Ultimate Co2 Controller Solution!

Just wanted to let the RIU people know about my co2 controller experience. I decided co2 was my most limiting factor so I spent a thousand bucks on a Thrive controller (thrivegardening.com) and a GEN-1E 4 burner propane fueled co2 generator. For the next month I had nothing but problems. Just so happens that the guy who invented the controller lives nearby, so he offers to meet me at the store to update the software on my controller. Long story short, 3 DIFFERENT controllers later I decided I was done with Thrive.

So I just installed and watched for 2 hours my new Sentinel New & Improved Cooling-Heating-Humidity & CO2 controller. Seems to work exactly as it is supposed to within the chosen settings.

I just wanted to start a thread about controllers because I searched through all kinds of stuff here and couldn't find a single model reccomendation.

I'll continue to report on the Sentinel's performance. Peace!

I was going to go with the sentinel controllers and add co2 but it was too pricey. After this harvest I will invest in sentinel, they seem to be good controllers.

This controller seems pretty cool. First of all it works! You can link or unlink functions like co2 and ac or co2 and dehumidify which is cool. It also has a probe on a 16' cord so the sensor can be away from the controller. So far so good!

Ok so I figured out that the BRAND NEW C.A.P. GEN-1e co2 generator had a sticky valve that would not allow it to turn off...lucky there was no fire and I guess my air conditioner is pretty kick ass to handle that! I returned the generator and the new one seems to work great as well as the controller. I'll keep on monitoring...

I'll be checking back in here to see your opinions of the C.A.P., I want to invest in a controller but don't want to make a expensive purchase to see it work decently-moderately... thanks for the info, keep it coming....

Hey Ruiner! I'll keep updating the performance but the controller is a sentinel and the generator is a C.A.P. I heard the C.A.P. is a good controller but I don't like how it looks like something from the eighties. The Thrive controller looked state of the art but didin't work for me. Also keep in mind that if you're going to run a generator then the 'fuzzy logic' that they all make such a big deal about is supposed to be disabled so don't pay more for that unless you want to run co2 tanks. Peace!

Hello all I have a CAP xgc1e, the one with fuzzy logic, I get it for 599 bucks to my door. I love it, it has saved me tons of time in monitoring my setup. I works well and have only had one bad instance. The fuse it came with popped the 4th day of use. I replaced it and have had no issues since then, almost 7 mnths...JR


View attachment 1303609

Oh yeah I run CO2 in a bottle, I can make a 20# tank last almost 4 weeks, running it at 1200ppm in a 4x4 tent.

Nice controller jr. This is the kind of info I was trying to find and couldn't. Thanks man!

I have a Sentinel CHHC-1 and it's the best purchase I've ever made for my setup.

It's in between my ballasts and watercooled CO2 generator in the attached pic.


EDIT: I also had a Cap Gen1 that worked like a champ for me, so nothing but good things to say about their generators.

Nice utility side of the grow Bob! I agree that the sentinel controllers are pretty good. I like all the options should I need them. I have to move a fully functional 24 plant perpetual grow in 3 weeks and I may need some of the sentinels different abilities until I am completely set up.

Conratulation you found Sentinel chhc-1 or chhc-4 then you found the best all in one Co2/environmental controller on the market. I've been drooling over one them for a while and will be getting one next month for sure. I have 2 friends that already use them and they are very nice and make life simple.

Glad to hear others like it. I'll only have a couple weeks to take it back if it doesn't work. So far so good, but only 2 days so far. At least the damn thing turns off the co2 generator after lights out.

I like that the Sentinel has night time and day time temp settings (among other things). How much did you guys pay for it? Thanks JR

I paid 650, should have been 725 but i had 5 weeks of problems and went through 3 different Thrive controllers before deciding to pay more for the Sentinel.

I've got a Sentinel CHHC-4 (the newer rev) and its great. Got it from local shop for internet price matched price of $570. Seems reasonable for all it does. Local shop guy swears they are the best controllers..I haven't hooked it all up yet, but that is going to happen within the next 2 weeks as I'm about to start flowering and that's when I'll hookup the CO2 tank and sentinel controller and dehumidifier. Check out the journal and see what you think...

Wow xivex. Nice setup especially for a first timer. My setup is currently the culmination of buying one piece at a time over the last year and a half, so while it is functioning well there was little forethought. I'm about to move in Jan and there I'll get to have professional electrical installation and build basement however I want. Gonna be awesome! I'll start a journal about it's construction. By the way nice journal...THAT'S how to layout a journal! lol

Update- controller is working great. generator however is not staying on. it's keeping the co2 up there around 1300-1500 but it keeps turning on and then off and on and then off. fyzzy logic is disabled. doesn't seem to be the controller but the generator. tapped the side a bit and now seems to be running better. gotta monitor so I can return if needed.

When researching controllers did you hear anything about the hydrogen co2 monitor? Or has anyone used one yet? They seem affordable but not many reviews on them.

Sentinel CPPM 4- Only monitors and controls co2. My regulator plugs directly into it and the cppm-4 turns on the co2 when it drops below your setting, and then shuts off when it gets 50ppm above that same setting. Expensive but accurate and reliable. Can be used either in fuzzy logic for bottled co2 or another setting allows for a generator instead. So easy to use, no menus to navigate, every option has it's own labeled button, it's dummy proof to say the least, and the newer version has a green backlight instead of the red that the older model was rocking (which was the cppm-1). $450+/-


Hey you guys (lol, goonies) with the CHHC-4, does the co2 turn off when your fans come on? I have a evc1 from sentinel that is designed that way for non-sealed rooms that are spraying co2, and it's useless to me with a sealed room because I needed the co2 to spray while the fans were cooling the lights and thats why I went with the cppm4 and a titan controls mercury 3 to run my fans, which btw the EVC1 is brand new in box never used if anyone wants a spanking good deal on an EVC-1. I'll destroy any price shipped you could get from a hydro store.

Mountainfarmer- did not hear about that one. Maybe someone who has one will post here. I was warned about water cooled generators wich have a safety shutoff if water flow is not detected. That's great but that means you have to provide steady constant water pressure that always stays the same even though it is turning on and off non-stop. The guy told me after a 3 month long nightmare he bought another regular generator.