Complete Leak Check, CO2 pressurized system

[PlantedRich]

I had not seen this topic but it brings up some questions that I had not thought about. I'm new to CO so the answer may be obvious to others.
Looking at the pictures, the leak at three does just look like the threads are not sealed well but I question the pressure relief valve. This just looks like a fitting with a plug in the end. Is it in fact a relief valve that works in some way I don't see?
Any info?

[Bubba_Shrimp]

Hi,

I'm at the step 2 currently. In the morning I had low pressure set to approximattely 98-99 psi. 10 hours later it dropped to around 92 psi.

Is this OK or bad?

[oldpunk78]

A 6-7 drop in psi usually just means you have a leak in the low pressure side somewhere. Check the gauges and any ports that could leak.

[chevy6960]

I am a little confused with the end of step 2. Instructions state
"G. Wait for 6 hours, if the new psi reading is within 1/8+ difference of original reading, go to step 3 If the psi lower a lot after 6 hours..."

I completed step 2 and after 12 hours my low pressure gauge dropped 3/4 to 1 psi (is this considered a lot)? Also the temperature got colder by 20° and ambient air temperature has been near 40° during test . Is this acceptable or is there a leak? Thanks

[Bettatail]

Originally Posted by chevy6960

I am a little confused with the end of step 2. Instructions state
"G. Wait for 6 hours, if the new psi reading is within 1/8+ difference of original reading, go to step 3 If the psi lower a lot after 6 hours..."

I completed step 2 and after 12 hours my low pressure gauge dropped 3/4 to 1 psi (is this considered a lot)? Also the temperature got colder by 20° and ambient air temperature has been near 40° during test . Is this acceptable or is there a leak? Thanks

Original:
G. Wait for 6 hours, if the new psi reading is within 1/8+ difference of original reading, go to step 3


Correction:
G. Wait for 6 hours, if the change of new psi reading is within 1/8+ difference of original reading, go to step 3

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by chevy6960

I am a little confused with the end of step 2. Instructions state
"G. Wait for 6 hours, if the new psi reading is within 1/8+ difference of original reading, go to step 3 If the psi lower a lot after 6 hours..."

I completed step 2 and after 12 hours my low pressure gauge dropped 3/4 to 1 psi (is this considered a lot)? Also the temperature got colder by 20° and ambient air temperature has been near 40° during test . Is this acceptable or is there a leak? Thanks

As Bettatail mentioned, it is the change in pressure that you are looking at (i.e. the pressure should not drop more than 12.5% of the original value. If your PSI was set at 30 PSI for example, you would not want it to drop to lower than ~26 PSI).

If your low pressure gauge dropped 75%, then you have a significant leak somewhere (or there may be something wrong with the second stage regulation if you are using a dual stage regulator).

Are you sure your working pressure dropped to 1 PSI? If so, it indicates a leak (or you are working with extremely low working pressures...why?)

You should ideally be testing your CO2 system in a stable temperature environment; having the temperature fluctuate 20 degrees (Celsius? Fahrenheit? I assume Fahrenheit...) and then having it operating at 40 (again...Celsius? Fahrenheit? Again, I assume Fahrenheit) is too large of a change to accurately determine whether the changes in pressure are due to a leak or just temperature fluctuations.

I would set the working pressure to ~30 PSI, set the CO2 setup indoors where the temperature is more stable, and then see if it changes over the course of 6 hours.

[chevy6960]

Sorry i did not give enough detail. What i meant to say was my low pressure gauge dropped from 15 psi to 14.25 psi in 12 hours. Is this acceptable?

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by chevy6960

Sorry i did not give enough detail. What i meant to say was my low pressure gauge dropped from 15 psi to 14.25 psi in 12 hours. Is this acceptable?

That is fine.

You only lost 14.25/15 = 0.95%, so a negligible amount.

[hyunbaw]

Thanks for another helpful thread.

Any way to do step 1 with a paintball canister (since there is no shut off valve)?

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by hyunbaw

Thanks for another helpful thread.

Any way to do step 1 with a paintball canister (since there is no shut off valve)?

Without an ASA shutoff valve, it will be impossible.

[hyunbaw]

Ok, then anyone live around englewood nj that can help me test my victor? X(

[Mathman]

Hello,

I started testing a victor 453d regulator yesterday night. Please see the pics and let me know if it passed the test. Please excuse the date as I, for some reason, typed them in incorrectly. The first pics was taken yesterday whereas the other three today. Thanks!



~Cris

[Bettatail]

Originally Posted by Mathman

Hello,

I started testing a victor 453d regulator yesterday night. Please see the pics and let me know if it passed the test. Please excuse the date as I, for some reason, typed them in incorrectly. The first pics was taken yesterday whereas the other three today. Thanks!



~Cris

slow leak on the LP side, and it took 10 hours to drop 20 psi, the actual leak rate is less than 0.1 bubble/second.
Normally such slow leak the soapy water test doesn't work, because you can't see the foams, the co2 sip through the soapy water not fast enough to push out visible tiny bubbles.
take out the LP gauge and the relief valve, make better seal on the threads and put them back on the regulator, then test the LP side again.

[Mathman]

So just remove the LP and relief valve and redo the Teflon? Is it possible that the leak is also from the post body?



I have a 1/4"-1/8" bushing....1/8" nipple...to the solenoid which is closed.

My LP gauge read close to 80psi (look at the previous post) and dropped to (40 psi). What is an acceptable drop? From 80psi-?

[kevmo911]

Originally Posted by Mathman

Hello,

I started testing a victor 453d regulator yesterday night. Please see the pics and let me know if it passed the test. Please excuse the date as I, for some reason, typed them in incorrectly. The first pics was taken yesterday whereas the other three today. Thanks!

~Cris

Just curious - have you tried testing with soapy water yet?