Iced Gauge

[SAFC73]

Any one got an idea as to why my argon gauge should ice up on the outside.
I have checked for leaks and nippef the gauge to be sure but it,s still happening.
I have a single stage reg, two gauge and a flow meter conected using argoshield light.
Any help appreciated.

 

[madkayaker]

does it do it during use or when standing if you are rnning high flow rate that might be icing it up

 

[SAFC73]

It appears to be when in use, I am ising 10?12 l/m on the flow gauge
The flow gauge is clattering like knakered cortina when welding.

 

[Omniata]

How are the welds?

Sounds like it could be either a faulty flow-meter, or a bad gas mix

 

[SAFC73]

Thanks for the note. Im learning so the weld quality is not good in any event.
Now you have helped me esyablish it should not be happening I will leak test it again tonight and perhaps take the flow meter out of the set up and see if that makes a difference
Thanks

 

[Shox Dr]

Icing up is refrigeration caused by the liquid turning to gas you see it a lot on Propane bottles, because of the rate it is used

I would suggest you are using far far too much gas. Check your gauge and flow meter

 

[backpurge]

As has been said it is usually down to using too high a flow rate

 

[Rick]

When you compress a gas it gets hot, when you decompress 1 it gets cold.

If the bottle is "new" and has a high pressure theres a higher rate of decompression thus a higher temp change. If its cold and the temperature is changing a lot. When running higher flow rates its normal for the reg to ice.

If you've got the reg turned right up, and are using the flow gauge to "decompress" the gas further this will ice also.

That said it only happens to me when i'm using too much gas, or using the gas and the backpurge at the same time.

 

[SAFC73]

Thanks for the advice, set up tonight and used a lot less pressure at the regulator. No problem at all