[Wet Thumb Forum]-Milwaukee MA957 Regulator w/Solenoid valve and bubble counter combo

[imported_Rafael]

Just recieved the new regulator from Aqua-store.com. Does this regulator combo suppose to contain a check valve? I get conflicting information from some people. I was told by the store rep that it does contain a check valve...but I've read that it doesnt. Can someone please clarify?

Thanks,
Rafael

[imported_Rafael]

Just recieved the new regulator from Aqua-store.com. Does this regulator combo suppose to contain a check valve? I get conflicting information from some people. I was told by the store rep that it does contain a check valve...but I've read that it doesnt. Can someone please clarify?

Thanks,
Rafael

[gsmollin]

I looked at this thing here:
http://www.automatedaquariums.com/mw_ma957.htm

It doesn't appear to have a check valve in the picture. Maybe the picture does not represent the real unit, but nowhere have I read where they claim a check valve is in there. The sales guy will typically tell you anything to get you off the phone.

Actually, IMHO, this rig is very poorly designed. You should think twice before using it. I believe you will get the bubble counter water into the needle valve, solenoid valve, and regulator when the CO2 runs out. I could imagine water going into the needle valve every time the solenoid valve is shut off. Certainly gravity wants to pull it down. It will be right at the outlet of the valve, and I don't feel good about that.

Then there are the pressure gauges. In the picture, the outside numbers look like "bars". The inside numbers would then be "psi". This means that the outlet gauge is 10 bars, or 145 psi full scale. That's too high to be useful. Maybe it's just that picture, and the real unit has different gauges. I hope so.

Anyway, You should get these issues resolved before you put it into service.

[Ploppy]

I have this unit and it doesn't have a built in check valve. I just put one manually into the CO2 line out and haven't had any trouble.

I would agree with gsmollin in that it is not a particularly precise regulator and the psi readings are virtually useless. I would also add that the needle valve is also not all that sensitive. However, for an all in one unit it has been more than adequate for the price. Mine has worked perfectly for me for 6 months. I just hope gsmollin is wrong about the possibility of water from the bubble counter getting into the rest of the system.

[ChicagoAndy]

I have had the same regulator for a few months. However, I use glycerine in the bubble counter instead of water, which should be too viscous to backflow. Needle valve certainly seems good enough for me, but I just want to know bubbles per second, and that's real easy with this valve. Anyway, no problems so far and indeed, the price was right.