Hi,
Is there another method for testing co2 leaks besides the "soapy" water and/or shaving cream ?
Is there another method for testing co2 leaks besides the "soapy" water and/or shaving cream ?
Leak Test.
- Thread starter barbarossa4122
- Start date
None that I know of that are in situ. There's always the dunk tank but that's likely impractical. What's wrong with soapy water?
Jim
Jim
Yes
Hi barbarossa4122,
Yes
, but probably not practical.
Leak detection, even with the most sophisticated systems, can be just plain frustrating.
Is this your "high pressure" (30 psi (2 bar)) set up?
Biollante
Hi barbarossa4122,
Yes
, but probably not practical. Leak detection, even with the most sophisticated systems, can be just plain frustrating.
Is this your "high pressure" (30 psi (2 bar)) set up?
Biollante
Jim Miller;61514 said:
I think with soapy water one can miss a leak. I have read somewhere that you can shut off the main cylinder valve and then watch the gauges......something like that.
Hi Bio,
I had a leak from one of the gauges on My Concoa about a week ago and this morning I had another one from the cga fitting that goes into the reg. But, that is my fault b/c I kept rotating it up and down almost every day trying to find the right viewing position. This is on the 20 psi "high" pressure set up. Can't wait to get my new reg on Monday. Btw, if I knew what I, think I know now about DIY set ups, things will be much better. But, I am getting there, just need 3 Ideal nvs, a dual manifold and decent BCs. Right now, I use what I have.
I had a leak from one of the gauges on My Concoa about a week ago and this morning I had another one from the cga fitting that goes into the reg. But, that is my fault b/c I kept rotating it up and down almost every day trying to find the right viewing position. This is on the 20 psi "high" pressure set up. Can't wait to get my new reg on Monday. Btw, if I knew what I, think I know now about DIY set ups, things will be much better. But, I am getting there, just need 3 Ideal nvs, a dual manifold and decent BCs. Right now, I use what I have.
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Soap & Water Is Your Friend; Get Behind Your Ears; You Could Grow Potatoes
Hi barbarossa4122,
Assuming you have the working end closed off; turning the main cylinder off would allow you to see a significant leak, though it would not tell you the location of the leak.
Soapy water is still your best bet in finding a leak. :gw
Biollante
Hi barbarossa4122,
Assuming you have the working end closed off; turning the main cylinder off would allow you to see a significant leak, though it would not tell you the location of the leak.
Soapy water is still your best bet in finding a leak. :gw
Biollante
Hi Biollante,
You mean to unplug the Burkert before turning off the main co2 valve ? Which gauge should I watch when doing this ?
Well, it looks like I can't escape the "soapy test". Thanks.
You mean to unplug the Burkert before turning off the main co2 valve ? Which gauge should I watch when doing this ?
Well, it looks like I can't escape the "soapy test". Thanks.
Well, this what I did few min ago:
unplugged the solenoid then shut off the cylinder valve. None of the two gauges moved. I guess this means no leaks.
unplugged the solenoid then shut off the cylinder valve. None of the two gauges moved. I guess this means no leaks.
barbarossa4122;61522 said:
Keep in mind that our "bubble rates" amount to a near nothing amount of gas. If you have a leak similar to the amount you're trying to bubble I doubt you'd have enough patience to see on the gauges: think paint drying or grass growing.
That's why soapy water is your friend.
What makes you think you have a leak?
Jim
Hi Jim,
I had one this morning which I caused myself but, no leaks right now. I just wanted to know if it's an easier/instant way besides the "soapy test" . You know...so I don't have to bend over and kneel down for 5 min or so. Maybe I should ask my wife to do it
I had one this morning which I caused myself but, no leaks right now. I just wanted to know if it's an easier/instant way besides the "soapy test" . You know...so I don't have to bend over and kneel down for 5 min or so. Maybe I should ask my wife to do it
If you want a really good bubble test solution get some of the stuff kids use for bubble wands. It is just a soap solution but usually has glycerin added to make the bubbles more lasting. That should reduce the time your wife has to spend watching for bubbles.
;-)
jim
;-)
jim
It's a hobby afterall. We're supposed to be having fun! ;-)
Tell your wife to have an adult beverage on me!
Jim
Tell your wife to have an adult beverage on me!
Jim
I have had a Co2 carbonated (two valve-chilled water carbonator, 2-20lb tanks) beverage system in my house for over 10 years and had a frustrating leak when I was installing it. Soapy water couldn't find the leak and I was using gas like crazy. I took about a 2 foot piece of 3/8 vinyl hose and used it like a stethoscope--one end to my ear and the other end on each fitting. Going slowly around each fitting, I found it--I could hear the leak which was too small to make a noticible bubble (it was on the bottom of my syrup pump and hard to get at--maybe I wasn't getting enough soapy water on it).
I had previously used a razor knife to cut off a braided vinyl hose off of a brass barbed fitting. The leak was caused the scratch made on the brass by the razor knife.
Obviously, the higher the pressure the bigger the leak and easier to find/hear. Sometimes the bubbles grow very slowly, from the size of a pinhead to the size of a marble may take a while-its not always obvious.
There are two sides where the leak can be, before or after the regulator:
With the tank valve completely open, turn off the low pressure side. Take a piece of tape on the high pressure guage and mark where the needle reads. Wait a couple of hours and see if the needle moved, if it did you have a leak on that side-most likely the tank/regulator connection.
If after a couple of hours the needle hasn't moved, then its on the low pressure side--back to the soapy water or stethoscope.
Another tricky place is the tank valve itself--sometimes they leak through the valve stem if the valve is not opened all the way. I always open it all the way until its a little snug.
I had previously used a razor knife to cut off a braided vinyl hose off of a brass barbed fitting. The leak was caused the scratch made on the brass by the razor knife.
Obviously, the higher the pressure the bigger the leak and easier to find/hear. Sometimes the bubbles grow very slowly, from the size of a pinhead to the size of a marble may take a while-its not always obvious.
There are two sides where the leak can be, before or after the regulator:
With the tank valve completely open, turn off the low pressure side. Take a piece of tape on the high pressure guage and mark where the needle reads. Wait a couple of hours and see if the needle moved, if it did you have a leak on that side-most likely the tank/regulator connection.
If after a couple of hours the needle hasn't moved, then its on the low pressure side--back to the soapy water or stethoscope.
Another tricky place is the tank valve itself--sometimes they leak through the valve stem if the valve is not opened all the way. I always open it all the way until its a little snug.
