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| MRR |
 Posted: 01/10/2010 14:01 PM Post subject: Easy DIY regulator |
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Captain
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 332
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After watching some diagrams about regulators I decided to make my own.
The following device is based upon this little diagram:
My regulator operates the same like in the diagram but instead of a diaphragm I used a little squeeze piston (two gaskets on a screw squeezed to fit) and a presta valve at the gas inlet.
The spring rests on a little 12mm ball bearing, this way the plug turns very easy to set the force.
I was able to regulate my shop compressor between 8 and 0.5 bar.
Last edited by MRR on 01/12/2010 5:22 AM; edited 1 time in total |
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| Jack_Hogg |
| Posted: 01/10/2010 14:08 PM Post subject: |
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Sergeant First Class
Joined: 20 Feb 2007
Posts: 132
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Very nice, I like it when people try new things, it also will save you a few bucks  I am also thinking of making something like that, but not a regulator, but a safety valve for my fridgecompressor, so it won't go over 40 bars and destroy my pressure gauge. Anyway... I like it alot! |
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| POLAND_SPUD |
| Posted: 01/10/2010 14:37 PM Post subject: |
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Lieutenant General
Joined: 13 Oct 2007
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cool I've been looking for something like this... moar details please
@jack_H
that's actually quite simple... all you need is a piston with a strong spring behind it... or a shrader valve with a much stronger spring
it's better than a pop-off valve as it won't vent the whole system |
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| far_cry |
| Posted: 01/10/2010 18:36 PM Post subject: |
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Donating Member
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 292
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good job
try it on high pressures |
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| JDP12 |
| Posted: 01/10/2010 19:57 PM Post subject: |
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Major General
Joined: 30 Mar 2007
Posts: 1872
2217.80 Spud Bux
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Yes please more details!!
Excellent job I would love to see if this would work around 800 psi or so |
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| theBOOM |
| Posted: 01/10/2010 22:31 PM Post subject: |
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Lieutenant Colonel
Joined: 03 Jun 2009
Posts: 400
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| Good job good way to save some money for other stuff... do you happen to know how much pressure that 1/2" Tee can take? |
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| inonickname |
| Posted: 01/11/2010 1:12 AM Post subject: |
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Major General
Joined: 07 Dec 2008
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| 800 psi wouldn't be out of the question for a 1/2" brass tee, so it could regulate CO2 if made well. |
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| Solar |
| Posted: 01/11/2010 1:42 AM Post subject: |
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Major
Joined: 17 May 2005
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| inonickname wrote: | | 800 psi wouldn't be out of the question for a 1/2" brass tee, so it could regulate CO2 if made well. |
Depends on the brass. |
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| psycix |
| Posted: 01/11/2010 15:16 PM Post subject: |
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Donating Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2007
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What a beauty! 
I might build one too in the next few months. However, I'd equip it with a (homemade or not) safety popoff, so if the regulator would fail to seal, it won't fill the devices behind it with unregulated pressure. |
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| Brian the brain |
| Posted: 01/11/2010 15:17 PM Post subject: |
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Dutch Spud Clan Leader
Joined: 05 Dec 2005
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Seeing this design ( I am very tired right now, so I might be wrong) I think it does not have a pressure independant piston.
Meaning..it will regulate up to a certain maximum point. Once the input pressure is raised above this critical point the valve won't be able to re-open the inlet channel.
This is because it works by sliding off the shrader.Imagine the input pressure raising beyond the maximum the spring can open.
It will stay shut.
BUT:
If you combine this idea with the pushbutton valve, you will have a true regulator.It will pull the valve shut when the low pressure side has reached it's max.Not matter what the input pressure will be, it will re-open once the low pressure side drops...
Only important thing is to make the low side piston larger than it's counter piston.
Put the spring behind the counter piston ( formerly the pushbutton)
Good to finally see someone take the effort of building a homemade reg, but as I have said before, the pushbutton principle is much better suited for it. |
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| MRR |
| Posted: 01/12/2010 5:39 AM Post subject: |
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Captain
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
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It's true that the design has no pressure independent piston, that's why I took a presta valve with a very small opening surface. The way it is, the construction isn't that strong anyways.
It's more like a prove of concept, something you can build up on.
I've thought about the dilemma of the maximum pressure input and have already ideas to solve that problem. It's just a matter on how to build it with my recourses and without making it to bulky. |
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| velocity3x |
| Posted: 01/12/2010 7:28 AM Post subject: |
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Colonel
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| inonickname wrote: | | 800 psi wouldn't be out of the question for a 1/2" brass tee, so it could regulate CO2 if made well. |
Considering the force exerted by high pressure on the surface area of the diaphragm, I don't think it can achieve high pressure output using anything less than a large, powerful die spring (or equivalent) on the low pressure side of the diaphragm. |
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| inonickname |
| Posted: 01/12/2010 9:23 AM Post subject: |
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Major General
Joined: 07 Dec 2008
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| velocity3x wrote: | | inonickname wrote: | | 800 psi wouldn't be out of the question for a 1/2" brass tee, so it could regulate CO2 if made well. |
Considering the force exerted by high pressure on the surface area of the diaphragm, I don't think it can achieve high pressure output using anything less than a large, powerful die spring (or equivalent) on the low pressure side of the diaphragm. |
An air spring is always an option. |
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