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CAP CO2 regulator or Hydrofarm CO2 regulator?

ItsGrowTime

gets some
Veteran
Yeah I meant the sensor. The controller Im getting is the one piece PPM-3 so there's no remote sensor. The placement of the sensor (whether remote or part of the controller itself) probably is more important than the flow rate of the regulator.
 

Natagonnaworrie

If you love life, don't waste time. For time is wh
Veteran
good to know that the CAP PPM3 does not have a remote sensor. def a factor in the monitor/controller decision. readings should come from plant enviorment (canopy) not the wall the unit is on.
 

xcrispi

Member
good to know that the CAP PPM3 does not have a remote sensor. def a factor in the monitor/controller decision. readings should come from plant enviorment (canopy) not the wall the unit is on.

You got it man .
And with the entire shebang inside the room / enviroment = once you've opened the door - the vacuum created by opening it has just messed up the numbers on the read out = false readings .
Crispi
 

ItsGrowTime

gets some
Veteran
I went ahead with the CAP REG-1 regulator and PPM-3 controller. If the regulator causes me issues Ill try the electronic one.
 
S

sparkjumper

You hear bad things about the PPM-3 stcking or other problems but I havent encountered any problems like that except once in two years.It stuck open and my PPM's were about 4K for awhile until I caught it.I just reset it by killing power and its worked well ever since
 

greents

Member
The issue could have been the controller switching your solenoid on and off so much that it froze draining the tank. The hydrofarm regulator states that it should not be used with controllers for that reason.
 

Natagonnaworrie

If you love life, don't waste time. For time is wh
Veteran
The actual controllers outside the room so you dont havta open the door to get a reading which wont be right after opening the door . The sniffer and photocell are actually in the room and to be kept at canopy height so the sys isn't trying to fill the entire room , just up to canopy height .
The sniffer in these systems is fukn crazy sensetive man , you can fart next to this thing and send it into a tizzy - no lie . Just us breathing by it sends false info bk to the controller .
Crispi

Yeah I meant the sensor. The controller Im getting is the one piece PPM-3 so there's no remote sensor. The placement of the sensor (whether remote or part of the controller itself) probably is more important than the flow rate of the regulator.

the CAP PPM-2A Fuzzy-logic CO2 Monitor & Controller 120V
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/cap-ppm2a-fuzzylogic-co2-monitor-controller-120v-p-372.html
does have the remote sensor then?
 

Natagonnaworrie

If you love life, don't waste time. For time is wh
Veteran
i guess the CAP PPM-2A Fuzzy logic is a single unit with no remote sensor. I downloaded the manual and this is what it says.

'1) Find a location at plant level near the center of the area to be controlled. Provide proper circulation throughout the
area to be controlled and directly around the PPM-2a. DO NOT place the PPM-2a near sources of moisture. If water is
allowed to enter the ventilated enclosure, the sensor may be affected. DO NOT expose the unit to direct sunlight.'

i wonder if there is a better controller for bottled CO2? Maybe with a remote sensor...

i really wanted to use this with a CAP regulator and get my CO2 supplementation going. :yoinks:
 

zenoonez

Active member
Veteran
I went ahead with the CAP REG-1 regulator and PPM-3 controller. If the regulator causes me issues Ill try the electronic one.

Did the electronic regulator guy get back to you? You might be able to hook up through him to test other things as well. When should your stuff come in and get put up? Would love to see some pics of it when you get it set up.
 

ItsGrowTime

gets some
Veteran
Naa I didn't take it any further with the electronic regulator. Send me a PM if you want the contact info for the guy I spoke with. You can follow up if you want to. He seemed very interested in adapting them for dry land gardens. I just didn't like the idea of involving an outside vendor in my grow since they would want details and stuff.

My CO2 setup is already running. Not much to take a pic of but Ill post a few for you in a minute. Just a bottle, regulator and CAP PPM-3. So far so good. I just wish my room was more sealed but there's nothing I can do about it. Ill just have to swap bottles ($25 a pop at local welding shop) more often.
 

zenoonez

Active member
Veteran
Naa I didn't take it any further with the electronic regulator. Send me a PM if you want the contact info for the guy I spoke with. You can follow up if you want to. He seemed very interested in adapting them for dry land gardens. I just didn't like the idea of involving an outside vendor in my grow since they would want details and stuff.

My CO2 setup is already running. Not much to take a pic of but Ill post a few for you in a minute. Just a bottle, regulator and CAP PPM-3. So far so good. I just wish my room was more sealed but there's nothing I can do about it. Ill just have to swap bottles ($25 a pop at local welding shop) more often.

Not at the moment, wouldn't be able to take advantage of it. I wonder how expensive it would be to buy a machine to filter co2 out of the air and bottle it like a home o2 bottler works... Prolly be hella expensive but if you had a large grow it wouldn't be bad.
 

ItsGrowTime

gets some
Veteran
Here's the pics.

REG-1 on bottle. Note the condensation that forms on the regulator. I wonder if this has anything to do with sticking? No sticking yet but I wonder about that.
picture.php


CAP PPM-3 showing 1530ppm CO2. Im going to be using up a lot of bottles but considering the benefits it's worth it.
picture.php


This is the PPM-3 piggyback cord setup. This cord plugs into your light timer to shut off CO2 during lights off. The regulator power cord plugs into the piggyback timer so when lights go out, so does CO2. The PPM-3 has a separate power supply for constant power.
picture.php
 

caljim

I'm on the edge. Of what I'm not sure.
Veteran
That CAP ppm 3 gave me nothing but trouble, empty tanks, and 8000ppm of co2 in flower :yoinks:

The controller would just lock up and dump my whole tank, not once or twice but all the F-ing time.

CAP let me apply the cost of the ppm 3 against the "fuzzy", which has worked flawlessly for many years now.

I sincerely hope you have better luck than I did with that piece of gear.

Keep the receipt, and keep up the good work.
 

ItsGrowTime

gets some
Veteran
Some of the walls are mylar'd but not much. It mostly just helps lower growth get more light once the plants are taller. Room is about 10x10x8.

I bet caljim's controller sticking was related to the digital ballast interference issue. So far so good. CAP said it shouldnt be an issue and if it is Ill notice immediately. Guess we'll see.
 

xcrispi

Member
Sometimes the sticking isn't always the fault of the reg. or the controller either 1 .
If you get a bad load of CO2 containing moisture = that will freeze it up for you too .
Crispi
 

Natagonnaworrie

If you love life, don't waste time. For time is wh
Veteran
not sure if this is related to the thread now or not but i just made my purchase. I went with the Sentinel reg. If anyone has :2cents: about this please i'd love to hear it. I am hoping that its a reliable regulator. its runs from .5 CFM to 15 CFM. I think it will be using it around 1 :puppydoge
I got it because i got the Sentinel CHHC-1 and i thought it would be best to stay with the same manufactuer. I was dead set on the CAP Fuzzy model but it doesnt have the remote sensor. (thank to this thread! Big Ups.) Fingers crossed. I cant really have my tank freeze open while my GF and I are sleeping in here...:noway:

Peace all. Hopefully this addition will get me to the 1g/w. Hopefully.
 

xcrispi

Member
Natagonnaworrie - quote - I cant really have my tank freeze open while my GF and I are sleeping in here...

No fear man , a previous poster in this thread exclaimed - that his plants / life were at risk w/ ppm levels at 9999ppm .= He's wrong and hasn't done his homework .
1500 ppm = 1/15 of 1% of an enviroment . We get a nasty headache at 3.5 - 4% / 35,000 - 40,000 ppm . Humans blood turns to gas and induces cardiac arrest at 5% / 50,000 ppm . And you about right depending on room size with your reg being set at about 1 scfh .
Peace guys
Crispi
 
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