Re: [AGA Member] CO2 regulator question or -- Irregular regulation

["S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com>]

I'll put my mney on one of the stages the regulator leaking
into the other.  If the regulator still maintains
regulation, I'd keep an eye on the thing but keep using it.

If it doesn't, for example, it causes you to run through
CO2 much too quickly, then I'd replace it. Repair would
probably cost too much to be economical vis-a-vis
replacement.

If you are going to replace it, and you find these things
interesting, you might disassemble the device and inspect
the parts for for any visible faults.

If the unit is still under warranty, you might consider
getting a cheap regulator to tide you over while this one
goes back to the factory or service center.

Scott H.
--- david <hipchack@yahoo.com> wrote:
> The pops occurred when I was readjusting the output of
> the regulator. They occur very quickly ( <1 second). I
> do not know if they are correlated with the bubble
> rate but will have to check. The regulator runs
> smoothly overall. The "pops" only occur when I am
> adjusting the output knob.  The hissing stops when I
> am decreasing the output knob. It is not loud but
> become very audible when your ear is within a several
> inches of the regulator.
> 
> david
> 
> 
> --- "S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > I doubt they're normal if they are due to something
> > in the
> > regulator causing them.
> > 
> > Regarding the pops of the needle, is this fast or
> > slow. If
> > it's momentary, is it in sympathy with the bubbles
> > escaping
> > from the CO2 line? Or does it rise slowly over
> > several
> > secdonds and then fall slowly over several seconds?
> > 
> > sh
> > 
> > --- david <hipchack@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > hmm... I see. I checked the gauges for leaks and
> > they
> > > also appear to be fine. I have been busy with
> > school
> > > lately and haven't been able to keep a close eye
> > on my
> > > aquariums. They're running in "automatic" mode
> > (haha!)
> > > right now. I will keep a close eye on the co2
> > > regulator now though and the co2 levels in the
> > > aquarium. If my co2 tank empties again I can
> > assume
> > > something is wrong with the regulator and try to
> > > further test it out. 
> > > 
> > > Is there anything that would explain the "pops" I
> > see
> > > with the needle in the output gauge? Could this be
> > due
> > > to grit within the regulator? Is the "hissing"
> > within
> > > the regulator and these pops normal?
> > > 
> > > thanks,
> > > david lim
> > > 
> > > 
> > > --- "S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > Some diaphragms are made of metal (some
> > stainless
> > > > steel)
> > > > and some use rubber, which is more likely to
> > develop
> > > > a
> > > > leak. If a diaphragm is leaking, your regulator
> > > > should have
> > > > a hard time maintaining steady pressure. Also if
> > the
> > > > valve
> > > > seats are imperfect (grit or whatever) the same
> > > > thing can
> > > > happen. In each of those cases you would either
> > be
> > > > sending
> > > > the CO2 to the atmosphere or to the aquarium.
> > > > 
> > > > The gauges use, essentially, long curved brass
> > > > balloons --
> > > > when the pressure is greater, the balloons tend
> > to
> > > > straighten, which pushes the lever that moves
> > the
> > > > needle. A
> > > > balloon could leak, which is why I suggested
> > > > checking the
> > > > valves.
> > > > 
> > > > Pure supposition, compared to the rock hard
> > > > empiricism so
> > > > far ;-): A fine crack in a diaphragm or balloon
> > > > could allow
> > > > gas to escape or flow too fast only for a short
> > > > while-- as
> > > > the metal moves it opens and closes the crack.
> > But
> > > > if
> > > > enough is escaping into the aquarium to quickly
> > > > empty the
> > > > CO2 tnak, I don't see why it wouldn't raise the
> > CO2
> > > > level
> > > > inthe aquarium.
> > > > 
> > > > A stumper. Hmmmmph!
> > > > 
> > > > sh
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > --- david <hipchack@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > > I have almost just covered the co2 regulator
> > in
> > > > soapy
> > > > > water but found no leaks at this time. Most
> > likely
> > > > > there was a leak before, but it isn't there
> > now.
> > > > My
> > > > > regulator and fittings are not glued together
> > so
> > > > at
> > > > > times they can become loose. It was an
> > experiment
> > > > of
> > > > > mine put together a dual stage regulator with
> > two
> > > > > swagelok metering valves. I plan to take apart
> > the
> > > > > apparatus in the future. However, I am a
> > little
> > > > > concerned with the regulator making the
> > hissing
> > > > noise
> > > > > WITHIN the body of the regulator. Could it be
> > one
> > > > of
> > > > > the stages are bad? I will apply soapy water
> > > > around
> > > > > the gauges to see if there is a leak in the
> > casing
> > > > or
> > > > > anything. Thanks for the reply scott,
> > > > > 
> > > > > david lim
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > --- "S. Hieber" <shieber@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > > > If your CO2 tank is emptying much too
> > quickly
> > > > and
> > > > > > your
> > > > > > Aquarium CO2 levels are running
> > exceptionally
> > > > higher
> > > > > > than
> > > > > > normal, then you must have a leak.
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > Did you check the gauges for leaks?
> > > > > > 
> > > > > > sh
> > > > > > --- david <hipchack@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > > > > > Hey all,
> > > > > > > My co2 regulator is making a hissing noise
> > and
> > > > i
> > > > > > was
> > > > > > > wondering if it was normal? The hissing
> > noise
> > > > is
> > > > > > > coming from within the regulator. Also
> > when I
> > > > > > decrease
> > > > > > > the co2 regulator knob the noise will go
> > away
> > > > and
> > > > > > once
> > > > > > > the output reaches 10 psi the needle on
> > the
> > > > gauge
> > > > > > will
> > > > > > > pop back to 20 psi but fall straight back
> > to
> > > > 10.
> > > > > > It is
> > > > > > > a veriflo dual stage regulator. I checked
> > for
> > > > co2
> > > > > > > leaks but could not find any. The reason I
> > ask
> > > > is
> > > > > > > because this regulator went through a 5 lb
> > co2
> > > > > > tank
> > > > > > > within a week, which sometimes occurs
> > because
> > > > a
> > > > > > > fitting is loose. However, I replaced the
> > tank
> > > > and
> > > > > > > checked the fittings and there are no
> > leaks. I
> > > > > > have
> > > > > > > another co2 regualtor built by scott
> > cerrata
> > > > which
> > > > > > > makes no noise whatsoever. thanks for the
> > > > help,
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > david
> > > > > > > 
> > > > > > > __________________________________
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> === message truncated ===
> 
> 
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=====
S. Hieber

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