barrel presure

[pongobilly]

as i have put my choc stout in a budget barrel, how much of the 5 gallon will i get out without having to add some gas, also will it be ok to remove the cap and add a s30 cap when needed

[TC2642]

If you have primed sufficently you will be able to get a few pints out to start but will probably have to leave it a few days to allow more pressure to build up in the ullage space. I usually give a one second blast on my barrels when the beer starts to pour a trickle rather than a torrent.

Edited to add, putting on the Valve should be fine, flush the barrel with gas after and then unscrew the cap slightly, allow the oxygen to escape and then screw the cap back on.

[pongobilly]

the cap i have on at the moment doenst have a valve on its just a plain screw cap, i am gonna get an s30 cap from wilkos when needed so i would have to remove the old cap completely, what do you mean by flushing out with gas

[ColinKeb]

when you remove the cap to swop them over the co2 will escape through the lid hole. when you put the new lid on you need to push any air that got in out by filling with co2 then opening the lid enough to just allow the air trapped in there to escape leaving just co2 (the air will rise to the top and hence be pushed out first )

[pongobilly]

so basically remove the cap, replace with the s30 cap give it a shot of gas ( is a 1 second blast enuff or a whole bulb) then undo cap till the hiss goes and retighten cap

[TC2642]

so basically remove the cap, replace with the s30 cap give it a shot of gas ( is a 1 second blast enuff or a whole bulb) then undo cap till the hiss goes and retighten cap

Yep, one second blast will be fine