hydro innovations hydrogen1 User manual

OPERATION MANUAL
TM TM
TM
OPERATION MANUAL
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION • DO NOT DISCARD
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION • DO NOT DISCARD
FREE
instructional videos
are available online at:
youtube.com
Functions and Features:
• Adjustable CO2 output from 15 – 45 cubic feet per hour.
• Water-cooled design removes 86% of the heat produced.
• Adjustable water flow valve.
• High / low gas setting.
• Compact, wall-mount or suspended design.
• Water activates the unit.
• No flow / no go switch cuts off flame if water flow stops.
• Auto-cut off protection for gas leaks and tipping over.
• Overheat shutdown sensor.
• Oxygen depletion sensor
• Over pressure protection.
• All copper water passages.
• Inline water debris screen.
• 1 year warranty with great service.
• Optional valve for hooking unit directly to
pressurized municipal water supply.

A B C D E
2
A - Gas Inlet
B - Water Outlet
C - High Water Pressure Relief
D - Water Inlet
E - Battery Compartment
F- CO2 Output Adjustment
G - High/Low Burner Setting
H - Water Cooling Adjustment
I - CO2 Exhaust
J - Flame Sight Glass
F H
G
J
I
3
• HydroGEN Unit
• (1) 12’ Propane Hose
• Propane regulator
• (2) ½” Hose
Barb Adapters
• (2) Rubber Gaskets
• (2) ‘ D’ Size Batteries
• (1)GasAdapter Fitting
• (1) Warranty Card
• HydroGEN Unit
• (1) 12’ Propane Hose
• (2) Rubber Gaskets
• (2) 2 ½” Hose
Barb Adapters
• (2) ‘ D’ Size Batteries
• (1)GasAdapter
Fitting
Packing List:
2
1
34
5
6
7
Hanging Method: The HydroGEN can be suspended
from the ceiling using chains and “S” hooks. First
securely fasten two chains 14” apart to a rafter,
brace, beam, etc (not just into the sheetrock). Keep in
mind that there is a flame inside and when we say
securely fasten we mean it. Notice there are ¼” holes
at the top center of the sides. These holes are there to
allow for installations of “S” hooks that can then be
attached to the chains at least 2’ from the ceiling or
any other obstruction.
Wall Mount Method: The HydroGEN can be screwed
into a wall brace, stud, or beam using the brackets
located at the top and bottom of the unit. Remember
2’ from the top of the HydroGEN to the ceiling or any
other obstruction.
Ducting CO2: When mounting the unit inside the
grow room, no ducting is required. If you choose to
mount your HydroGEN outside your grow room, a
3"double-wall ducting from your local hardware
store is recommended. Note that this is NOT
aluminum dryer vent, it's double-walled, insulated
steel of the same type used in hot water heater
applications. The vent piping should travel at an
upward pitch to ensure that CO2 will travel into the
grow room. When installed at an upward pitch CO2
will travel up to 5 feet. We do not recommend using
a booster fan as they can affect flame efficiency, but
a very low cfm fan can be used if forced to duct CO2
further than 5 feet from the unit. DO NOT use a fan
more powerful than 20 cfm. Also, when using the
CO2 generator outside the grow room, we
recommend mounting a carbon monoxide detector
in the room with the generator. This can be
purchased at your local discount store for about $10.
We recommend this because even though the
majority of CO2 is being ducted into the grow room,
some will still be released into the room in which
the generator is housed, and gas levels should be
monitored to ensure safety. The odds of CO levels
rising to dangerous levels is very, very slim but it's
much better to be safe than sorry.
Propane Hose: The propane hose should be in good
condition free from cracks or kinks. The hoses
fittings and regulator should also be in good
condition and should not be used if any damage has
occurred. Attach the supplied propane hose to the
HydroGEN using a properly sized wrench WITH A
BACKUP WRENCH on the unit itself. Make it snug,
but don’t break it. Over tightening can cause a gas
leak. Attach the other end of the hose to a 20 lb
propane bottle that is in good condition. Do not use
propane bottle that has a damaged, old, or leaky
valve. After installing open gas valve and check for
leaks. Applying soapy water over the joints will tell
you right away if there is a leak.
Attaching Water Hoses: Snugly screw both supplied
hose barb adapters onto the water inlet and outlet.
MAKE SURE THE RUBBER GASKET IS INSTALLED!
Attach ½” ID HEAVY DUTY REINFORCED TUBING to
the hose barbs and install hose clamps. Cold water
inlet should be clearly marked along with the hot
water outlet.
Installing Batteries: The battery compartment is
grey and is located on the bottom of the
HydroGEN. The unit is supplied with two “D” size
batteries and they must be installed properly. The
+ and – are marked on the inside of the battery
compartment.
Starting Unit:
The HydroGEN's burner is activated
by 1.5 gpm of water flow and also requires at least
3 P.S.I. of pressure to operate. You must either
connect the unit to a submersible or inline pump
with at least 15' of lift that is powered on by the
co2 monitor, or the unit can be hooked directly to a
pressurized water source like a municipal water
supply. In this manner an on/off valve can be
controlled by the co2 monitor. For more water
supply ideas go to www.hydroinnovations.com. If
your water supply is ready it’s time to fire it up.
Turn on the water supply to the HydroGEN and you
should hear clicks which is the automatic ignition
lighting the burner. If the unit does not light right
away this is most likely caused by air in the
propane hose. Turn off the water supply and then
on again , this is normal and it may take several
attempts to remove all the air from a new unit.
Acceptable Water Sources: Clean water of course,
used nutrient water, RO waste water, well water,
municipal water supply, swimming pool or hot
tub, collected rain water, etc. You can store your
old nutrient water and/or RO waste and run it
through the unit prior to discarding down the
drain. If using sources other than tap, we
recommend using a simple sediment filter of some
kind that can be located at any hardware store.
There is also a protective screen at the water
intake on the unit to keep large debris from
running through the unit. We recommend
checking and/or cleaning this intake screen and
your water filter (if using) at least monthly to
ensure continued adequate water flow. If water
flow diminishes, a dirty filter or clogged screen is
the most likely culprit.
Acceptable reservoirs: In-ground pools, above-
ground pools, kiddie pools, bath tubs, hydroponics
reservoirs, hot tub/jacuzzi, barrels, trash cans, or
any other water-tight container. An above-ground
pool, which can be purchased at your local
discount store for less than $100, functions as a
great reservoir when placed outside. Night air is
also a very effective cooling method.
Adjusting CO2 output and water flow valve:
There are two knobs that ultimately control the
CO2 output. At the lowest setting for both knobs
the unit generates 15 cubic feet of C02 an hour and
45 cu/ft/hr at the highest settings for both knobs.
For more cooling turn the water flow up and when
less is needed, in the winter for example, you can
turn the water flow down to retain some of the
heat. The most efficient setting for removing the
most heat is the minimum setting for the gas and
the maximum output for the water.
Installation Instructions
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
• (1) Warranty Card
8

Cooling Methods
CO2
MONITOR
INLINE
PUMP
CHILLER
WALL
5
4
The least economical cooling method is using a chiller
with a small reservoir. While the chiller does use a lot of
energy, it's still significantly less energy than trying to
air condition the heat produced by a standard CO2
generator. Further, it's very convenient because you can
use a reservoir as small as 5 gallons in some cases.
Below are two different methods for using a chiller,
inline and closed loop.
Inline:
The most efficient way to use this method is to attach
the chiller cold water outlet to the cold water inlet of the
HydroGEN so that the coldest water possible is entering
the unit. Since chillers are designed to run under
constant water flow and water should only be flowing
through the HydroGEN while it's running, two pumps
will be required. First install a SMALL submersible pump
plugged in to constant power and second install a more
powerful inline pump plugged in to the CO2 monitor.
Since the HydroGEN requires a pump with 15' of lift a
smaller submersible pump will not activate the unit,
allowing the needed constant water flow through the
chiller. When the CO2 monitor activates the second
inline pump this creates the pressure needed to activate
the HydroGEN.
Closed Loop :
Install a secondary submersible pump in your reservoir,
to circulate stored water through the chiller and directly
back into the reservoir. This allows for the constant
water flow needed to operate the chiller. You will need a
separate pump, plugged into your CO2 monitor, to
operate the HydroGEN.
TIP
CHILLERS REQUIRE
CONSTANT WATER FLOW.
IF USING A CHILLER INLINE WITH
YOUR HYDROGEN, BE SURE TO READ
THE "WATER CHILLER COOLING METHOD"
TO PROPERLY SETUP YOUR SYSTEM.
• IMPORTANT NOTE •
CHILLER
WALL
WATER CHILLER
COOLING METHOD
WATER CHILLER
COOLING METHOD
CO
2 NEEDED PER HOUR RESERVOIR SIZE CHILLER SIZE
.1 to 1.5 cubic ft./hr. 20-40 Gallon 1/10th hp
1.5 to 4.5 cubic ft./hr. 40-70 Gallon ¼ hp chiller
4.5 to 9 cubic ft./hr. 70-100 Gallon ½ hp chiller
9 to 17 cubic ft./hr. 100-150 Gallon 1 hp chillers
Reservoir And Chiller Method
INLINE
CLOSED
LOOP
These are only
cooling suggestions.
There are actually several ways
to setup your cooling system.
Whatever cooling method you choose be SURE
that anything that is warmer than your desired
room temperature is mounted outside your
growing environment. These things include water
chillers, hot reservoirs and heat exchangers. If
these items are inside your environment there is
no heat exchange happening. Just remember the
heat has to go somewhere! A 55 gallon barrel of
100 degree water is basically a 55 gallon heater.
Your reservoirs should be located inside your
garden environment only if the water that they
contain stays near or below room temperature.
The HydroGEN burns propane like other units but has a
few added features, the main one being the heat
exchanger mounted above the flame that is used to
water-cool 86% of the heat produced. Cool water is
pumped through the heat exchanger and back to a
reservoir or is drained to waste. If using a reservoir you
would either need a water chiller, heat exchanger or a
large reservoir (all outside the grow room) to remove the
heat from the water.
WATER CHILLER
COOLING METHOD
See Diagrams on Next Page -->
The most ecientway to
use thismethod is to
attach the chiller cold
water outlet to the cold
water inlet of the
HydroGEN so that the
coldest water possible
is entering the unit.
You will need a separate
pump, plugged into your
CO2 monitor, to operate
the HydroGEN.
CO2
MONITOR

HOT
COLD
HEAT
EXCHANGER
AND FAN
HEAT
EXCHANGER
AND FAN
HEAT EXCHANGER
COOLING METHOD
HEAT EXCHANGER
COOLING METHOD HEAT EXCHANGER
COOLING METHOD
WALL WALL
Heat Exchanger Cooling Method:
The third most efficient method is a small
radiator with an attached fan. There are two
different ways to do this, inline or closed loop.
Inline:
The heat exchanger can be used inline on the
HOT water discharge hose. The hot water
would pass through the heat exchanger
which allows the fan to remove a majority of
the heat before the water returns to the
reservoir. The heat exchanger and fan must
be mounted OUTSIDE the grow room and
must be installed in the hot water discharge
of the HydroGEN to be the most effective. This
would be recommended for someone that
uses the HydroGEN more than 30 minutes an
hour since it is only cooling while water is
flowing through the HydroGEN unit.
Closed Loop:
You can use a secondary submersible pump
in your reservoir that's connected directly to
the heat exchanger and exits back to your
reservoir. Doing so this allows for constant
cooling of the reservoir since the pump can be
constantly running. You will need a separate
pump, plugged into your co2 monitor, to
operate the HydroGEN.
67
INLINE
CLOSED
LOOP
The hot water would
pass through the
heat exchanger
which allows the fan
to remove a majority
of the heat before
the water returns to
thereservoir.
Doing so this allows
forconstant coolingof
the reservoir since the
pump can be
constantly running.
CO2
MONITOR
CO2
MONITOR

98
CO2 MONITOR
TAP
VALVE
DRAIN
COLD
HOT
The most economical way to cool the unit is drain to waste but is only
recommended if using waste water to cool with. Store RO waste water, old
nutrient water, and even rain water to use to cool the HydroGEN before
disposing down the drain.
HEAT EXCHANGER
COOLING METHOD
DRAIN TO WASTE
COOLING METHOD
WATER USAGE CO2 PRODUCTION
13 Gallons / hour 1.5 cubic feet / hour
26 Gallons / hour 3 cubic feet / hour
38 Gallons / hour 4.5 cubic feet / hour
75 Gallons / hour 9 cubic feet / hour
*
At minimum water flow setting.
Drain To Waste / Storage / Reuse
HOT
CO2
MONITOR
Another efficient cooling method is to circulate cool water from a large
reservoir used outside your grow room. Barrels, plastic tubs, and even small
above ground swimming pools can be bought for less than $75 and make
excellent reservoirs. During the off cycle the reservoir is allowed to naturally
cool down, so obviously this idea works great for cooler areas.
LARGE RESERVOIR
COOLING METHOD
Reservoir No Chiller Method
CO
2 NEEDED PER HOUR SUGGESTED RESERVOIR SIZE
1.5 cubic feet / hour 100 Gallon
3 cubic feet / hour 200 Gallon
4.5 cubic feet / hour 300 Gallon
9 cubic feet / hour 600 Gallon
* For 12 hour CO2 cycle. Reservoir sizes are suggested only and can be
larger or smaller depending on your application.
WALL

10 11
A
- Hut
B
- CO2 Generator
C
- Reservoir and Pump
D
- Chiller
or Heat Exchanger
E
- CO2 Duct
F
- Wall
G
- Water Inlet
H
- Water Outlet
I
- CO2
J
- Heat
A
- Hut
B
- CO2 Generator
C
- Reservoir and Pump
D
- Chiller
or Heat Exchanger
E
- CO2 Duct
F
- Wall
G
- Water Inlet
H
- Water Outlet
I
- CO2
J
- Heat
A
- Hut
B
- CO2 Generator
C
- Reservoir and Pump
D
- Chiller
or Heat Exchanger
E
- CO2 Duct
F
- Wall
G
- Water Inlet
H
- Water Outlet
I
- CO2
J
- Heat
B
F
G
H
CDJ
I
IN ROOM DIAGRAM
B
F
E
G
H
CDJ
I
A
HUT DIAGRAM

12 13
A
- Hut
B
- CO2 Generator
C
- Reservoir and Pump
D
- Chiller
or Heat Exchanger
E
- CO2 Duct
F
- Wall
G
- Water Inlet
H
- Water Outlet
I
- CO2
J
- Heat
B
CDJ
I
THROUGH WALL DIAGRAM
G
H
FE
IF YOU SUSPECT A GAS LEAK TURN OFF PROPANE BOTTLE VALVE IMMEDIATELY. IF THE
ROOM SMELLS LIKE GAS LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AND LEAVE A DOOR OR WINDOW OPEN FOR
PROPANE GAS TO DISSIPATE. DO NOT PUT ANYTHING ON OR CLOSE TO THE UNIT, THIS
COULD CAUSE SEVERAL FATAL PROBLEMS.
KEEP A MINIMUM DISTANCE OF 2’ AROUND THE HYDROGEN.
LISTEN OCCASIONALLY FOR ABNORMAL COMBUSTION. IF YOU SUSPECT THIS,
DISCONTINUE USE AND EITHER DIAGNOSE PROBLEM OR SEND THE UNIT BACK FOR REPAIR.
DESPITE BEING WATER-COOLED THE OUTER HOUSING CAN GET VERY WARM. PLEASE
AVOID TOUCHING THE HOUSING DURING OPERATION. THE KNOBS SHOULD BE OK TO
TOUCH.
DO NOT ALLOW UNIT OR HOSES TO FALL INTO DISREPAIR. CHECK BURNER, IGNITER, AND
HEAT EXCHANGER FOR DUST PERIODICALLY. THIS DUST WILL HAMPER THE HYDROGEN’S
PERFORMANCE.
DO NOT USETHE HYDROGEN IN OUTDOOR CONDITIONS.
ONLY USE PROPANE (LPG) FOR THE HYDROGEN UNLESS
OTHERWISE SPECIFIED OR IT COULD KILL YOU.
THE HYDROGEN MUST BE MOUNTED AT LEAST 2’ FROM THE CEILING OR ENCLOSURE THAT
IT’S MOUNTED IN TO ALLOW FOR LEFTOVER HEAT TO ESCAPE PROPERLY.
KEEP THE PROPANE TANK AS FAR FROM THE UNIT AS POSSIBLE
(THIS IS WHY YOU WERE SUPPLIED A 12’HOSE).
WATER FLOW MUST EXCEED 1.5 GPM AND 3 PSI FOR THE HYDROGEN TO OPERATE.
DON’T USE AGING OR CRACKING HOSES.
Troubleshooting:
Unit does not light!
• Check propane level (don’t be fooled, bottles are heavy even when they are empty).
• Check propane valve and make sure it’s on.
• Check the batteries and make sure they are installed properly.
• Replace batteries if it’s possible they are discharged.
• Check for sufficient water flow/pressure.
(Water flow must be above 1.5 gpm and pressure has to be over 3 psi
for the HydroGEN to operate. This is for safety reasons.)
• Check for clogged inlet screen causing low water flow.
• Overheat sensor could be activated. Let unit cool before trying to restart.
• Not enough oxygen for combustion-discontinue using until problem is solved.
• The HydroGEN will not operate if there is a gas leak.
Discontinue using until problem is solved.
WARNING
THE HYDROGEN MUST BE INSTALLED IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA JUST LIKE ANY OTHER
DEVICE THAT BURNS PROPANE. OXYGEN MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR COMPLETE COMBUSTION OF
THE PROPANE. WITH COMPLETE COMBUSTION OF PROPANE YOU GET GLORIOUS CO2, WITH
INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION YOU GET DEADLY CO (CARBON MONOXIDE). CO POISONING IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY DEATHS EVERY YEAR, SO BE SMART AND NEVER USE HYDROGEN IN A
COMPLETELY SEALED ENVIRONMENT. A TIMED FRESH AIR INTAKE FAN WORKS GREAT FOR
SUPPLYING OXYGEN FOR PLANTS AND FOR THE CO2 GENERATOR.

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