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Norgren regulator with 2-way splitter Those who know me are aware that I've gotten another 5 Litre CO2 cylinder and had rigged a Norgren regulator to a 2-way splitter. When the pressure was turned 'on', this Norgren "fluttered" loudly and sounded very abnormal. |
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The "Whatchamacallit" Checking around, I narrowed it down possibly to a ruptured pressure safey-disc, which is contained in a screw-in attachment. I managed to source for a hexed-plug from Kelantan Lane, to seal the hole and bypassed the attachment* as indicated in the pic. * Would anyone happen to know what that attachment really is ?? |
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Short-lived joy... Happy as a goose, I hooked up the CO2 system last Saturday (October 4th 2003) and blissfully didn't hear a whisper. The pleasure and pressure didn't last... there was a 'silent' leak! Condensation and water drops could be seen on the cold regulator!! By the time I figured something out, the cylinder was flat out of gas (yeah... I was stupid enough not to shut off the main valve). Back at work, I checked with my boss about regulators and leaks. He suggested I have a free go at the odds and ends, and found a gauged in-line water filter for compressed air. |
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I dismantled and cleaned the filter and laid out possible ways of attaching the splitter. Reassembled the gauged filter, connected the splitter and then did the next stupid thing... I had over-tightened the main valve to the filter and stripped the threads!!! There's no point in crying over spilled milk and I was once again, open to suggestions. Do I... 1. Buy another simple main valve (if that's what you call these things) and fit the gauge filter to it... or... 2. Bite the bullet and get a new gauged regulator? (gosh... this is getting expensive!) |
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The stripped threads of the 2way splitter was repaired with a high-viscosity self setting resin*, and secured to the main valve. A Renfert gauge is fitted and connectors tightened. With main valve closed, air pressure is cranked up to 6 psi... to see if the anything will burst. * The pink stuff. 031021 |
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Ticked off with the possibility of having to dismantle everything again and a 'leaky' problem, I wanted to test it again. Needle valves at splitter is closed. Main valve is opened. Cylinder valve is slowly turned open (and I had my eyes closed!), fearing a loud pop or a flying splitter! Fortunately, all went well... no pops and no hiss. 031030 |
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All hooked up!... again... 2way splitter fitted to new co2 cylinder and all tubings secured. Each tube runs to it's own bubble counter but I must admit that the needle valves are somewhat stiff to adjust and to fine-tune. Takes a bit of time to get it to the desired bubble/sec rate, but it's now holding stable. 031030 |
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While my other 'expired' CO2 cylinder is pending
a refill, I decided to bite another bullet and bought a new 2-gauge regulator
with solenoid from NA (a LFS). Gauged regulator is made in China with a German solenoid. I have a set of 2-tier x 2 feet tank that's waiting to be set up in the hall and will be using the new regulator for it. 031026 |
