Help understanding a CO2 regulator

[pacoclandestino]

Hi guys


Am about to start adding CO2 to my grow, I already received almost everything to start.
I bought this regulator

and am trying to understand what is each gauge for, and how should i dial both the tank and regulator properly.

I know first gauge(On the left) measures the tanks pressure?

I have see some regulators have one gauge and one flow meter, what is the difference between a set up like that or one like mine with two gauges?

If anyone can take some time explaining regulators I will be very gratefull


Thanks

 

[moses wellfleet]

I only have one gauge to indicate tank pressure. I guess the one on the right is to measure how much gas the solenoid is releasing every time it kicks in.

 

[PurplePotion]

Left gauge=tank pressure. Pretty useless other than to give a slightly early indicator that your tank is about to run out.
Right gauge=pressure the regulator is dropping the output to. There are charts based on cubic footage, pressure and ppm you can use to roughly dial it in (only really necessary if you aren’t using a metered Co2 controller). I typically set mine pretty low so it takes longer to inject and gives time to disperse, rather than a big blast all at once (you’ll potentially create high and low ppm pockets like this). It shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes in the room watching your controller to get it dialed in. It doesn’t have to be exact; that’s what the controller is for.

Your adjustment screw is at the bottom and is pretty straight forward.

Your regulator’s gauges are just a different style than the tubular models you’ve seen. No big deal; they do the same thing.

 

[pacoclandestino]

I only have one gauge to indicate tank pressure. I guess the one on the right is to measure how much gas the solenoid is releasing every time it kicks in.

Thanks mate!!!

Your adjustment screw is at the bottom and is pretty straight forward.......

any idea if that adjustment screw needs to be open or closed while am opening the tank valve??? I ve see youtube videos with different regulators and they normally say to keep it close while opening and once tank is open open that adjustmant screw.


And that brings me to the next question, is about hiow open should the tank valve be, fully open? middle???


Thanks once again guys

 

[PurplePotion]

Thanks mate!!!



any idea if that adjustment screw needs to be open or closed while am opening the tank valve??? I ve see youtube videos with different regulators and they normally say to keep it close while opening and once tank is open open that adjustmant screw.


And that brings me to the next question, is about hiow open should the tank valve be, fully open? middle???


Thanks once again guys

Once you have the pressure adjusted where you want it you can leave it there. No need to fool with it when changing tanks or anything, other than to make sure it’s still where you want it after the tank swap.

The valve on the tank should be open fully, though this is a moot point and isn’t going to have an effect one way or the other. Just don’t go cranking on it too hard and gorilla like.

 

[Mattbho]

The valve on the tank should be open fully, though . Just don’t go cranking on it too hard and gorilla like.

You must have a brother nicknamed cement hands as well

 

[PurplePotion]

You must have a brother nicknamed cement hands as well

It’s amazing the number of gas valves I’ve seen fubared because Donkey Kong was trying to turn the tank on and the valve wouldn’t open...

... because it was already open...

 

[pacoclandestino]

Serious doubt regarding this regulator

Serious doubt regarding this regulator

Hi there guys!!!
I have a serious doubt regrading this regulator I bought, and its got to do with its capacity. 200bar / 30L / min


This thing is made to push 30 litres per minute if you fully open it,that means that to regulate the amount necesary is going to force me to open it very little,and I dont like that idea,i have a feeling it will force me to open very little the way out for the gas, that couldnt be good


What do you guys think?

 

[Asslover]

You need a controller....

 

[Asslover]

https://smartgrowtents.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Hydro-Innovations-HydroGen-CO2-Monitor-0.jpg
This is the one I’ve been using for about 8 years now. Simple to use, even simpler to hack so you can adjust the set points...
Showing you what I use, any co2 controller will do the job. Dozens of brands, take your pic...

 

[Asslover]

Sorry for all the posts, editing while stoned on my IPad is a challenge for me. Anyways, look at the pic, you can see the controller mounted on the wall.

 

[pacoclandestino]

View Image
Sorry for all the posts, editing while stoned on my IPad is a challenge for me. Anyways, look at the pic, you can see the controller mounted on the wall.

no worries mate, great to have you here....stoned


I do have a controller, problem is the amount of CO2 that regulator puts out, 30L/min, will force me to barely open the regulators output.


Let see if i can explain my self, with the one i have as soon as the controller kicks in it will put a lot of CO2 in a short time, lets say in 30 seconds the room has the CO2 needed, and lets say with a 5 liter per minute regulator it can put the same amount of CO2 in a longer time space, so it will take 1 minute to fill the room with the needed CO2

am not a 100% sure as it is my first CO2 enriched room, but to me it looks like the system would work way better, that 30 Liter per minute regulator is for a big tank and a big space, i need way less


Thanks mate!!

 

[PurplePotion]

Yeah that’s quite a bit of flow. Search for Co2 regulators for the horticulture market; I’m sure they are all similar output.. see what they are rated for pressure wise. Where did the regulator come from that you have now? Are you sure 30L/min is the minimum setting?

 

[pacoclandestino]

Yeah that’s quite a bit of flow. Search for Co2 regulators for the horticulture market; I’m sure they are all similar output.. see what they are rated for pressure wise. Where did the regulator come from that you have now? Are you sure 30L/min is the minimum setting?

These regulators are made in Germany, 30 litres per minute is the max output, my room is 8X9X8,its just too much, i was advised badly by the grow store guy, I already gave him shit and monday am changing it for a either 5 or 1 litre per minute reg, they are more expensive (somehow regulators seem to grow more expensive as the flow decrease) but it will allow me to have the whole system (controller, regulator,solenoid,sensor) working better

 

[Asslover]

Ok yeah I see your dilemma. If that’s as low as you can adjust the pressure then, as PurplePotion said, you need one for Horticulture. Most have a single gauge with a knob that you can adjust the flow rate.

 

[Asslover]

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41U+FATK4cL._SY300_QL70_.jpg
The black knob lets you adjust the flow. It will come with a flow rate chart that guides you based on the size of your room.

 

[pacoclandestino]

This is the one I am trying to get, but 200 bar 5 liter/minute model, lets see if am lucky

 

[moses wellfleet]

First prize would be to get one from Titan, then you can be sure it is compatible with the rest of your gear.

 

[pacoclandestino]

First prize would be to get one from Titan, then you can be sure it is compatible with the rest of your gear.

not sure if i understood...the only thing i am using from Titan is the hose, the drilled one

 

[moses wellfleet]

Yeah sorry I thought it was all Titan. I got mine as a kit including regulator, brand is ecotechnics. Only use the monitor now to measure levels as the organic soil provides the co2. Don’t miss anything about refilling and transporting heavy cylinders!