Jim:

You can open a tap and relieve most of the pressure, but when you get ready to dismantle the top you will still have a bit of pressure left in there. What you do is first, make sure you are not looking right into the path of the beer that will come shooting out. I tend to forget this every darn time. Next you take a screwdriver and press the center ball down and the little bit of pressure and any residue beer will come spewing out. Then look for the notch on the side of the lip and you will see an ring holding the apparatus in place. With your screwdriver, remove the ring and the apparatus will slide out.
It's made of stainless steel and is kind of neat and I have several of them. They are too good to throw away but I don't know what to do with them. Anyway, I digress. Once the top is open you just place a rubber o-ring between the column/adapter and the top of the keg.

In my case the couplings are indeed inset about half way. As far as the coil, I can't see how it matters which one you use as long as it fits into the keg without touching the side anywhere.

Hey, you aren't a pain, that's what this fourm is for.

Cheers! Let me know how it turns out.

Brenden:

No. It would get too hot and probably burn up. Go for the 1500W if you are using a 1500W coil as your main. Remember for the secondary coil, the one you use to get up to temp faster you don't need a controller, you just unplug it when you reach temp.

Propane? Never again!

Sure is Samson. I've used propane for making beer for years and wouldn't do it any other way. When I started this new hobby I read all about using coils an decided to give it a go. Man, it is great. You really don't have to monitor it and you can do it anywhere. With the weather we have had this year it is really handy to just bring the stuff into he kitchen and plug it in. Propane/electric I guess the answer is, as long as it works for you, it's the right thing to use.