Couplers

[Oh Crap]

I will check tomorrow

[Will_D]

There is a special valve available for handpumping from a keg with a bit of pressure.
It fits inline into the beer line between the keg and pump.

If you don't fit one the beer will flow continuously though the hand pump.

See here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sis.html?_nkw=Real%20Ale%20Cask%20Beer%20Check%20Valve&_itemId=121049790283

[John Edward]

I believe the check valve is only used when the pressure inside the vessel is great enough to force beer through the line. My understanding is that normal casking pressure and having the hand pump a metre above the cask is enough to prevent the beer from flowing up the line and out of the pump. This check valve is also on the beer out line. I'm concerned about whether the gas in line is locked or if it relies on pressure from the CO2 line to prevent back flow/venting.

[Oh Crap]

Howya
I can't see whether it is or isn't locked as the only way to check would be on a keg and unfortunately all mine are hooked up to gas and taps. What I do know is that the distributor above will lock the gas from flowing.  If you want I can attach a Short piece of gas line from coupler to the distributor and lock it for you (you can have the distributor on me) then at least it'll stop any gas venting from the coupler. If that's any good to you.

[John Edward]

Yeah, that might be a solution.

You're based in Galway right? Ever come up to Dublin or have any way to get it down here? I don't think I'll be back to the West any time soon, but I could be wrong.

[Oh Crap]

Won't be in Dublin for awhile but I can find out how much to post.... If that helps

[Will_D]

I believe the check valve is only used when the pressure inside the vessel is great enough to force beer through the line. My understanding is that normal casking pressure and having the hand pump a metre above the cask is enough to prevent the beer from flowing up the line and out of the pump. This check valve is also on the beer out line. I'm concerned about whether the gas in line is locked or if it relies on pressure from the CO2 line to prevent back flow/venting.

A bit of science:

1 bar or 14 psi is equivqlent to a column of water approximately 30 feet high. Call it 10 metres.

So if your HP is 1 metre above the TOP of the beer in the keg (unlikely) AND the pressure in the keg is less than1.4 psi the it won't flow.

The pressure applied to the keg is dictated by the regulator on the gas bottle. So if the reg is set to 1 psi then as soon as the keg gets to 1 psi the gas stops. Pull off a few scoops, the pressure in the keg drops and the reg kicks in and fills upmto 1 psi..

[paddyp]

I believe the check valve is only used when the pressure inside the vessel is great enough to force beer through the line. My understanding is that normal casking pressure and having the hand pump a metre above the cask is enough to prevent the beer from flowing up the line and out of the pump. This check valve is also on the beer out line. I'm concerned about whether the gas in line is locked or if it relies on pressure from the CO2 line to prevent back flow/venting.

A bit of science:

1 bar or 14 psi is equivqlent to a column of water approximately 30 feet high. Call it 10 metres.

So if your HP is 1 metre above the TOP of the beer in the keg (unlikely) AND the pressure in the keg is less than1.4 psi the it won't flow.

The pressure applied to the keg is dictated by the regulator on the gas bottle. So if the reg is set to 1 psi then as soon as the keg gets to 1 psi the gas stops. Pull off a few scoops, the pressure in the keg drops and the reg kicks in and fills upmto 1 psi..

The gas in line may have a silicone nrv that you can remove if the vacuum isn't sufficient to draw co2 from your mylar balloon:
http://www.micromatic.com/draft-keg-beer/keg-taps-couplers-parts-pid-401-038.html

You could avoid the check valve gestapo camra style by venting the pressure in the keg and serving at atmospheric pressure.

[Oh Crap]

It appears to have a nrv so it should do the job... But I still put in the gas dist. so you can manually switch off

[John Edward]

Ok that's brilliant.

Glenn, I just emailed you back.

[Oh Crap]

John, I was degassing a keg to open today, put the coupler on and it let NO gas vent from the gas port. I disconnect all lines and retried it and the keg vented through the beer out line. So for your first problem the answer is it will NOT let gas vent from the keg.  As for the other solution try the distributor on the line and shut off the switch to stop beer flowing up the line. Temp solution till you get the correct piece but it should work. 😀

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

People should be aware that a beer engine is a pump with a non return valve, not an on/off valve similar to a normal beer tap. If there is pressure in the cask/keg then the beer will just flow straight through the non return valve and out of the spigot. That's why the cellar man vents the cask before dispensing beer, if you apply gas pressure on top of the beer then it will push the beer straight through the beer engine, the Mylar balloon may work but will depend upon how high the beer engine is mounted above the keg, I've read that some people use a low pressure bottled gas regulator in line with the co2 reg to act as a diy cask breather
Yikes I hadn't seen that there was a second page of posts, apologies for repeating previous info