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changing gauges on a regulator

https://thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21666

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changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:59 am
by San_Diego_Matt
I Just bought a new regulator from the CHI Company that they had on special last month.

it was, I think, listed as "pepsi over stock" and new. It came with a cage and was like $36 so I went for it.

It's a nice looking regulator, but the dispensing gauge goes from 0psi to 20psi with no markings for 5-10-15PSI and leaves me having to guess at 12.5 or 14 or 10 or wherever I want to sent the PSI for carbing.

is it possible to just buy a different dispensing gauge that has marks at 0-5-10-15 or even marks at 0-2.5-5-7.5-10-12.5-15-17.5... so that it's easier to at least get close to the PSI I'm looking for?

the regulator I bought has a 0-100 PSI dispensing gauge and I have several 0-60PSI dispensing gauges from some POS secondaries I'm about to chuck. Can I just put one of the 0-60 PSI gauges in place of my 0-100PSI gauge?

Also, do they make 0-30 PSI gauges? or even 0-15psi gauges so I could be dead nuts tits on my carbing pressures?

Re: changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 11:07 am
by San_Diego_Matt
actually here's a link to the regulator I bought. Mine has a cage on it which is why it was $36 as opposed to $29, but as it turns out, the dispensing gauge is a 0-160SPI gauge

http://www.chicompany.net/index.php?mai ... ts_id=1426

Re: changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:33 pm
by Bugeater
I've changed out those gauges myself. You can get them in either 30 or 60 psi. I prefer the 30. Don't know if you would even want a 15. It would be too easy to accidentally blow out the gauge if you turn the pressure up a bit too high. The last time I picked up some of these, I got them pretty cheap off eBay. Here is one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Co2-Draft-Beer-Part ... 0083545128

Wayne

Re: changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:44 pm
by bcmaui
Yes - these are all typically 1/4" RH thread gages. My local irrigation and air conditioning supply houses and welding shops sell these gauges. They are easy to swap out or add on down line to see line pressure. 1-30psi is much more helpful than 1-60 and I have swapped all of mine out that were 60psi.

Re: changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 9:38 am
by San_Diego_Matt
2 30 PSI gauges have been ordered

Re: changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:24 pm
by Kbar
Bugeater wrote:I've changed out those gauges myself. You can get them in either 30 or 60 psi. I prefer the 30. Don't know if you would even want a 15. It would be too easy to accidentally blow out the gauge if you turn the pressure up a bit too high. The last time I picked up some of these, I got them pretty cheap off eBay. Here is one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Co2-Draft-Beer-Part ... 0083545128

Wayne


Hey Bug. greater resolution in the same size (geometry) gauge with a lower pressure range. If you simply serve and not force carbonate your beers, then you would benefit from the 0-15 Psi, the ability to dial in the volumes of CO2 more acurately.

Re: changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 6:43 pm
by San_Diego_Matt
I'm a fucking cunt hair away from throwing all of my regulators out the god damn window.

I can't seem to get these things clamped into a vice because there are zero flat spots on them to clamp down on and the gauges are on so fucking tight, there's no way to get the gauges out by hand.

Anyone have any suggestions? At this point I'm going to just clamp the current gauge in between the jaws of the god damn vice and twist the gauge off using the body of the regulator.

This is fucking ridiculous and ungodly frustrating!

Re: changing gauges on a regulator

Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 8:30 pm
by bcmaui
Matt needs an intervention.

Put down the regulator and step back.

Have a beer.

Relax.

Have another beer.

And another.

I did purchase one of theose CHI company regulators as well - the main gauge was busted in shipping. I've never switched it out either.

You can add a simple 1/4" tee down line from your regulator and add a pressure gauge there - just leave the busted one alone if it is a pain in the ass to remove.

Maybe get a better quality regulator for your second one. The ones from morebeer are much more sturdy and are very easy to change parts on - there are places to use wrenches on them.

And have a beer. And smile. This is supposed to be fun, remember?

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