Strideways solenoid question

[stephanie]

Hello, I purchased a second hand Strideways dual stage regulator and fire extinguisher off eBay.

Being new to the co2 world after taking over a decade break I'm not sure how long a solenoid should take to stop the co2 going into the tank.

Is it normal for it to take a while to stop me seeing bubbles in the bubble counter?
It slows down over a period of 10 or so minutes and after an hr I still see the occasional bubble in the bubble counter.

 

[bettatail]

it is ok, higher the pressure and volume in the tubing takes longer time to stop co2 flow at the diffuser after solenoid powers off.
you can set the timer to power off the solenoid about 1 hours before the lights off.

 

[Bradders]

It slows down over a period of 10 or so minutes and after an hr I still see the occasional bubble in the bubble counter.

I have a Striedways, 3KG CO2 bottle and an inline atomiser. I think you are talking about the bubble counter here, not the diffuser.

When my solenoid clicks off, the bubbles (in the bubble counter) immediately start reducing and stop well under 10 minutes. I just tested and measured around 2 for total stopage.

If you are talking about the diffuser, then there may be some bubbles for a while, but again, I dont expect 10 minutes worth.

 

[G H Nelson]

@stephanie
Send us an image of your regulator and the configuration of the diffuser!

 

[stephanie]

I have a Striedways, 3KG CO2 bottle and an inline atomiser. I think you are talking about the bubble counter here, not the diffuser.

When my solenoid clicks off, the bubbles (in the bubble counter) immediately start reducing and stop well under 10 minutes. I just tested and measured around 2 for total stopage.

If you are talking about the diffuser, then there may be some bubbles for a while, but again, I dont expect 10 minutes worth.

Thank you for your reply.
Yes it's bubbles in the bubble counter not the diffuser.

Last night I panicked as it was still in full swing and then I realised my plug in timer failed to turn it off. I unplugged and it took a while to for the bubbles to stop. It slows down at the 5 minute mark but gives a bubble at every 1 or 2 mins up to 30 mins and then further inbetween up to the hr. Im not sure if it completely stops. I will check it tomorrow morning to see if it has stopped fully and will time until the bubbles stop tonight.
I wonder if it's just taking some time to settle after it's been moved.

I currently have it set to come on 1.5hrs prior to lights and switch off 1 hr before lights out. Currently running at 1 bubble per 4 seconds which gives me a green drop checker. Tank is a 50ltr with a small denneral diffuser in the filer chamber area (back bit of tank) so it gets sucked into the pump which then blasts it all throughout the tank 😀

 

[Bradders]

It seems a little off.

When the power is off, the armature should block the gas from passing through. I guess it might be almost but not quite blocking cleanly. However, seems not right to still be pushing gas through up to an hour. Ill try and get a video or mine shutting down later to post for comparison.

The setup looks similar to mine, and nothing looks off.

 

[Bradders]

OK, I forgot to film it but I did time it.

• The thrust of the bubbles stopped 2.5 minutes after the solenoid was triggered. From around 6/7 bps to near-nothing in under 3 mins.
• I now have the very, very very slow residual bubbles which take many minutes to form and get slower.
• I expect even these bubbles to stop very soon.

 

[bettatail]

you might have small debris lodged at the solenoid orifice seat, need to open the solenoid to clean it. Make sure the solenoid is power off before disassemble the coil from the base.