Sodastream

VinLieger

crazyderk wrote: »

One other question, do the tanks from AJ have a dip in them or should I turn it upside down?

Mine has one and I forgot to ask when picking it up, my impression when i was on the phone to them was they are selling so many at the moment that they are keeping around 5-10 always ready and they prep and dip them without being asked which you previously needed to do.

Hodors Appletart

is there an easy way to tell if your cannisters are old or new style?

VinLieger

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

is there an easy way to tell if your cannisters are old or new style?

I found this image that's useful here. From what ive personally seen each one has slightly different variations you can get but that doesn't change the function, if you have just a small pin like on the left its the old style and if theres any kind of flat cap like the right its a newer one.

54and56

crazyderk wrote: »

One other question, do the tanks from AJ have a dip in them or should I turn it upside down?

Not necessarily by default so it's worth asking them when buying.

If you aren't getting any sort of fill, regardless of whether your Sodastream canister is the older or newer type, you may not have a dip tube in the AJ Edge donor canister so you need to invert it and then open the valve to start the fill.

It's doable but a bit of a pain hence the benefit of having a dip tube which allows you to fill with the donor canister standing upright.

54and56

wassie wrote: »

Also, I bought a replacement valve for my new sodastream canister rather than taking a punt to try and score an older type.

https://www.co2supermarket.co.uk/sodastream-valve-p533.html

Have you fitted the replacement valve yet Wassie? How easy is it to remove and replace the supplied valve on the sodastream canister?

I've one new style canister and whilst I do manage the fiddly refill process with it I'd prefer if it had an older style valve so might buy one if it's not too tricky a process.

VinLieger

54and56 wrote: »

Have you fitted the replacement valve yet Wassie? How easy is it to remove and replace the supplied valve on the sodastream canister?

I've one new style canister and whilst I do manage the fiddly refill process with it I'd prefer if it had an older style valve so might buy one if it's not too tricky a process.

I watched a vid on how to replace them and the only serious equipment i think you need that not everyone might have is a vice, other than that it looks pretty simple.

wassie

No I haven't yet but was inspired by the post & pics from this time last year by ...Ghost... that suggested it is easy enough by hand with a wrench/spanner.

Will post back when I do.

DavyD_83

I still haven't gotten myself out to AJ.
But one quick question, when getting your 2nd (or later) cool from AJ do they generally just refill the tank you have or swap you for a new full one?
Or. Of you do/don't get a dip first tone round are you stuck/sorted for the long run.

VinLieger

DavyD_83 wrote: »

I still haven't gotten myself out to AJ.
But one quick question, when getting your 2nd (or later) cool from AJ do they generally just refill the tank you have or swap you for a new full one?
Or. Of you do/don't get a dip first tone round are you stuck/sorted for the long run.

They just refill what you have, if its not dipped and you need a refill id assume they can add a dip tube for a cost before refilling.

54and56

VinLieger wrote: »

They just refill what you have, if its not dipped and you need a refill id assume they can add a dip tube for a cost before refilling.

That's what I got them to do. My canister didn't come with a dip tube so I asked them to add one when I got my first refill. Don't think they charged anything for it.

Hodors Appletart

VinLieger wrote: »

I found this image that's useful here. From what ive personally seen each one has slightly different variations you can get but that doesn't change the function, if you have just a small pin like on the left its the old style and if theres any kind of flat cap like the right its a newer one.

thanks!

Hodors Appletart

turns out I have 2 of the "new" style - are the replacement ole ones easy to come by?

Schorpio

Does anyone know of an equivalent to AJ in Cork which sells CO2 canisters with dipped tubes? Interested in doing this myself, but getting to Bray is a bit of a stretch.....!

Hodors Appletart

Schorpio wrote: »

Does anyone know of an equivalent to AJ in Cork which sells CO2 canisters with dipped tubes? Interested in doing this myself, but getting to Bray is a bit of a stretch.....!

I'll ask in the homebrew community

VinLieger

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

turns out I have 2 of the "new" style - are the replacement ole ones easy to come by?

Its a lucky dip when you trade them in unfortunately, the other option is to buy the replacement valves as posted previously in the thread and swap them out. Ive not done it myself but from what ive seen it doesn't look too difficult.

Hodors Appletart

Schorpio wrote: »

Does anyone know of an equivalent to AJ in Cork which sells CO2 canisters with dipped tubes? Interested in doing this myself, but getting to Bray is a bit of a stretch.....!

I got an answer for you!

Munster CO2, in Lotabeg/Mayfield.

They do much of the same services as AJ edge, but the prices are not quite as good for refills.

Schorpio

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

I got an answer for you!

Munster CO2, in Lotabeg/Mayfield.

They do much of the same services as AJ edge, but the prices are not quite as good for refills.

Fantastic - thanks. Really appreciate it! I'll get in touch with them, see how I get on.

crazyderk

My neighbor had an old style soda stream canister and the refill worked a treat. It seems I just can't find the sweet spot on the new cannisters. I ordered the old style adapter from c02 supermarket.

TeaIsCrack

Has anyone had success refilling cannisters with the Protection Valve? I've tried doing mine ridiculously slowly and can't get it to work...

Hodors Appletart

crazyderk wrote: »

My neighbor had an old style soda stream canister and the refill worked a treat. It seems I just can't find the sweet spot on the new cannisters. I ordered the old style adapter from c02 supermarket.

could you stick a link in for this please?

wassie

see my previous post

Raoul

TeaIsCrack wrote: »

Has anyone had success refilling cannisters with the Protection Valve? I've tried doing mine ridiculously slowly and can't get it to work...

Did my first one the other day. Make sure to put it in the freezer overnight. Then when opening the valve, barely open it. Like the tiniest amount possible and then supposedly you can open it up more after that but I just left it to go in slowly.

Hodors Appletart

wassie wrote: »

see my previous post

thanks!

TeaIsCrack

Raoul wrote: »

Did my first one the other day. Make sure to put it in the freezer overnight. Then when opening the valve, barely open it. Like the tiniest amount possible and then supposedly you can open it up more after that but I just left it to go in slowly.

And can you hear it flowing when you open it a tiny crack? I can't hear any noise, I slowly turned it about a quarter turn over 5 minutes (it was really boring) and never heard anything, it didn't fill at all. There was pressure in the release valve when I undid it to remove, so I presume that means there's no dip tube issue or anything, they told me it had one.

Raoul

TeaIsCrack wrote: »

And can you hear it flowing when you open it a tiny crack? I can't hear any noise, I slowly turned it about a quarter turn over 5 minutes (it was really boring) and never heard anything, it didn't fill at all. There was pressure in the release valve when I undid it to remove, so I presume that means there's no dip tube issue or anything, they told me it had one.

Well, mine definitely has a dip tube. I would trust yours does too if they said it. I suspect a quarter turn is too much to be honest, but I know you said over 5 min, so maybe that isn't an issue.

I barely moved it at all, like 1/50 of a turn ha. Then you hear the tiniest of hisses. You nearly have to have your ear beside the thing to hear it.

VinLieger

TeaIsCrack wrote: »

And can you hear it flowing when you open it a tiny crack? I can't hear any noise, I slowly turned it about a quarter turn over 5 minutes (it was really boring) and never heard anything, it didn't fill at all. There was pressure in the release valve when I undid it to remove, so I presume that means there's no dip tube issue or anything, they told me it had one.

If there was pressure when you undid the release valve theres definitely a dip tube

crazyderk

TeaIsCrack wrote: »

And can you hear it flowing when you open it a tiny crack? I can't hear any noise, I slowly turned it about a quarter turn over 5 minutes (it was really boring) and never heard anything, it didn't fill at all. There was pressure in the release valve when I undid it to remove, so I presume that means there's no dip tube issue or anything, they told me it had one.

Thats exactly what was happening to me. I could not get it to work no matter what I tried. When I changed and used the old connector it was night and day. I could hear it flowing and it worked a treat.

TeaIsCrack

crazyderk wrote: »

Thats exactly what was happening to me. I could not get it to work no matter what I tried. When I changed and used the old connector it was night and day. I could hear it flowing and it worked a treat.

Okay. Have ordered new "old" connectors from the site linked earlier! Thanks for feedback people.

Hodors Appletart

Do you need a regulator for this ?

Collecting the CO2 from AJ Edge tomorrow hopefully, made sure to ask about a dip tube, and I have the tube and connectors for the transfer - I have 2 "new" style cannisters but the instructions that came with the thing say it will do that style, so going to try that first.

54and56

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

Do you need a regulator for this ?

Collecting the CO2 from AJ Edge tomorrow hopefully, made sure to ask about a dip tube, and I have the tube and connectors for the transfer - I have 2 "new" style cannisters but the instructions that came with the thing say it will do that style, so going to try that first.

The "new" valves are definitely finicky and by the sound of it the workaround of slowly releasing the donor valve until you hear a stream of CO2 transferring may not work in all cases as seems to be the situation with TeaIsCrack.

All I can add is that for me when I refill the one "new" canister I have I try to open the donor valve less than 1mm at at a time and as soon as I hear the low level screech of the CO2 transferring I then open it a little more but never fast and never all the way open as too much pressure on the "new" valves forces them past the "open" position into a 2nd "closed" position. You have to find the middle of the range CLOSED-OPEN-CLOSED for the CO2 to transfer and keep the valve in that position until the transfer is complete.

I guess some of the new valves may simply be more sensitive or looser than others and therefore harder to manually find the open sweet spot.

Hodors Appletart

yeah I've been watching videos today so thanks for confirming that method

I'll give it a go and if it's too much like hassle I'll just get a replacement "old style" and fit it, that doesn't seem like it's at all difficult to do

rabbitinlights

Not sure if it’s been mentioned before but KSS Fire Suppression in Tallaght do refills for €10 a bottle.

Only took them 5min to do 2 of mine.

VinLieger

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Not sure if it’s been mentioned before but KSS Fire Suppression in Tallaght do refills for €10 a bottle.

Only took them 5min to do 2 of mine.

Nice, that's definitely useful for those who don't want to bother with getting their own can.

The numbers work out to 4.50 a refill based on getting the full 11 refills out of it for the first can which costs 50 euro and then with a refill on that which i think last i saw AJ are providing for 20 that 4.50 comes down to about 2 euro.

og2k7

Hi all

Bought a new sodastream and wondering where do you all get the replacement tanks? Seems not available in argos - all info seems to be only relevant for the UK.

I can see them on Amazon for 22 gbp but do you get to replace the empty ones at a discount?

Thanks and regards

VinLieger

og2k7 wrote: »

Hi all

Bought a new sodastream and wondering where do you all get the replacement tanks? Seems not available in argos - all info seems to be only relevant for the UK.

I can see them on Amazon for 22 gbp but do you get to replace the empty ones at a discount?

Thanks and regards

If they have them in stock Harvey Norman do the trade ins for 22 euro

og2k7

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Not sure if it’s been mentioned before but KSS Fire Suppression in Tallaght do refills for €10 a bottle.

Only took them 5min to do 2 of mine.

Thats very helpful - do you just show up or need to book an appointment?

Thanks

VinLieger

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Not sure if it’s been mentioned before but KSS Fire Suppression in Tallaght do refills for €10 a bottle.

Only took them 5min to do 2 of mine.

Do the bottles need to be cooled first?

rabbitinlights

I just showed up - he pretty much looked at me and said “Sodastream?” So im assuming they are doing it a lot or I need to rethink my style a little.

Didn’t have to do anything with the bottles, they are the new style I think and they were very cold when I got them back.

Quicker than Argos and money going to an Irish business. Win Win.

jimmy86

rabbitinlights wrote: »

I just showed up - he pretty much looked at me and said “Sodastream?” So im assuming they are doing it a lot or I need to rethink my style a little.

Didn’t have to do anything with the bottles, they are the new style I think and they were very cold when I got them back.

Quicker than Argos and money going to an Irish business. Win Win.

Could be a false economy as if the bottles aren't kept in the freezer before refilling it is difficult to get them beyond half full. Might be worth weighing them before and after to see how much gas you received. A full cylinder has about 425g I think.

A great option to have local though, just maybe something worth considering or checking out.

VinLieger

jimmy86 wrote: »

Could be a false economy as if the bottles aren't kept in the freezer before refilling it is difficult to get them beyond half full. Might be worth weighing them before and after to see how much gas you received. A full cylinder has about 425g I think.

A great option to have local though, just maybe something worth considering or checking out.

Yeah that's what I was thinking, just adding the Co2 to the bottle should cool it a bit but like you say if its not put in a freezer for a few hours prior to the fill your unlikely to get it more than half as full as it should be.

rabbitinlights

The bottles are about 1.41kg now so not sure if anyone can tell me what an empty weights?

I’ll know for next time to freeze them but I’ve been out of Gas since March so delighted either way.

VinLieger

rabbitinlights wrote: »

The bottles are about 1.41kg now so not sure if anyone can tell me what an empty weights?

I’ll know for next time to freeze them but I’ve been out of Gas since March so delighted either way.

An empty one should be around 750g and a good fill should add 400-420g

wassie

VinLieger wrote: »

Yeah that's what I was thinking, just adding the Co2 to the bottle should cool it a bit but like you say if its not put in a freezer for a few hours prior to the fill your unlikely to get it more than half as full as it should be.

They are could also be chilling them by partially filling and the depressurising them rapidly - just like when you use an aerosol. Not same as a freezer but would make a significant difference.

54and56

rabbitinlights wrote: »

Not sure if it’s been mentioned before but KSS Fire Suppression in Tallaght do refills for €10 a bottle.

Only took them 5min to do 2 of mine.

Are you talking about refilling a 5KG "donor" canister similar to a fire extinguisher or are you talking about refilling the actual Sodastream bottles/canisters?

Looks like they supply food grade CO2 on a very professional basis - http://carbondioxide.ie.

Effects

VinLieger wrote: »

An empty one should be around 750g and a good fill should add 400-420g

I checked mine before I had them filled at KSS and they vary slightly, but I got 480g of a difference.

I froze two, and left the others at room temp, and no difference.

He charged me €40 to fill 5 of them. Really sound guy, and great service.

Had to trek over from Dublin 3 though, and traffic was horrible, around lunch time.

I’ll cycle over the next time.

AndrewJRenko

rabbitinlights wrote: »

I just showed up - he pretty much looked at me and said “Sodastream?

:D:D:D

Hodors Appletart

just about to attempt a re-fill on a "new style" cylinder....will update soon

Hodors Appletart

didn't work, the connector to the co2 cylinder is CGA 320 and not the correct fitting, so the co2 is exiting the donor cylinder but not flowing to the sodastream cylinder

Hodors Appletart

Finally!

Got the correct things I needed, including replacing the new for old style bottle tops.

Just filled a cannister!

Can't find the bleedin sodastream machine mine

Hodors Appletart

Yeah, found it anyway and successfully drinking carbonated water again. Wife is delighted

For those reading and wanting to do this, here is what I used

This adapter

This valve to replace the "new" style on the current cylinders.

a 5kg CO2 Cylinder from AJ Edge in Bray that cost 50 quid, and whatever for the refills.

So for a Capital Outlay of about €125 (more or less) I can now refill my 2 cylinders for a fraction of the cost.

With all the faffing I probably lost 1 fill from the 5 litres, but even if I get 5 fills from the initial purchase that will cover the cost of the outlay in the cost of refills from The Range or elsewhere.

Very happy with that, and it was easy enough.

One piece of advice for replacing the valve - use the small knob on the side to release the left overpressure in the bottle before attempting to remove the valve, it was small but was causing issues, once I opened that it was trivial to get the old valve out.