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I have had my Co2 system up and running for a few days (sort of), and I am experiencing a problem which I can only believe is the solenoid malfunctioning. Details are:
Regulator: Matheson 8-320
Solenoid: Clippard Mouse 0.67w ET-2M-24V DC
Power Adapter: DC 24v 500mA
Metering Valve: Parker H3L
Bubble Counter: Plastic Water Bottle (for now)
Fluval Ceramic Disc Diffuser
Regulator reads 800pi at first gauge, second gauge I am running about 32psi.
Solenoid is on a timer. At timer on, solenoid opens, Co2 runs and within a few seconds small bubbles are coming out of the diffuser.
After I would say 4-5 hours (I am at work during the day so difficult to get an accurate reading, but usually still on when i stop home for lunch after it is on for 1-2 hours), pressure gauges are still reading 32psi and 800psi, yet there are ZERO bubbles coming out of the counter. I can adjust the pressure up, remove the tubing from the needle valve and zero Co2 is being expelled, which leads me backwards to the solenoid.
My first thought was perhaps a small piece of teflon tape got stuck somewhere, so I took the whole unit apart, resealed it, leak tested, and reconnected. Co2 starts bubbling again.
Proceed to next day. Co2 turns on just fine bubbling away. Come home from work for lunch, still on. Come home for the evening, no Co2. Unscrew the solenoid from the manifold, hold the solenoid up to my ear and plug it in (usually you can hear the faint click of the spring) - nothing. After a few hours, it seems to work fine again.
Am I right in assuming that something is wrong with my solenoid, or am I missing something here?
Regulator: Matheson 8-320
Solenoid: Clippard Mouse 0.67w ET-2M-24V DC
Power Adapter: DC 24v 500mA
Metering Valve: Parker H3L
Bubble Counter: Plastic Water Bottle (for now)
Fluval Ceramic Disc Diffuser
Regulator reads 800pi at first gauge, second gauge I am running about 32psi.
Solenoid is on a timer. At timer on, solenoid opens, Co2 runs and within a few seconds small bubbles are coming out of the diffuser.
After I would say 4-5 hours (I am at work during the day so difficult to get an accurate reading, but usually still on when i stop home for lunch after it is on for 1-2 hours), pressure gauges are still reading 32psi and 800psi, yet there are ZERO bubbles coming out of the counter. I can adjust the pressure up, remove the tubing from the needle valve and zero Co2 is being expelled, which leads me backwards to the solenoid.
My first thought was perhaps a small piece of teflon tape got stuck somewhere, so I took the whole unit apart, resealed it, leak tested, and reconnected. Co2 starts bubbling again.
Proceed to next day. Co2 turns on just fine bubbling away. Come home from work for lunch, still on. Come home for the evening, no Co2. Unscrew the solenoid from the manifold, hold the solenoid up to my ear and plug it in (usually you can hear the faint click of the spring) - nothing. After a few hours, it seems to work fine again.
Am I right in assuming that something is wrong with my solenoid, or am I missing something here?