Does my CO2 regulator still work?

[BrewerB]

I was in the process of carbonating my California Common when my CO2 tank w/ regulator came crashing down off the table.

Any ideas how I can find out if the regulator is still working? I tried dispensing some beer with my usual setting and it seemed ok. I just wonder if I can still trust the gauge readings.

Put a nice big chip in our tile flooring too.

[BadRock]

Crank up the pressure does it make noise. I mean if you can hear flow when you have cranked it up then it's working. The gauges are probably fine. I have a nitrogen regulator that bounces around in my service truck day in and day out. It's been dropped and abused and it still works fine. They are a lot heartier than people give them credit for.

[BrewerB]

Yep. It definitely makes noise when I crank it up (aka gas still flows).

I've just heard so much about the regulators being so fragile. That's why I was freakin' out. I need another beer

[BadRock]

Yep, Relax, Don't Worry, Have A Homebrew!

[BrewerB]

Yep, Relax, Don't Worry, Have A Homebrew!

You are obviously a Papazian fan, BadRock.

Here's the thing - gas doesn't seem to flow unless I've got my regulator set above 7. Also, when my regulator hit the ground, it was set at 20. When I picked it up, it was above 25.

Might the zero point have been reset?

[Bugeater]

One thing you should have in your arsenal of brewing gadgets is a keg pressure checker. You can pressurize a keg and then use the pressure tester on the keg and compare the readings on it against your regulator. A couple places on the web sell these or you can build one yourself. http://www.hbd.org/carboy/kegpresstester.htm

Anyone kegging should have one of these gadgets, especially if you "shake and bake" to carbonate kegs.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[BrewerB]

Wayne, thanks for the link. I'm going to put this on my to-build list.

That is a fantastic gadget for a kegger's arsenal. And I do conduct the "shake n' bake" method.

At the moment I'm gonna risk over-carbonation and assume that the zero point on my gauge has gone up 6-7 psi. We'll see how it goes.

Now to figure out how to repair a chipped tile...

[BadRock]

Are you sure the 6-7 psi you are reading isn't the static pressure of the keg. Try turning the gas off and pulling the connector off of the post. Then see if it zeros.