Regulators & gauges

A regulator drops the high pressure inside a gas cylinder to the working pressure a keg needs, and the gauges tell you what is left in the bottle and what is reaching the beer.

  • High-pressure gauge = what is in the bottle; low-pressure = what reaches the beer
  • CO2 and mixed gas use different valve fittings and are not interchangeable
  • Creeping pressure or any hiss at the connection is a stop-and-check

Showing 1–24 of 28 results

Showing 1–24 of 28 results

Most regulators carry two gauges and they answer different questions. The high-pressure gauge reads what is in the cylinder, which tells you when to order gas. The low-pressure gauge reads what is going to the keg, which is what actually affects the beer. Setting the working pressure too high pushes the beer over-carbonated and it pours all head; too low and the pour goes slack and flat.

How to choose

What to know

Gas type is not interchangeable. Carbon dioxide and mixed gas cylinders use different valve fittings by design, precisely so a regulator cannot be fitted to the wrong bottle, and a primary regulator on the cylinder is a different thing from a secondary regulator that splits and trims pressure to individual lines. Check which of the two you are replacing before ordering.

What to know

Regulators are a safety item as well as a service item. A gauge that reads oddly, a regulator that creeps up in pressure when it should be steady, or any hiss around the connection is a reason to stop and check rather than to carry on and see.

Common questions

What is the difference between a primary and a secondary regulator?

A primary mounts on the cylinder and brings the high bottle pressure down to a usable working pressure. A secondary sits downstream and lets you trim the pressure to individual lines that need different settings.

Why is my beer pouring all head?

The most common cause is working pressure set too high, which over-carbonates the beer. Check the low-pressure gauge, not the bottle gauge. Warm beer and a dirty line will do the same thing, so rule those out too.

Can I use a CO2 regulator on a mixed gas cylinder?

No. The valve fittings differ by design so that the wrong regulator cannot be fitted. Use the regulator made for the gas you are running.

Have a look at

Ale extractors & fittingsKeg dispense equipment