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Cheap pressurised CO2 system DIY guide

dowheim said:
Is it possible to buy all the parts that you have bought but get a cylinder that is a little more suitable for larger tanks? I have a 120L tank, this is the first article that I have seen that describes in simple terms exactly how to buy everything and put it together within my sort of budget. Your article has given me the confidence to give it a go but the size of the cannisters bothers me. Will I be replacing them every five minutes on a 120L tank?
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Going for a larger cylinder just means you will have to buy a regulator that fits it. This is a cheaper option for smaller tanks.

Maybe the fire extinguisher threads would be up your street. viewtopic.php?f=37&t=7776 viewtopic.php?f=34&t=266
 
This kit would still work, you just need the adaptor to convert from disposable to refillable cylinders.

http://www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/ ... -2438.html

THis is what I'm using at the moment 🙂 but the FE kit might be better if you can. I must admit I would prefer a reg with a gauge, this disposable kit was designed to be as cheap as possible 🙂

Sam
 
niknaksky said:
Is there any updated links for the kit on the first page as most dont work anymore ?
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You only need the CO2 bottle from machinemart, the Draper regulator (found easily on ebay) and the needle valve;
http://www.hosefit.co.uk/catalog/produc ... cts_id=778

I thought I'd register and pay homage to this setup. Been using it on my little 30L for around 5 months now, absolutely no problems, it's great! A real "set and forget" option and very cheap too. I have sort of been craving a solenoid though. I found this;

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/process-v ... d/7013236/

which could fit the bill.
 
Thank you! Do I still need the needle valve etc. as in the first post or can I literally go "Welding bottle > Regulator > diffuser"? It seems like as much as I read about this, it just isn't getting any clearer!
 
bottle>regulator>needle valve>non return valve>bubble counter>diffuser, search for nadelventil on ebay.de for needle valve, there are two types they are both silver looking one with black other with chrome valve. German made and precise. You want also some o rings when screwing regulator to needle valve or some push in fittings which should already have some sealants
 
Trying to get some co2 in my tank as quick as I can reason why...viewtopic.php?f=37&t=18545

Jury's still out on the ebay ones from hong kong until I find their fit for purpose and the delivery times are a worry. I managed to find one of the http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... zone=PDPz1 which they have in stock I can pick up tomorrow. Anyone know if they are suitable? I already have a d-connector for the FE and I can use the needle valve off the old gauges I hope! Does anyone know if needle valves are a standardised thread?
 
Thank you for your help, I actually ordered the TMC reg from AE to stay on the safe side. I'm away next week working so my emergency routine of switching off 2/3 of the tubes, diy co2 and liquid carbon I can't keep up as I have no-one to administer the EC for me. I've been plagued with BBA in this tank before which as you know loves a good fluctuation(after long time nearly cleared up) so I was trying everything I could to prevent it as I had been running the co2 quite high previous to my reg packing up. Hopefully all my measures will have smoothed over that transition from high co2 to nearly none and the reg will come before I leave town.

Anyway off topic there 🙂 back to the reg, I should only need the d-connector to take to halfords as it is going on a FE I will let you know if it works ok. I need a spare set up to prevent this situation happening again anyway. I have the needle valve off the old broke reg and also another one at my office that was off one of those regs that use the old 8gram co2 bottles from way back in the day so I'll compare the threads and see if they match and then compare them with the halfords one and see if the thread is the same rather than having to change the 4mm pipe to the 6mm output plus a needle valve. Hopefully I can get a spare reg set up for emergencies with just the purchase of the halfords part and preventing me freeking out again. 😀

I have heard that the knob on the Halfords reg may be a dummy I'll post up if that's the case and it is a couple of quid more expensive than other parts listed in this topic but it was worth putting up if anyone finds themselves like me needing one in a hurry, most people have a halfords somewhere local.
 
Yes all of those things will do. My issue was that I needed to get some gas into my tank rather sharpish before I went away to work so I was looking for stuff I could get delivered straight away. If you check my other post about why I ended up here you will see I have linked three regs from Hong Kong which will do what your trying to achieve for slightly cheaper than you are now and also has the bonus of having a gauge to see when your bottles empty. For roughly another tenner you could probably also get a fire extinguisher.
 
Looking at your links with the postage for one of them which was variable the total came to £39.09

FE from here http://www.firemart.co.uk/webshop/2kg-k ... 72_168_172 There probably are cheaper just threw it in as an example
Reg from here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180358932765? ... 1438.l2649
I can't vouch for the quality never tried one but I would try one at that price, I have emailed the seller who I have had other items from before who tells me the working pressure is pre-set non-adjustable at between 2-2.5 bar more than enough to run the likes of the up inline diffusers or the atomisers.
Total is £43.54 so for another £5 your getting another 1.4kg of co2. If you shop around a bit more you could prob get a 2kg FE co2 set up running for around £40
 
hi everyone.has anybody running an atomiser with the draper regulator?,any feedback would be great.skankypup
 
Hi All and seasons greetings

I have just got back into the hobby after retiring and have been reading around the site and have found great inspiration. This posting is a very good peice of work many thanks. It got me thinking of using pressurised Co2 but do not have a large budjet for it. So I came up with this

Needle valve from here:- http://www.airlines-pneumatics.co.uk/we ... =S07013310

In line ball valve from here:- http://www.hosefit.co.uk/catalog/produc ... cts_id=276

Needle valve screwed into a sealey two guage regulator ball valve streight after the needle valve, as I do not have a solenoid, the ball valve allows me to switch the Co2 off and on withhout the need to readust the needle valve setting just like the ADA systems but at a fraction of the cost.
Regards
John
 
Hi Sam,

The ball valve allows me to switch off the co2 at lights out and back on again without any need to alter the needle valve. Just like a solenoid but by hand.
John
 
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