How much to open the valve

[Beer-lord]

While getting 2-5 lb tanks filled this morning (what a deal, 1- $10, 2 for $12) I thought about whether it makes a difference how much you open the cylinder valve when you carb your beers so I went online to look and found answers from, "just until the gauge registers it" to, "all the way".
I've always turned mine on a bit more than half a turn. It's worked for me for 3 years but I am curious because if you have ever opened the valve when it's not connected, there's a big difference how much pressure comes out of that tank between 'just a little bit' and 'all the way'.

[RickBeer]

I would say no difference. The difference is in FLOW, not pressure. Yes, a restricted flow is at higher pressure (put your finger on a hose), but once you fill the connected tank with gas then the flow doesn't matter any more. Once the flow fills the keg, the pressure will hit the proper level.

[Kealia]

I never even thought about this. I open mine all the way and just assume the regulator will do it's thing.

[Dawg LB Steve]

Just something from working in the forklift business been told from the start the valve on gas cylinder should be opened just about halfway and never fully seated in the open position. Once the gas equalizes in a closed system pressure is pressure, but flow rate which would be used in welding applications can be hampered by how much the valve is open.

[BigPapaG]

Just something from working in the forklift business been told from the start the valve on gas cylinder should be opened just about halfway and never fully seated in the open position. Once the gas equalizes in a closed system pressure is pressure, but flow rate which would be used in welding applications can be hampered by how much the valve is open.

This ^^^^^!

For our purposes, halfway open is fine because we don't care about flow rate, just overall pressure which the system reaches in seconds anyway.

Another consideration is that cranking a valve fully open can sometimes lead to a valve leak at the stem cap.

[kbenton00]

I was trained to open the cylinder valve all the way as most gas valves have seals at both ends... i.e. both the fully open and fully closed positions seal the valve stem and cylinder. If the valve is only partially opened there is a possibility of gas leakage around the valve stem. This is from my welding background 30 some odd years ago
Regards

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[Pudge]

All the way here.

[FedoraDave]

I never even thought about this. I open mine all the way and just assume the regulator will do it's thing.

This was my thinking, too, since I figured the regulator equals things out regardless of how much you open the cylinder. But I'm a muttonhead, so what do I know?

[ScrewyBrewer]

Open it all the way, or not. Back in my welding days the argon and tri-mix gases all came in tall bottles that held anywhere from 2,300 to 2,700 pounds of pressure. The MIG and TIG welding only used at most 35 psi so you see the huge differences in pressure? We were taught opening the valves all the way had some safety reasoning behind it, but for my Co2 tank I just crack the valve until the regulator gauge is pinned.

[BigPapaG]

Hmmm...

I just open my CO2 as needed but do the same with my propane tank for my grill.

Seems if I open it all the way, the flow is too great and the burners don't operate well.

About a turn and a half seems to be about right for the grill...

Is this not safe? There is no apparent propane leak or smell...