Expert: Keith Patton - 12/5/2008

Question
I am trying to develop a beer dispenser using a CO2 tank to add bubbles. How can I control bubbles development? some times I get too much bubbles and some times I do not have any. Thank you.

Answer
Roger:

You need a regulator.  The normal setup includes a CO2 tank with a pressure gauge to tell you the pressure in the tank, and an output gauge to tell you how much pressure you are putting in the beer.

The common kegs, cornileus kegs, the old soda syrup kegs used by the various softdrink companies have an input and output. The output connection has a long pickup tube.  The input has a short one.  You can put an extention on the input an place an aquarium stone on it to get finer bubbles.

Since I don't know what setup you have currently, I cannot give you specific advice on how to change it to the normal configuration.  Go to any of the homebrew retail websites and you will see the common configuration.  A regulator is probably $50-75.  You can rig a regulator manifold so on cylinder can feed numerous kegs.  I just use a combination of automotive vacuum line plastic Tees and stainless hose clamps with multiple outputs and one input.  A metal manifold costs $50 and isn't worth it.  Be sure that you use clamps on all your lines.  Input pressure into your kegs should be about 5psi.

Keith