Secondary C02 Regulator: The All You Need To Know Tutorial

In this post, we are going to talk about the secondary CO2 regulator. We will discuss:

• Their purpose.
• How they fit into draft beer systems.
• How to set them up.
• Lastly, which one I recommend.

After reading this post, you’ll be well-versed in regulators, where to find them, and how to set them up. Let's dive in!

How to Add a Secondary Regulator To Your System

Whether you have a home kegerator, a large direct draw system, or an elaborate long draw system at a bar, a secondary CO2 regulator helps a beer system pour draft beer. Secondary regulators dispense a specific pressure to a particular keg of beer. Sometimes one regulator controls multiple kegs. However, I always recommend a one-regulator-per-keg setup to maintain the exact applied pressure per keg. This ensures equilibrium when dispensing draft beer, thus maximizing keg yield and ensuring great beer.

How To Connect a Secondary CO2 Regulator

• Location: When connecting a secondary regulator downstream from your sourced CO2, it's usually near the keg it's supplying CO2 to.
• Connection: Attach the regulator using ½”- ¾” sheet metal screws to the cooler or kegerator wall. I sometimes use ¾” stainless self-tapper screws with a 5/16 nut drive.
• Supply Line: Next, connect the supply CO2 with high-pressure braided ¼” air line. Use an otiker clamp (13.3) or a hose clamp to secure the connection.
• Reading: For more on how to use a beer primary regulator and how it works with secondary regulators, check this guide.

How To Adjust The Regulator

Adjusting the regulator is straightforward. Depending on the type, some have pull-out knobs like Taprite, and others have adjustment screws. For screw-adjusted regulators, use a flat head screwdriver.

When adjusting, ensure that:

• The main CO2 pressure from the primary regulator is on.
• The hose valve is shut off or the secondary is off.
• Adjust accordingly.

For regulators like Micro Matic with an adjustment screw, turn the screw clockwise to adjust.

The secondary regulator's pressure should range from 10-12 PSI, depending on factors like the beer cooler's temperature, beer type, restriction values, and altitude.

Different Set-Ups of Co2 Regulators

Secondary regulators typically stand alone. However, when multiple brands of beer need different gases (CO2, beer gas, or Nitrogen), regulators can be grouped. For example, for ten brands of beer, where two use Nitrogen, you might use two 4-brand regulators for CO2 and one 2-brand setup for Nitrogen.

Secondary CO2 Regulator Review

Taprite Secondary Regulator:

This is my top recommendation. Taprite products are reliable and of high quality. To adjust these regulators, use a straight edge screwdriver. Turn clockwise to increase and counter-clockwise to decrease pressure. Once set, a tiny nut can be spun to lock the setting.

Summary

In this article, we've discussed adding a secondary regulator to a beer system and its location. We've also covered regulator adjustment and different setup possibilities.

If you have more questions or need further insights, reach out to me here.

Cheers!