CO2 Regulator dial

[Laversiner]

Hey bros,

I managed to get a complete set of CO2 system! Pretty excited in setting the whole system up. However, I am hearing gas escaping from the system... Heard from some bros that by looking at the dial of the regulator, we can determine whether is there a leak in the system. As such, can anyone tell me how to read the dial?

This is my whole setup:
1) OF Solenoid Regulator (Come with bubble counter)
2) Check valve
3) Jap style diffuser

Thanks!

[milk_vanilla]

Stirr hand soap and water, and pour it slowly to your suspected leak area. It would bubbling out..

[Laversiner]

Yup! I have tried it! No bubbles. May I know how can we make sense from the dial?

[Alvin Koh]

Did you use Teflon tape for the regulator connector to the CO2 cylinder? As a precaution, it would be also be prudent to check that the washer inside the regulator socket isn't cracked or misplaced.
This is if the hissing seems to come from the main connection between the regulator and CO2 canister.

[Alvin Koh]

Yup! I have tried it! No bubbles. May I know how can we make sense from the dial?

Your readings actually look correct.

1) 1000psi on the high pressure side
2) 30psi on the regulated pressure side.

Does the hissing also occur with the solenoid off?

[Laversiner]

Hi Alvin,

The hissing sound does not occur after the solenoid is off. I guess I managed to find the source of hissing. Most likely it comes from the check valve. So how do we know whether which psi is right for the CO2 system?

[Alvin Koh]

You can also use teflon tape (white tape used for plumbing) for the threads of the check valve/bubble counter which is connected to the needle valve.
I remembered doing it for mine when I'd initially set mine up. Good that you isolated the issue.

The high pressure side is usually around 1000psi and may drop rapidly only towards the complete depletion of CO2 within the canister (last few days/hours?).

The low pressure side helps bring down the pressure so that it can be controlled with precision via the needle valve. Mine also show 30psi, thus I mentioned it looks normal. I believe this low-pressure value varies according to brands and also regulators with adjustable working pressures (e.g. 25-40psi).
This reading shouldn't fluctuate unless there is absolutely no more pressure in the system and the reading will show 0 psi (i.e. CO2 canister removed completely).

[Laversiner]

So as long as the high pressure remains at 1000psi, it should be fine right? Are there any circumstances whereby a leaking somewhere in the system will cause the pressure to drop?

[Alvin Koh]

I believe that if there's a leak somewhere, you may not have consistent readings on your pressure gauges.
You will probably notice 'hunting' or fluctuating of the pressure readings.

[milk_vanilla]

If there's subtle leak your cylinder will be empty on 1-2 weeks time

[atolylica]

Hi Laversiner, I got the same OF regulator as the one in the picture. Do you have trouble connecting your tubing to the top of the bubble counter? Fit mine and it seems lose. Sending it back to LFS.
Also, is this just a dual gauge or a dual stage regulator?

Appreciate if any advice is given. Was using the OF CO2 regulator with the single guage, but exchanged (and topped up cash) to get this cause the single gauge was giving me irregular CO2 production and too sensitive (turning the valve by abit and bubble count increases drastically)

[felix_fx2]

atolylica,

it's a dual guage. if i'm not mistaken, dual stage need see how the co2 passes from the inside.

Here's a thread by Left C.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...gulators/page2

IMHO, your needle valve was not very good. I've got a few regulators and also do own those single guage one (those don't have solenoid) and didn't have issues with it. But speaking aloud single guage ones mostly have quite high psi, maybe thats the cause?

Anyway, your new and i guess never read rules yet.
SMS and IM Lingo Rules

[atolylica]

Hi Felix,

Thanks for the reply. Noted the rules.

Can I assume the only difference between a single and double gauge SINGLE regulator is just the extra gauge to provide the depressurized reading?

But speaking aloud single guage ones mostly have quite high psi, maybe thats the cause?

Does that mean dual gauge will give you a lower psi? I thought gauge and stages are two different things and not meant to be confused with each other.

[qngwn]

dual gauges mostly have 2 gauges to tell you:
- how much is left inside the tank
- working pressure of the regulator (depressurised reading)

Dual stage and dual gauges are different, but most dual gauges are dual stage regulators.
Dual stage steps down the incoming cylinder pressure to an intermediate, regulated pressure for the 2nd stage to deal with and step down to your desired/ preset working pressure.
The impact of this is that you will have consistent CO2 flow rate until your tank is nearly empty, at which point flow will stop. Some single stage regulators MAY experience an "End of tank dump", where low CO2 pressure remaining in the cylinder (when liquid CO2 is all evaporated) causes wild fluctuations in working pressure up to and including dumping all remaining CO2 contents through your system into the tank.

most needle valves are sensitive, which is a good thing. what you are experiencing is because you have to turn on and off if you do not have a solenoid regulator, and thus it is difficult to achieve the same bubble count per second as we are not able to turn to back to the exact same spot. Having a solenoid rids of this need to tune your needle valve everyday as the flow is stopped and allowed through by the use of solenoid regulators.

as for the connection of the tubing to the bubble counter, there should be a nut to secure the tubing to the bubble counter. remove the nut, thread it through the tubing, connect the tubing to the bubble counter, and then tighten the nut with the tubing in place. perhaps you got a missing nut! (no pun intended)

[felix_fx2]

Hi Felix,

Thanks for the reply. Noted the rules.

Can I assume the only difference between a single and double gauge SINGLE regulator is just the extra gauge to provide the depressurized reading?



Does that mean dual gauge will give you a lower psi? I thought gauge and stages are two different things and not meant to be confused with each other.

those single guage commonly seen doubt they are dual stage.

im not quite yet the equipment expert, only sharing what i learnt from the web.