Where can I find 2-stage CO2 regulator

[neon]

Hi,

Appreciate if anyone can tell which LFS or gas/hardware company is dealing with 2-stage co2 regulator .

Hope I can reuse the 2 gauges and the solenoid , to save some cost.

Thanks !

[tawauboy]

think you'll need to look for companies that deals with industrial gasses. sing swee bee could be one of them else check yellow pages.
any reason why you want to use a 2 stage regulator? should be a fair bit more expensive than single stage regulator.

[kemp]

maybe can ask Mr Chan from NA for advise?

[neon]

maybe can ask Mr Chan from NA for advise?

Just spoke to Chan on this regards and his reply :

a) Do you have 2-stage regulator ?
His understanding is 2 gauges = 2 stage.

b) Now I am using solenoid 2 gauge regulator , with a 3 end splitter needle valve. Everyday need to readjust co2 injection at all 3 splitter needle valves to get to desire the bubble count . What seems to be problem ?
His reply "No idea !!"

Reason why I am looking for 2 stage is to get a consistent co2 injection without tuning daily.

Anyone has clue on this inconsistent co2 injection ? Which part seems to be the problem ?

Thanks !

[neon]

think you'll need to look for companies that deals with industrial gasses. sing swee bee could be one of them else check yellow pages.
any reason why you want to use a 2 stage regulator? should be a fair bit more expensive than single stage regulator.

Called Gary from SingSweeBee and confirmed don't have. Only single stage.

[PeterGwee]

Neon, it might not be your issue of a lousy regulator but perharps a better needle valve. A 2 stage regulator merely maintains the CO2 delivery pressure when the inlet pressure decreases (liquid CO2 gone...leaving only gas CO2 thus causing the main pressure to drop).

Regards
Peter Gwee

[neon]

Neon, it might not be your issue of a lousy regulator but perharps a better needle valve. A 2 stage regulator merely maintains the CO2 delivery pressure when the inlet pressure decreases (liquid CO2 gone...leaving only gas CO2 thus causing the main pressure to drop).

Regards
Peter Gwee

Peter

Do you think 3 splitter needle valves are the root cause to this inconsisteny ?

[PeterGwee]

Peter

Do you think 3 splitter needle valves are the root cause to this inconsisteny ?

Not sure, mine hold the rate quite well if doing the powerhead suction method since there is no back-pressure often assoicated with gas lines fed to a reactor chamber directly. (Do you have water back flow into the gas line? It might be an issue as well if that happens. The gas is trying to push the water out once the unit is on and you might get a couple of drops in the line still which might upset the rate abit.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

[neon]

Not sure, mine hold the rate quite well if doing the powerhead suction method since there is no back-pressure often assoicated with gas lines fed to a reactor chamber directly. (Do you have water back flow into the gas line? It might be an issue as well if that happens. The gas is trying to push the water out once the unit is on and you might get a couple of drops in the line still which might upset the rate abit.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

I am using all 3 CO2 splitter with needle valves with each own bubble counter. 2 of them supply to 2 powerheads and the other one to a DIY external reactor. Every day after I come back from office after 6 hours of running, I noticed that all 3 bubble counters not really moving as previous day setting . That means problem not due to back pressure (as 2 of them supply to power head and powerheads are running non-stop).

[PeterGwee]

I'm not sure if it would work for you or not but consider adding a check-valve just before the tubing goes into the powerhead (if there indeed is a backflow occuring, the check valve should minimize the amount of backflow thus making the CO2 going in easy once it starts with lights on plus the suction pulling all the water back into the powerhead). See if that CO2 rate for that line changes for the next few days. The other thing is to let the rate equalize for a while before making changes (3 outlets....needs time for things to equal out in theory.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

[neon]

I'm not sure if it would work for you or not but consider adding a check-valve just before the tubing goes into the powerhead (if there indeed is a backflow occuring, the check valve should minimize the amount of backflow thus making the CO2 going in easy once it starts with lights on plus the suction pulling all the water back into the powerhead). See if that CO2 rate for that line changes for the next few days. The other thing is to let the rate equalize for a while before making changes (3 outlets....needs time for things to equal out in theory.)

Regards
Peter Gwee

Yes, all three have extra checkvalves : 2 located before the 2 powerheads suction, one located before the joint to the external reactor. My 3 bubble counters are also come with check valve built-in (those brass+clear plastic, screw-into type use in the solenoid regulator).

[tawauboy]

if possible, try running with one co2 outlet only for a day. shut the other two needle valves. keep the reamining 2 outlets one by one. this should help you to trace which outlet is causing the problem.

a proper regulator with needle valve will provide stable co2 flow rate. does your regulator allow you to control the output pressure? if so, try increasing the output pressure to >10psi.

i can get stable co2 flowrate with 2 needle valves connected to the co2 regulator. one outlet supplies to a powerhead driven reactor (timer controlled) and the other goes to a ceramic diffuser (24/7). stable co2 flowrate.

[neon]

if possible, try running with one co2 outlet only for a day. shut the other two needle valves. keep the reamining 2 outlets one by one. this should help you to trace which outlet is causing the problem.

I can try that . But do you one of them can cause the other to fail ?

a proper regulator with needle valve will provide stable co2 flow rate. does your regulator allow you to control the output pressure? if so, try increasing the output pressure to >10psi.

Nope. Mine don't this. Only the main cylinder control valve and the rest will be needle valves from the splitter.

i can get stable co2 flowrate with 2 needle valves connected to the co2 regulator. one outlet supplies to a powerhead driven reactor (timer controlled) and the other goes to a ceramic diffuser (24/7). stable co2 flowrate.

How to stop that co2 powerhead outlet injetion since your diffuser outlet is running ?

[tawauboy]

the powerhead outlet has a solenoid.
the outlet for the ceramic diffuser is connected to the regulator pressure relieve port (removed). so i do not have a splitter.

[neon]

Last night dismantled the splitter from the solenoid joint and "cleaned" it (see,see,look,look attitude). Reattached and tried it last night looked stable on the 2 needle valves to the powerhead as the powerhead remove the backflow issue, the other one still took a while to start flowing.

This morning the 2 needle valves to the powerhead looked consistent from the start, the other one had the same slow start , subsequent I tuned up slightly.

Shall monitor for few more days if situation improve.

BTW, went thru some brewery website on using CO2 tank and regulators. The regulators look impressive.

http://www.micromatic.com/draft-keg-...s-cid-614.html

Any comment ?

[|squee|]

The splitter might be your problem point imho.

[PeterGwee]

If you still have issues, you might want to look into this threads at plantedtank.net. and perharps bug Rex Grigg to see if he can get you his own version of DIY regulator plus solenoid (not sure if the power supply is suitable for use in Singapore or not though). I ask Tom at BarrReport and he mention that he is using the top of the line Victor Regulators (very expensive indeed!!) and clippard or Swagelok metering valves.

Discussion on bubble rate issues

Rex Grigg DIY CO2 regulator with solenoid and clippard needle valves

Regards
Peter Gwee