Sodastream

Raoul wrote: »

looking forward to seeing the obligatory video!

Then looking forward to your masterclass .

Mmmm, that'll be a week or two away at least. The convertor I purchased, which is no longer available on Amazon.co.uk, fits the Sodastream bottle fine but doesn't screw onto the cylinder valve at all as it has a male fitting the same size as the male fitting on the 5KG CO2 cylinder. It looks like I'd need an adapter to make it work but nothing jumps out when I google 21.8 adapters so I might just contact https://www.co2-adapter.com, send them some photo's of the valve on my cylinder and get them to recommend which of their adapters I should purchase.

54and56 wrote: »

So now we are all more or less housebound with no sport to watch I'm finally getting round to a few of the things on my to-do list.

I got this adapter and set it up for my non standpipe (dip tube), non RPV 5KG CO2 cylinder.

All went well (following this video to set it up but disappointingly it only filled each sodastream cylinder with about 60 grams of CO2 rather than the 500 grams a full fill would take.

I've been on to the adapter people (VERY responsive) and they are walking me through some trouble shooting so I'll update as I go.

FYI there's nothing wrong with the 5KG CO2 cylinder other than it doesn't come with a standpipe/dip tube which means it has to be filled upside down but that's not much of a big deal really.

Hopefully I'll figure out how to get a decent fill and all will be good.

Good luck. Keep us updated.

54and56 wrote: »

So now we are all more or less housebound with no sport to watch I'm finally getting round to a few of the things on my to-do list.

I got this adapter and set it up for my non standpipe (dip tube), non RPV 5KG CO2 cylinder.

All went well (following this video to set it up but disappointingly it only filled each sodastream cylinder with about 60 grams of CO2 rather than the 500 grams a full fill would take.

I've been on to the adapter people (VERY responsive) and they are walking me through some trouble shooting so I'll update as I go.

FYI there's nothing wrong with the 5KG CO2 cylinder other than it doesn't come with a standpipe/dip tube which means it has to be filled upside down but that's not much of a big deal really.

Hopefully I'll figure out how to get a decent fill and all will be good.

Happy to report two things:-

1. These guys have a very robust product and are amazing to deal with. I've been emailing them 2-3 times and they've been responding with pointers and suggestions.

2. Their suggestions worked and I have now refilled the two empty sodastream bottles I purchased from them.

The trick, certainly using the 5kg non dip pipe non RPV cylinder I purchased from A J Edge Fire Safety Limited in Bray for €45, is to do three things:-

i) Make sure the 5kg cylinder is at room temperature, the higher the better. I had been keeping it in the shed so was only at 8c or so whereas it needs to be at 20c or more if possible. Overnight beside a radiator or in an airing cupboard will do the trick.

ii) The empty sodastream bottle(s) should be put into a freezer for at least 3 hours before you want to refill or preferably overnight. The bigger the difference in temperature between the 5KG cylinder and the sodastream bottle to be refilled the better.

iii) Fill the sodastream bottles holding the 5kg cylinder upside down. Only open the valve when you've already inverted the 5kg cylinder and keep it open for at least a minute. I found wiggling it about a bit also seemed to encourage more transfer. It's a bit of a contortion so useful to have someone who can either do the holding (it's not very heavy but requires two hands) or the valve turning.

Gloves are also required for handling the frozen Sodastream bottles.

Given this is a hack type solution I'm happy with how it works now I've finally figured it out. I might ask A J Edge Fire Safety Limited if they can either install a dip tube in the cylinder I have or so some sort of trade in for one with a dip tube next time as not having to fill upside down would make the process much easier and definitely a one person job.

Glad I've finally figured this out as the refill I got from Argos 10 days ago must only have been 25% full and is empty already.

If I get myself organised I should always have at least one full spare and two empty ready to be refilled. A full bottle typically lasts about 3 weeks in my house so I reckon I'll end up doing 7-8 refills a year which is way less hassle than traipsing down to Argos to see if they have any in stock and instead of paying Argos €288 for refills each year it'll cost me €10 - €20 a year depending on whether I have to get one or two refills of the 5KG cylinder.

€260 in my pocket and less hassle each year. Happy days.

With Argos closed, is anywhere else selling refills in Dublin?

Ordered a couple of refills off The U.K. sodastream site. You need use AddressPal to get them delivered to Ireland.

54and56 wrote: »

Bad news for you I'm afraid Gloomtastic, I tried that trick originally and AddressPal refused to accept the delivery so returned them to Sodastream. I eventually got a refund from them.

The message I got from AddressPal after they refused the delivery was

"Your parcel was refused because it contains a prohibited item.

Please contact your seller in order to request a refund or find alternative mode of transport for your package."

Ah bollix!

pelliven wrote: »

Dont know if this is any good to anyone here ,but should help out anyone who wants to bypass the sodastream canister and connect your large co2 tank direct to the sodastream machine. Ive just bought one to try. Will probably take an age to deliver , so should have plenty of time to pick up a sodastreamðŸ˜
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Adapter-High-Pressure-Hose-for-larger-CO2-Bottles-Soda-Club-Soda-Stream-1-5-M/383314467417?pageci=7121ca8b-6811-4d60-98aa-b702994269fd

Looks cool and could work well if located directly beneath the Sodastream under a kitchen worktop. The C02 cylinder would have to have a dip tube though otherwise it'd have to be stored upside down.

Did you read the bit that said "Our device only works with GAS CO2, not with liquid CO2."

I think the C02 in my 5kg tank is liquid C02 but am not 100% certain.

Looks like the original Sodastream cylinders use liquid C02 not gas C02, see https://docplayer.net/35048515-Safety-data-sheet-in-accordance-with-eu-regulation-453-2010-sodastream-carbon-dioxide-cylinder-issue-01-issue-date-june-2011-page-1-of-5.html or Google "sodastream carbon dioxide cylinder safety data sheet in accordance with eu regulation 453/2010"

pelliven wrote: »

Anything youre refilling sodastream canisters with is gas pressumably

I'm no expert but there seems to be two forms, liquid gas and gas. I'm pretty sure mine is liquid gas and it appears the standard Sodastream cylinders use liquid gas also.

I think the gas C02 might be what's referred to as "food grade" and what is used in bars to carbonate lagers etc and by home brew hobbyists.

I guess you'll just need to make sure you get the right type of cylinder.

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Two cylinders arrived in the post this morning via AddressPal! Maybe cos it was a bank holiday weekend or they're just up to their ears busy but I do love it when you beat the system occasionally!

Pop them in the freezer for at least a few hours before you re-fill them and save yourself that part of the learning curve

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Why? :eek:

Because the greater the disparity in temperature between the Sodastream cylinders and the donation CO2 cylinder the greater amount of CO2 you'll get to move from the donation cylinder into the Sodastream Cylinder.

I can't recall the exact figures but empty the Sodastream cylinder weighs 750g and full to the brim it should weigh 1,200g. On my first attempt I took the donation CO2 cylinder and the 2 empty Sodastream cylinders out of my cold shed and only managed to get about 60g of CO2 into them no matter what I tried.

Frustrated I contacted the support guy at co2-adapter.com and he came back quickly to request that I froze the Sodastream cylinders for a few hours before re-filling and that I also moved the donation CO2 cylinder into the house so that it was as warm as possible before doing the re-fill.

I was a bit sceptical (I'm always sceptical) but it worked a charm. I got both Sodastream cylinders to almost full and based on previous re-fills I purchased from Argos I'm now thinking my home fill actually puts more CO2 in than some of the Argos fills I've had.

4motion wrote: »

But i think he bought new full orginal cylinders from soda stream uk.

Ah yes, forgot that.

Put them in the freezer AFTER you've depleted them!

Is there any way to refill sodastream canisters are the moment? Without buying the adapters, I'm too afraid to try that yet!

Raoul wrote: »

Is there any way to refill sodastream canisters are the moment? Without buying the adapters, I'm too afraid to try that yet!

Order them via AddressPal from Sodastream in the UK. However AddressPal may refuse to take them. I got away with it but others haven’t. Just so you know.

Would any of the knowledgeable self-refillers have an opinion on why these would/wouldn't work for the refilling?
or are any of the valves available o there suitable?

I want to save money and get the simplest setup possible without blowing up the house/shed

Update - I've ordered it, in EU size; total cost was €18.25 including delivery.
Will see if it fits Sodastream bottle first when it arrives, and then see if it is possible to source a CO2 tank in this new world order.

Thanks for all the tips and info sop far!!
If I die in a SodaStream related incident you will all get a mention in the eulogy

54and56 wrote: »

Hi Robbe,

I just purchased this adapter which should be delivered this week.

The home brew guys have a constant requirement for Co2 so I found this thread which recommends one place in Bray (which suits me as I'm in Sandyford) where you can buy a filled 5KG cylinder for a once off €45 and then have it refilled for €10 once it's empty, see https://goo.gl/maps/YwdNZfRJyswWcgJe7 The Co2 needs to be "Food Safe" apparently so check that it is before getting it refilled.
I'm sure there must be lot's of similar places around the country.

Given the Sodastream cylinder is less than 0.5KG of Co2 I guess I'll get 10X Sodastream refills out of one €10 refill of the 5KG cylinder.

€1 per refill DIY Vs €28 per Sodastream sounds a good plan to me plus I'll only have to refill the 5KG once or twice max a year.

Edit: I have an aquarium hobby and use www.seahorseaquariums.com all the time. They sell a 3L filled cyclinder for €130 and after that refills would be €30 a go. Not as cheap as the place in Bray but they confirmed to me their Co2 is "Food Safe" so might be a more secure supply chain. 3L for €30 would equate to €5 a refill of the Sodastream cylinder so still a very good saving on €28.

This thread has popped up on the front page and the above post in particular has caught my eye.

Our house goes through @24 LTRs of carbonated water a week, and home brewing is one of those hobbies that impending middle age has me considering.

I've had a quick trawl through some sellers and get the basics minus a Co2 tank together for @€;60.

Deciding on what tank and what supplier for food grade Co2 will likely be the bulk of my cost but even one tank will near offset the cost of the setup within a year of use.

Any recommendations for gas supply in Limerick area?
I'm assuming BOC are likely my only option?

Raoul wrote: »

North Dublin City.

I can't find anyone offering them online.

I am tempted to just try the adapter but I don't want to f*ck it up and space is an issue in rented accomm.

And, yep Argos are closed.

I attached a picture of the cylinder I have. Seems to be the newer one. So is it possible to refill with any of the adapers?

Yes it's definitely possible, just a bit trickier. If you read back a few posts someone described how they did it and I think there's a video of same also. I haven't tackled a new one yet but my understanding is you have to unscrew the donor cylinder valve very slowly until you hear the high pitch noise which is the CO2 being filled into the Sodastream cylinder. Unscrew the donor too little and the Sodastream valve won't have enough pressure to open, unscrew too much/too quick and the Sodastream valve will have too much pressure and close. It's a balancing act you should get familiar with over the course of a few re-fills.

54and56 wrote: »

My Sodastream cylinder ran out last night so I put it (it's an actual Sodastream cylinder with the new/wide valve) into the freezer along with the 2 empty cylinders I got from co2-adapter.de and brought the 5KG donation cylinder I got from AJ Edge in Bray into the house to warm up.

Refilled all three this morning. Took about a minute each with the new valve a bit trickier as you have to release the donor valve slowly but no big deal.

Empty the Sodastream cylinders weigh 795g each. Full (or as full as I could get them) they weigh between 1,100g and 1,179g.

The maximum fill is +/- 400g so a really full cylinder will weigh up to 1,200g. (The guys in co2-adapter.de confirmed this to me)

I think depressing the valve on the sodastream cylinders to completely empty them before re-filling helps get the maximum into them.

It's a bit fiddly hence I decided to buy two in addition to the one I got from Sodastream when I bought the machine to do them in (fewer) batches but it's very straightforward.

It'll be interesting to see how long these 3 refills do me until I need to re-fill them again.

No mention of blowing the house up then?