Want a c02 regulator that doesn't freeze

Dragline

Well-Known Member
I have around a 9x10 room I am adding co2 to. I have a CAP PPM3 controler and a 1-20 cf per hour HydroFarm regulator. Only problem is any setting over 5-6 freezes it up. It works best around 10-15 so it can give a good hit to the room and not have to run as long. This also lets it maintain the c02 level better as the controler cuts it on at 1400ppm and off at 1550ppm. But I am having to keep it below 6 because any higher freezes the sylenoid so it hangs open. But keeping it that low means it runs almost constantly.

Any ideas?
 

The Warlord

Well-Known Member
Can you post a link to your regulator? i'd like to see it?

I bought my reg. at a local welding shop. They won't freeze up at all or at least mine won't
 

Dragline

Well-Known Member
Sorry it took me so long to reply back. I purchased the regulator just 3-4 months ago and had seen dozens like it from various hydro stores online. Now i can't even find a picture online of the one I have. Even hydrofarm doesn't have it on their website. So i took a picture a few minutes ago. The first one is the regulator I have. The second is the CAP regulator I ordered and will hopefully be here tomorrow. So we will see how it works out.
 

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Dragline

Well-Known Member
Well I'm not overly impressed with the new regulator. But it is without a doubt better than the first one. Anything above 12 on the new one and I fear it to would freeze in a matter of minutes. It appeared small ice particles were actually making their way up the gauge itself and condensation was all over the unit. I have it set to around 9 and it takes the room from 1400ppm-1550ppm in about 5 minutes and is able to maintain it around 15.
 

privateaero

Active Member
do you have ac or are you venting? also rigging something up to keep it warm may be a possibility. maybe even giving it more mass to cool off, an aluminum block or something. not sure but be creative.
 

Bud Frosty

Well-Known Member
Wrap the regulator in some reflective insulation. The heat from the lights is hitting the metal of the tubing and regulator causing the co2 to recondense to liquid form instead of remaining a gas.
 

Dragline

Well-Known Member
do you have ac or are you venting? also rigging something up to keep it warm may be a possibility. maybe even giving it more mass to cool off, an aluminum block or something. not sure but be creative.

Im running a dual hose AC. Wrapped a rag along with some black and white poly around the area that collects the most condensation. Though it really doesn't seem too bad at the moment with the setting its on. The solenoid on this regulator isn't as vulnerable as the one I had.
 

The Warlord

Well-Known Member
Get a real regulator like a victor or harris and you wont have these troubles. I've seen good quality used medical and/or welding type regs on ebay cheap. They will not freeze or anything else.
 

NoDrama

Well-Known Member
Wrap the regulator in some reflective insulation. The heat from the lights is hitting the metal of the tubing and regulator causing the co2 to recondense to liquid form instead of remaining a gas.
erm might wanna think about that one. The lights create heat, heat does not condense liquids, it causes them to evaporate or turn to gaseous form. Besides CO2 bottles are compressed gas, not liquid. Its coming out of the bottle in a gaseous form.

Your problem is the humidity and condensation inside the unit. If you could get it purged with nitrogen would be ideal, you might have to put it in the oven at 250F for a couple hours to get it all out, leave the solenoid open if you do.
 

avgdude7

Active Member
Okay, I'm a welder by trade, there's a real easy cure for this, 1. try hanging a trouble light directly on the regulator, if thats not hot enough try a 100w incandescent in the trouble light or a halogen if its still bad (put trouble light on timer so its just warming the regulator/flowmeter during lights on. 2. turn ur flow down, I realize you probably don't want to do it but it's really the source of the problem OR like someone already suggested get a big boy regulator-flowmeter combo like a Harris or Victor. I don't mean to be an ass but I know a little bit about gas laws, here's what happens: solenoid opens and gas flows out, depending on velocity the gas expands exponentially, that velocity of the gas stream is what causes the problems for us, that little flowmeter controls CFH (cubic foot per hour) open it wide open and gas will flow as fast as possibble through the regulator because it's expanding, the expansion causes a drop in density and temerature where it starts to cool the components it flows thru, the brass the reg is made of is now colder than the ambient air temperature, that my friends causes condensation (think bong with ice on a summer day==bong cold,air hot, water on outside of bong). Condensation starts off as water then freezes and blocks up the regulator/flowmeter. Bottom line ---slow down flow OR get a reg designed for higher flow industrial use OR keep that thing warm around it's on time OR buy a generator...
 

SKandall

Member
Sorry it took me so long to reply back. I purchased the regulator just 3-4 months ago and had seen dozens like it from various hydro stores online. Now i can't even find a picture online of the one I have. Even hydrofarm doesn't have it on their website. So i took a picture a few minutes ago. The first one is the regulator I have. The second is the CAP regulator I ordered and will hopefully be here tomorrow. So we will see how it works out.

I thought this is the one everyone uses?? hmm good one though i have these too
 
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