For those with Sodastreams, what is your DIY refilling method?

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › For those with Sodastreams, what is your DIY refilling method?

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neb

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#2490143 23-May-2020 18:23

Wolf555:
What sparkling water is loaded with sugar?? I just checked the label for the ones we had been getting, Kiwi Blue Sparkling Water Lemon, and it has no calories/sugar. It's literally just "Carbonated Spring Water, Food Acid (330), Flavour."

Oh, I thought you were referring to lemonade. I never really buy the stuff so didn't know there was non-sugary lemon fizzy drink.

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snnet

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#2490150 23-May-2020 19:02

Regarding earlier discussions of DIY tanks - isn't there a limit to how much CO2 you shouldn't exceed to have in one place? I've seen a lot of those combination taps that do hot water and CO2/sparkling water being installed on jobs I've worked at and the installer always tells the client they shouldn't have more than 100L of CO2 in one place

cruxis

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#2490169 23-May-2020 19:36

Wolf555:

cruxis:

I use method 1, I take down a empty ice cream container to BOC the gas shop Christchurch, the shopkeeper fills it with pellets for 10$. With that I put about 400 grams in 2 bottles and dump the left overs. The pellets are nicely shaped like tubes, they are easy to drop into the gas bottle.

So yeah 2 bottles refilled for 10$.

Not in Chch so wonder how shipping works with dry ice. Their website also asks me to register before they show prices. Do you have any issues with leakage? I hear that's common when refilling your own. Was it straight forward to get the top off (at least the first time)?

Yeh the copper metal is really soft metal I damage the thread once. Just took it to mitre10 and swaped it out for a refill.

Another option if you really go through alot of fizzy it check out a homebrew store is to get something like this

https://www.brewshop.co.nz/sodastream-cylinder-filling-adapter.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwk6P2BRAIEiwAfVJ0rNWFHRYMdKoi1jtpNAUIQc5-UE0a7bWpCmQLQeckF2RVMQgBYKHApxoCPugQAvD_BwE#

and buy a 5Kg bottle for refills

1024kb

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#2490170 23-May-2020 19:37

I chose aarkle instead of Sodastream. I don't know why but I swear that the straight sparkling water when compared side by side with Sodastream is a far superior product. Plus it's way better looking & doesn't need to be powered.

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snnet

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#2490172 23-May-2020 19:39

1024kb: I chose aarkle instead of Sodastream. I don't know why but I swear that the straight sparkling water when compared side by side with Sodastream is a far superior product. Plus it's way better looking & doesn't need to be powered.

only one of the sodastream machines uses power :)

Wolf555

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#2490189 23-May-2020 20:13

cruxis:
Another option if you really go through alot of fizzy it check out a homebrew store is to get something like this

https://www.brewshop.co.nz/sodastream-cylinder-filling-adapter.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwk6P2BRAIEiwAfVJ0rNWFHRYMdKoi1jtpNAUIQc5-UE0a7bWpCmQLQeckF2RVMQgBYKHApxoCPugQAvD_BwE#

and buy a 5Kg bottle for refills

This is probably what I'm leaning towards. Maybe a 3.5kg bottle and that adapter about $300 all up and then $35 per refill after that.

Am I right in thinking 3.5kg would fill up the 60L sodastream bottle roughly 8-9 times (400g per fill?).

Quite a bit of upfront cost but I guess it would be the same as getting refill/swaps 10 times.

jarledb

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#2490294 23-May-2020 22:35

If you don't have training in refilling high pressure gas cylinders I would advice against doing it.

The bottles can become deadly bombs.

Quote from Linde Group Safety Advice - working with Carbon Dioxide CO2.

In general, only the properly trained personnel of an authorised filling facility can determine whether a cylinder is suitable for use.

In addition, it is absolutely mandatory that the contents be monitored and defined by weighing during filling.

According to the Pressure Vessel Code, a cylinder may contain a maximum of 0,75 kg CO2 per litre of cylinder volume. This fill factor guaran- tees that the pressure in the CO2 cylinder will not reach the test pressure of 250 bar below a temperature of 65°C.

If the filling factor is exceeded, the pressure inside the cylinder increases substantially with even a slight rise in temperature.

An overfilled CO2 cylinder can burst if it is merely exposed to sunlight. It is highly inadvisable to transfer carbon dioxide from one cylinder to another.

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Wolf555

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#2490344 24-May-2020 07:30

jarledb:

If you don't have training in refilling high pressure gas cylinders I would advice against doing it.

The bottles can become deadly bombs.

Quote from Linde Group Safety Advice - working with Carbon Dioxide CO2.

In general, only the properly trained personnel of an authorised filling facility can determine whether a cylinder is suitable for use.

In addition, it is absolutely mandatory that the contents be monitored and defined by weighing during filling.

According to the Pressure Vessel Code, a cylinder may contain a maximum of 0,75 kg CO2 per litre of cylinder volume. This fill factor guaran- tees that the pressure in the CO2 cylinder will not reach the test pressure of 250 bar below a temperature of 65°C.

If the filling factor is exceeded, the pressure inside the cylinder increases substantially with even a slight rise in temperature.

An overfilled CO2 cylinder can burst if it is merely exposed to sunlight. It is highly inadvisable to transfer carbon dioxide from one cylinder to another.

PDF here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeopdQRJPTA

This guy makes it look pretty easy and safe (and it's a keg company in aus, not some random guy in his house) but I understand what you're saying. Will see if any others chime in with alternatives.

tukapa1

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#2490360 24-May-2020 08:52

If you want to go down teh road of filing your own from a bigger cylinder have a look for a swap centre near you;

https://eziswapgas.co.nz/co2

I bought my own 6kg cylinder (home brew kegged beer) but if I had my time again I would go down the eziswap road.

cruxis

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#2490377 24-May-2020 09:39

Yeh I think the co2 pellets way is the safest, as its easy as to measure out 400g of co2 when its solid.

robjg63

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#2490378 24-May-2020 09:41

1024kb: I chose aarkle instead of Sodastream. I don't know why but I swear that the straight sparkling water when compared side by side with Sodastream is a far superior product. Plus it's way better looking & doesn't need to be powered.

It still uses the same Co2 bottle though.

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Wolf555

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#2490396 24-May-2020 11:15

tukapa1:

If you want to go down teh road of filing your own from a bigger cylinder have a look for a swap centre near you;

https://eziswapgas.co.nz/co2

I bought my own 6kg cylinder (home brew kegged beer) but if I had my time again I would go down the eziswap road.

I'm confused how this place is different to purchasing your own cylinder and just paying to have it refilled? Their prices seem higher. Is the only difference they actually swap your canister instead of refill?

MikeAqua

7627 posts

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#2491009 25-May-2020 13:03

With an appropriate regulator, you would be able to decant-fill from a larger cylinder. I've filled plenty of pony bottles (small scuba cylinder) like this.

Here are some hazards to think about: -

(1) CO2 in a larger cylinder may not be food-grade - does that matter?

(2) Bottles can fail during filling. I've seen the aftermath of a SCUBA cylinder failing. It blew blocks out of a cinder block wall a couple of metres away what is the DIY programme for testing? If I was me, I would want the small bottle inside something strong during filling. Also check that date stamp o the bottle (assuming it's literal date, not a code). When the bottle is close to its expiry date, swap for a new one.

(3) CO2 is a colourless, tasteless, odourless asphyxiant. On the plus side, your body has alarm systems for excess CO2. If it was me I'd be keeping the large cylinder outside.

Mike

tukapa1

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#2491218 25-May-2020 17:50

Wolf555:
tukapa1:

If you want to go down teh road of filing your own from a bigger cylinder have a look for a swap centre near you;

https://eziswapgas.co.nz/co2

I bought my own 6kg cylinder (home brew kegged beer) but if I had my time again I would go down the eziswap road.

I'm confused how this place is different to purchasing your own cylinder and just paying to have it refilled? Their prices seem higher. Is the only difference they actually swap your canister instead of refill?

Swap your bottle instead of refill. No waiting for a fill. No having your cylinder tested and certified every 5 years and having to pay for that. No having to buy a replacement cylinder down the track if yours fails testing and certification in the future. Comparable prices first up to buying your own cylinder full.

katipo67

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Wannabe Geek

#2491244 25-May-2020 18:52

neb:
Wolf555:

What sparkling water is loaded with sugar?? I just checked the label for the ones we had been getting, Kiwi Blue Sparkling Water Lemon, and it has no calories/sugar. It's literally just "Carbonated Spring Water, Food Acid (330), Flavour."

Oh, I thought you were referring to lemonade. I never really buy the stuff so didn't know there was non-sugary lemon fizzy drink.

One thing to watch though is, even just carbonated water is not great for your teeth enamel...

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