Front Panel & Operating Modes
How to drive the FizzWizz — the three control buttons, the display fields, and what each of the five operating modes does.
Front panel and operating modes
The FizzWizz is controlled entirely from the front panel: a display and three buttons. There is no touchscreen and no menu tree to navigate.
The three buttons
Each button operates one internal solenoid:
| Button | Solenoid operated | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Up | Head_Transfer | ARM |
| Down | CO₂_in | STONE |
| Enter | Vent | Vent valve |
In normal operation the buttons drive the carbonation sequence. In Test Mode they let you fire each solenoid manually, which is what the Health Check uses to isolate faults.
The button you press determines which solenoid opens, but which port gas comes out of depends on where the CO₂ supply is connected. This is deliberate — it is what lets the Health Check tell a stuck solenoid apart from a blocked hose.
The display
| Display field | What it shows |
|---|---|
| CO₂ reg psi | Pressure at the CO₂ inlet port |
| Brite psi | Pressure in the arm/head transfer circuit |
| Temperature | WizzTemp probe reading |
In Test Mode the display shows Test Mode at the top, and these three values update live. Outside Test Mode the same values drive the carbonation calculation.
Operating modes
The FizzWizz has five built-in modes.
Carbonation
The normal operating mode. The unit calculates the finish pressure needed for your target carbonation level, adds CO₂ through the stone until the tank reaches it, and holds it. It recalculates continuously as temperature and pressure change.
This is the mode you leave the unit in during carbonation. It is also the mode used for Check 7 of the Health Check.
Pre-scrub
Used to prepare the system before carbonation begins. Running a pre-scrub cycle purges the lines and brings the circuit to a known state.
Head pressure
Used during packaging. Head Pressure mode keeps the product at its target carbonation level while kegging, canning, or bottling by regulating pressure between the tank and the filling system.
If head space pressure falls below the finish pressure during packaging, CO₂ starts to come out of solution. Once breakout starts it tends to run away and is difficult to stop — see Choosing a foot pressure for how to set a safe packaging pressure.
CO₂ flow control
Controls the rate at which CO₂ is delivered through the stone. The flow controller on the side of the unit — the vertical flow meter with the adjustment knob — sets the flow rate, with the ball indicating the current rate.
The correct flow rate depends on your stone and product. Use the BrewWizz app's CO₂ Stone flow rate calculator: see Setting the CO₂ flow rate.
Before adjusting the flow controller, confirm it is not already closed. If the flow meter is turned all the way off, a stone that appears blocked may simply have no flow. Rotate the knob counterclockwise and retest — this is the first step for Health Check Idents I and P.
Venting
Releases pressure to atmosphere through the vent valve. Operated by the Enter button, which opens the Vent solenoid.
The vent valve itself is a manual valve on the manifold. It must be open for the vent test in Check 4 — if it is physically closed, the vent test cannot work.
Switching modes
Mode changes are made from the front panel. To leave Test Mode, switch the FizzWizz OFF and back ON without holding any buttons — it boots normally into Carbonation mode.