*** water cooled co2 generator ***
- Thread starter DR. VonDankenstine
- Start date
I just got mine yesterday - but like the rest of you, I have been trying to figure out the best way to run it... I was hoping I could simply get away with using a 35 gallon Rubbermaid trash can res in the room for passive chilling... but passive requirements seem a bit steeper - more like 100 gallons... I came up with a great idea to bury a 55 gallon drum outside the north facing wall of my room, but the wife won't have that... so I'm having to go the chiller route. I am now going to utilize a 25 gallon res (Rubbermaid trash can) with a 1/10th chiller - and 2 pumps - a small one to recirculate the chiller, and a larger one (15' head pressure min) to fire the Hydrogen. I suppose the 150 watts of the chiller vs the 1500 watts of my AC is still a great savings - but I think the best way to run this unit is to figure out a good way to passively cool it... this makes the unit difficult to install for many grow rooms. ...I paid $340 plus tax for the Hydrogen, now with the chiller and the extra pump, I am looking at $350 - $450 more than I expected to pay to get this thing installed... and I expected to have to buy one pump, a res and some tubing and fittings! All said and done, with a chiller (as many will be forced to use for one reason or another), this unit will cost you in the neighborhood of $800 - $1200 depending upon your pump, chiller, and resi selection... I was considering having a custom radiator made to further reduce the heat - and this seems to certainly be another option to cut down the heat before entering the water... but this too has lots of twists and turns to a final working solution...
Hydrogen actual running costs:
Hydrogen : $350
1/10 HP Water Chiller: $350
1000 GPH Sump Pump (15' min head pressure): $100
300 GPH Pump (to recirculate chiller): $30
Rubbermaid Roughneck 25 Gallon Trash Can (Black): $35
Misc 1/2"ID tubing and fittings: $20
Propane Tank (filled): $60
TOTAL: $945 plus tax
One more thing - propane only - no link for natural gas... good news is, propane is pretty cheap and readily available...
Bottom line: the performance is there (or so it seems as I have yet to actually run mine!) once the unit is installed. Getting the unit installed may prove to be too difficult/expensive for many... I really want to run it but...!
EDIT: See post below for additional insight into setup!
Hydrogen actual running costs:
Hydrogen : $350
1/10 HP Water Chiller: $350
1000 GPH Sump Pump (15' min head pressure): $100
300 GPH Pump (to recirculate chiller): $30
Rubbermaid Roughneck 25 Gallon Trash Can (Black): $35
Misc 1/2"ID tubing and fittings: $20
Propane Tank (filled): $60
TOTAL: $945 plus tax
One more thing - propane only - no link for natural gas... good news is, propane is pretty cheap and readily available...
Bottom line: the performance is there (or so it seems as I have yet to actually run mine!) once the unit is installed. Getting the unit installed may prove to be too difficult/expensive for many... I really want to run it but...!
EDIT: See post below for additional insight into setup!
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
I love my Hydrogen CO2 generator. I paid 300.00 at my local Hydro shop. the installation took me 1 hour(most of the time was deciding where I wanted the unit to be mounted. I opted to run the water intake and exhaust through the wall for better cooling. I purchased a trashcan/chiller/pump/hoses and clamps.
Hydrogen----300.00
chiller---1/15th prime----269.00
ACE 30gal trash can------19.95
mag drive 7 pump---------69.95
1/2 hoses and clamps------8.00
propane refill--------------37.95
---------------------------------
total---------------------704.85
The unit will activate with the mag drive 7---You might even get away with a smaller pump than that----you need 3.5 psi to activate. You only need the one pump. Pump sits in your res----a hose from your pump goes to the intake of your chiller----a hose goes from the exit of your chiller to the intake of the hydrogen------the exit of the hydrogen goes to your res.----this allows the cold water from your chiller to pass through the hydrogen----most effective!!!--one pump
. Other co2 generators run hot as hell and cost as much or more than the hydrogen. They also have a water cooled heat exchanger that will sit on top of the unit and even remove more heat. I love my hydrogen as you can tell
---i use to haul 20 pound tanks and had to worry about running my exhaust---not with the hydrogen water cooled co2. By the way---they have an NG connector that will be out very soon.... I don't want to spam on here so just check out hydroinovation online. Alot of cool stuff...
Hydrogen----300.00
chiller---1/15th prime----269.00
ACE 30gal trash can------19.95
mag drive 7 pump---------69.95
1/2 hoses and clamps------8.00
propane refill--------------37.95
---------------------------------
total---------------------704.85
The unit will activate with the mag drive 7---You might even get away with a smaller pump than that----you need 3.5 psi to activate. You only need the one pump. Pump sits in your res----a hose from your pump goes to the intake of your chiller----a hose goes from the exit of your chiller to the intake of the hydrogen------the exit of the hydrogen goes to your res.----this allows the cold water from your chiller to pass through the hydrogen----most effective!!!--one pump
. Other co2 generators run hot as hell and cost as much or more than the hydrogen. They also have a water cooled heat exchanger that will sit on top of the unit and even remove more heat. I love my hydrogen as you can tell---i use to haul 20 pound tanks and had to worry about running my exhaust---not with the hydrogen water cooled co2. By the way---they have an NG connector that will be out very soon.... I don't want to spam on here so just check out hydroinovation online. Alot of cool stuff...Hey Doc - thanks for the info! I am stoked again on the Hydrogen (say it as a rhyme).I love my Hydrogen CO2 generator. I paid 300.00 at my local Hydro shop. the installation took me 1 hour(most of the time was deciding where I wanted the unit to be mounted. I opted to run the water intake and exhaust through the wall for better cooling. I purchased a trashcan/chiller/pump/hoses and clamps.
Hydrogen----300.00
chiller---1/15th prime----269.00
ACE 30gal trash can------19.95
mag drive 7 pump---------69.95
1/2 hoses and clamps------8.00
propane refill--------------37.95
---------------------------------
total---------------------704.85
The unit will activate with the mag drive 7---You might even get away with a smaller pump than that----you need 3.5 psi to activate. You only need the one pump. Pump sits in your res----a hose from your pump goes to the intake of your chiller----a hose goes from the exit of your chiller to the intake of the hydrogen------the exit of the hydrogen goes to your res.----this allows the cold water from your chiller to pass through the hydrogen----most effective!!!--one pump
I was under the impression (from the Hydrogen manual) that the chiller required a secondary constant pump to circulate the water... am I missing something, or is it sufficient to just run water through the chiller while the Hydrogen is running? The fact that you are running it with success with one Mag7 makes me happy - I am going to copy your setup!
I have zero experience with a chiller - does it throw off much heat?
Does the 35 gallon res get really hot and humid?
It is not easy for me to place the res and chiller in another room.
Thank you for your feedback - SUPER helpful!!!
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
The small chiller doesn't give off much heat and a res with a lid will give off little humidity(it has nowhere to go but in the tank)that when you use a lid. The chillers have an in and out---ultra simple connections--What is the size of your room?.
you still need to add a sensor/controller to get this working properly right? up to a particular ppm... ?
just trying to figure total total cost if you had nothing at all to start with.
i'm liking the sound of the mini-gen though... cooled and controlled to reach a particular ppm... seems like it would do nicely for like a 12' by 12' area... maybe it's meant for an even smaller area though.
just trying to figure total total cost if you had nothing at all to start with.
i'm liking the sound of the mini-gen though... cooled and controlled to reach a particular ppm... seems like it would do nicely for like a 12' by 12' area... maybe it's meant for an even smaller area though.
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
That would be the best way to maintain an accurate co2 ppm level. BUT you can just plug the water-pump into a timer and adjust the hydrogen gas/flame level to bring your room to desired ppm setting. The mini will be great for small application.
Hey Doc - thanks for the response. My room is 10 x 12... the garden is 12 x 6. I also have a closet for clones/veg/mom that is 2.5 x 7 - but I am not concerned with supplementing CO2 in the closet - short of what it receives through venting and natural circulation. I am targeting 1100 - 1200 PPM. Using Sentinel CHH1 controller...
Thanks again for help with setup here, Doc... it sounds like my AC won't have to work too hard to cool the chiller/res combo in the room.
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
you don't need A/C---run your vent to your cooling plug on your sent. and set the temp to 83. done!!!
Me toooooooo...
Yeah - that's how I run it... I have the main room exhaust fan hooked up to the Sentinel (to coordinate CO2/Exhaust). I let the AC unit use its own built-in thermostat. ...while I don't need AC all the time, I do need it to keep my room in check. It was 80 here today!
Hey Doc - one more thing, about the chiller with one inline pump to the Hydrogen... I am still missing how you circulate the water through the chiller without a second pump - or is this not necessary?
DR. VonDankenstine
Well-Known Member
80 deg's is actually a little cool if your room is running co2 above 1000ppms- 83 deg will get you the best results with co2 and 78 deg without co2.
No-problems---I can tell you the HYDROGEN is the lowest-cost/highest output/ and lowest heat produced co2 generator on the market. Even with the chiller/res/ and pump the unit cost less than all the other co2 generators. I run my co2 controller to the water-pump in the res--it sends water to the chiller and cools it(chillers are passive and have no pump) then the exit line of the chiller goes to the inlet of the hydrogen. The HYDROGEN water out line goes back into the res
--simple--clean--effective. Since the chiller has cooled the water-The hydrogen is getting the coldest water possible and thus able to remove more heat from the unit. Since the HYDROGEN is water-pressure-activated(no plug in electrics)--your controller or a timer turns on and off the water-pump which in return, turns on and off the HYDROGEN
------. Hope this info helps you out.DIRTHAWKER
Well-Known Member
Old thread, but wondered how you guys running the hrdogen water cooled c02 are doing?
Im getting ready to purchase one. I think im going to do drain to waste, Ive been researching.. and for my room approx 1500 cubic ft, drain to waste seemes to be the most ideal and cost efficient. All said and done drain to waste will only use between 15- 25 gallons a day. Whats that like a shower or two?
Wondered if anyone else was doing drain to waste with one of these?
Im getting ready to purchase one. I think im going to do drain to waste, Ive been researching.. and for my room approx 1500 cubic ft, drain to waste seemes to be the most ideal and cost efficient. All said and done drain to waste will only use between 15- 25 gallons a day. Whats that like a shower or two?
Wondered if anyone else was doing drain to waste with one of these?
This is kind of a late response I know, haha...
But I just got mine set up the other day and I'm using drain to waste as well.
It's definitely the best method for me because I live on 5 acres with a well. I just have a really long hose going out the back and draining into our horse pasture into some grass. Since the inlet is a 1/2" hose and the drain is 3/4" garden hose and it's so long, the water barely trickles out at the end. And the total size of the area that needs co2 is only a 11x4 table of flowering plants and a 7 x 3 1/2 table of veg plants, it only needs to come on for about 10 minutes every 2-3 hours for 12 hours a day. Set on the lowest setting too. Definitely the way to go in my opinion!
But I just got mine set up the other day and I'm using drain to waste as well.
It's definitely the best method for me because I live on 5 acres with a well. I just have a really long hose going out the back and draining into our horse pasture into some grass. Since the inlet is a 1/2" hose and the drain is 3/4" garden hose and it's so long, the water barely trickles out at the end. And the total size of the area that needs co2 is only a 11x4 table of flowering plants and a 7 x 3 1/2 table of veg plants, it only needs to come on for about 10 minutes every 2-3 hours for 12 hours a day. Set on the lowest setting too. Definitely the way to go in my opinion!
Grizzlydon
New Member
Growing Innovations produced a water cooled CO2 generator about 6 - 7 yrs ago but don't know what happened to it. Can't find one to buy, it used a heat exchanger inside of it which water circulated through and cooled the heat produced. Thyey claimed it could produce 3 1/2 tons of CO2 an hour and was adjustable so it could be used in a 2 meter x 2 meter room up to 30 square meter room. You could use your home water source or separate water source loop using 55 gal barrel and submersible pump going to the heat exchanger and back to barrel, it was named the CoolGen made by Growing Innovation. You could adjust flame down for small areas and all the way up for large areas or in between. Partially open you could heat your grow room if needed, sounded great but can't find one to buy, maybe the HydroGen will substitute, hope so.HydroGEN Water Cooled CO2 Generator
The HydroGEN is the world's first and only water cooled CO2 generator. Water cooling is capable of removing 86% of the heat produced by burning propane and has loads of other options and features not available in any other CO2 generator on the market, including a completely adjustable flame (can produce anywhere between 15 and 45 cubic feet of CO2 per hr), an adjustable water flow valve, no pilot light (flame is activated by water flow), a tipover cut off, an overheat shut down sensor, and the list goes on. The unit can easily be used in a closed-loop system with a small chiller and reservoir, or you can connect directly to your home water supply and drain to storage for reuse in your garden. The unit is compact in size and can be either hung or wall-mounted anywhere in your garden.
***Coming soon the "MiniGEN" water-cooled CO2 generator, designed for smaller enclosures***