CAP PPM-3 problems

[criom]

I recently got a ppm-3 and immediately noticed that it was not always shutting off the solenoid valve on my co2 tank after the relay point (1600 ppm) had been reached. It just kept going up until about 4,500 ppm until i noticed and restarted it. It goes for about 3-5 hours of correctly shutting off the valve and then eventually it will glitch and keep the valve open.

now i have a seperate issue.

originally the co2 ppm in my room was 900 at base level. outside on my lawn between trees it reads 550. so everything is working properly aside from the shut off issue.

so today i wake up and turn it on to find it reading at 4,400 ppm. it took 3 hours with fans blasting to lower the ppm to 1600 and now its pretty much staying there.

so my question is, how can the co2 ppm of my room change so drastically in 1 day?

it went from 900 normally yesterday to 4,400 today. i re-checked, re-calibrated, same thing. ive even measured different points in the outer room.

someone give me a clue as to what is going on please

---i have checked all the valves with soapy water for leaks
and
--i have shut the co2 tank off completely at its main valve, but still the ppm remains at 1600

criom Reviewed by criom on 07-28-2007. CAP PPM-3 problems I recently got a ppm-3 and immediately noticed that it was not always shutting off the solenoid valve on my co2 tank after the relay point (1600 ppm) had been reached. It just kept going up until about 4,500 ppm until i noticed and restarted it. It goes for about 3-5 hours of correctly shutting off the valve and then eventually it will glitch and keep the valve open. now i have a seperate issue. originally the co2 ppm in my room was 900 at base level. outside on my lawn between trees Rating: 5

[oldsanclem]

You could have one of two problems
Youhave a faulty solonide valve , (only hope you have a flow rate gauge.
Your reciever / control unit need to be sent back.
Mine had to be redon after 5 years.
Almost for got one do you use soap solution to check if any of the fittings are leaking via bubbling (a teaspone of dishwashing soap in a pint of pure water , di ionized , etc)
I check my valves and tank fitting every time I install a new tank.

[extinctx11]

Hey man I just got a PPM-3 controller also and I was wondering about similar issues.

When I got it read 1400PPM indoors and 650ppm outside.
I called them and they had me re-calibrate the unit.

Now it reads 400PPM outdoors and 1100ppm inside...

I thought this was a little odd, I mean I thought CO2 levels should be 400-600 indoors just like outdoors, already so high and I havnt added anything?

also when I Switch on my A/C my co2 climbs, somewhere around 1300PPM just by using the a/c. weird?

Kinda feels like I didnt even need to add co2 lol.

[oldsanclem]

This top secret do not tell any humans!
Depending on the room size of you breath while working in the room it will go up.
Depending on where the A/C come in and where the co2 head is at it will go up.
I have seen it go up to 1400 while working in room with the co2 tanks not even in the room. Relax and look at the total picture.

[armbar]

i noticed that caps products are very sensitive to humidity, anything over 60% and they go haywire.

[oldsanclem]

In order for the thing to be even close it needs to have lots of air flow in the room , from the floor up. As co2 falls the meter reciever must be located mid room about thickes part of the blooms. Now thick air cooler will have a different reading cause the air is thicker.
Normal out side is around ?450 ? If the room is well sealed if you do not breath it can be around 1400, thats a 13 x12 x 8 ft.
Also what is the humidity in the room , that may be one more factor.
NOTE check the span on the meter and make sure conection are clean.
Look into getting a Dataq usb to read the output over the total cycle. They are about 50 bucks, and are well worth it. Use some speaker wire to get your reading.

[Buzzman333]

I bet you have a digital ballast. The updated instructions will explain, it has to be seperated by 10', from a digital ballast. I sent back 2 good ones back before talking to C.A.P..