How to build a CO2 regulator for your calcium reactor.

When you did the leak test, beyond the soapy water leak test part, was the lower pressure gauge able to hold pressure for more than 6 hours? The below is pasted from Alan’s leak test procedure in post #12...

E . Do a soapy water leak test around the low pressure gauge and shut off valve joints to make sure you have zero leak. Record the final PSI reading and wait for 6 hours. If there is no change in the final reading, your regulator is good to go.
 
here is mine.......:beer:
 

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Very pretty! :) Make sure the tube compression fittings on either side of the metering valve are cinched down properly. Looks like 1/4” fittings to me, so after a hand tightening, use a wrench and go 1 - 1/4 turns.
 
LQT said:
Very pretty! :) Make sure the tube compression fittings on either side of the metering valve are cinched down properly. Looks like 1/4” fittings to me, so after a hand tightening, use a wrench and go 1 - 1/4 turns.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I need to do a leak test 1 more time. Last night i thought I nailed it but it drop down again. it held steady for overnight then it dropped a little after work. I bought a VCR metering valve by mistake, that's why I had to buy 2 adaptors on both sides. not looking good but hope it does the job.
 
Lp gauge needle not stay.

Lp gauge needle not stay.

Please advice. why my LP needle kept changing?. I set it 10 psi and overnight it went down to 8 or 7. I had to keep adjusting the needle valve. what am i missing here. I did soap test and there is no leak.
Thank you
 
Here is mine , i have to send out a huge thank you to Water Dog for al lthe help and advise he gave me on this , i think it turned out great ! now to leak test it
 

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Im hoping someone can help me ???? The problem im having is this : after confirming both leak test and pressure tests are good i move on to dialing in ... now when the solenoid is OPEN and my needle valve is open i do NOT get any flow thru to my bubble counter , that is because the small Knob at the 7:00 position under the larger main Knob is closed ( clockwise ) now if i open that smaller knob slightly or even all the way i will get flow however when the solenoid shuts off ( closed ) i still get bubbles thru my bubble counter ???? and yes this is still after a few minutes of being closed ..... Thinking it must be the solenoid i switched them out and same issue , different regulator same solenoid and no problem ??

Now if this small knob is closed i will hold pressure but no Co2 flow ? Yes my direction of solenoid and fittings are the correct direction of flow , if that smaller knob stays open it will continually be flowing Co2 and drain my tank quickly however if it is closed i get zero flow ???

WHAT AM I DOING WRONG ??
 

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FISHGUY4250 said:
Im hoping someone can help me ???? The problem im having is this : after confirming both leak test and pressure tests are good i move on to dialing in ... now when the solenoid is OPEN and my needle valve is open i do NOT get any flow thru to my bubble counter , that is because the small Knob at the 7:00 position under the larger main Knob is closed ( clockwise ) now if i open that smaller knob slightly or even all the way i will get flow however when the solenoid shuts off ( closed ) i still get bubbles thru my bubble counter ???? and yes this is still after a few minutes of being closed ..... Thinking it must be the solenoid i switched them out and same issue , different regulator same solenoid and no problem ??



Now if this small knob is closed i will hold pressure but no Co2 flow ? Yes my direction of solenoid and fittings are the correct direction of flow , if that smaller knob stays open it will continually be flowing Co2 and drain my tank quickly however if it is closed i get zero flow ???



WHAT AM I DOING WRONG ??
Click to expand...



I'm not familiar with the knob on regulator, but typically people put a more precise metering valve after the solenoid. I'm not sure how precise that small knob is as a full 8 psi is a ton of co2, that's why it depletes so fast. With a metering valve, you get it down to 1/100 of that (I'm not sure if exact calculation but just an idea). Also, are you checking the bubble count too?
 
yellojello said:
I'm not familiar with the knob on regulator, but typically people put a more precise metering valve after the solenoid. I'm not sure how precise that small knob is as a full 8 psi is a ton of co2, that's why it depletes so fast. With a metering valve, you get it down to 1/100 of that (I'm not sure if exact calculation but just an idea). Also, are you checking the bubble count too?
Click to expand...

He actually got the problem solved... it was the orientation of one of the fittings. His regulator is now up and running! :)
 
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