi overnight and then dial it back to 12 psi  for a few days. Hopefully it will be carbonated before I leave.

[santoch]

Why not put it at 20 instead?  Seems like russian roulette to go that high. 

[banjo-guy]

I have enough time to lower the psi a little. I play it a little on the safe side.

[denny]

I'm afraid I'll over carbonate it. I am planning on putting it 35 psi for 8 hours or so. Afte that I'll dial back to 12 psi.
My question  is really how much faster will the smaller 2.5 keg take compared to the 5 gallon batch and keg?

You probably won't but even if you do it's no big deal.  Just release some pressure.

[denny]

I'm afraid I'll over carbonate it. I am planning on putting it 35 psi for 8 hours or so. Afte that I'll dial back to 12 psi.
My question  is really how much faster will the smaller 2.5 keg take compared to the 5 gallon batch and keg?

In my experience it will be the same.

[brewinhard]

I'm afraid I'll over carbonate it. I am planning on putting it 35 psi for 8 hours or so. Afte that I'll dial back to 12 psi.
My question  is really how much faster will the smaller 2.5 keg take compared to the 5 gallon batch and keg?

In my experience it will be the same.

This ^^^^^^. Put it on 20 psi for 48 hrs, then drop to 10-12 for a day. Relieve pressure, set to serving psi, and drink.

[HoosierBrew]

I'm afraid I'll over carbonate it. I am planning on putting it 35 psi for 8 hours or so. Afte that I'll dial back to 12 psi.
My question  is really how much faster will the smaller 2.5 keg take compared to the 5 gallon batch and keg?

In my experience it will be the same.

This ^^^^^^. Put it on 20 psi for 48 hrs, then drop to 10-12 for a day. Relieve pressure, set to serving psi, and drink.

+2.  Depending on what style I'm carbing, I generally go 20-30 psi for 48 hours, then set down @ serving pressure, which in my case is ~ 12 psi.

[banjo-guy]

I am carbing to 2.4 units.