I need help figuring out ozone generator output

[ricesinice]

Hi All,
I am the lucky owner of an antique ozone generator. The problem is I can not find any information about the amount of ozone this puts out. I have cleaned a lot of oxidation off of the plates, and it seems to work well. It has a 8kv 30ma transformer, and a plate area 8" long and 4" in diameter on a glass tube. Is there a way that I could get a rough idea of the output of this generator. It is a Electroaire model AS. I would like to use it to shock areas of my basement before trying to scrub mold off of my floor joists. Any help you can give will be appreciated very much.

[markO3]

Typically the output of an ozone generator is measured in "Grams (of ozone) per Hour", so I am assuming that what you are looking for here is a way to find those units. There is no direct way to measure ozone in grams/hr (or mg/hr), so it needs to be converted from a pair of other values. To do this, the easiest formula to use is probably "Output of an Ozone Generator from PPM of Ozone & Flowrate" as found on our site here: Ozone Formulas. This requires that you measure your *concentration* of ozone (in parts-per-million, PPM), and the flowrate of your air through the generator (using a flow meter or wind flow meter).

That said, when a person is hoping to remove odor, kill bacteria, break down mold spores, or similar - the number that primarily determines effectiveness is the ozone concentration in that airspace (usually measured in PPM). For example, a small generator in a cabinet may be able to produce ozone concentrations high enough to sanitize that area, but when put in a large room the overall ozone concentration may hardly be noticeable. So for your situation, I would suggest getting an ozone monitor to measure the PPM level that you are attaining. Then you can start checking how high your concentration is getting. If you can attain 2 ppm continuously for a half-day or a day, you should be doing pretty well. If your generator can't reach that level in your air space, try partitioning it off with plastic sheeting (or similar) and run your generator in the new, smaller areas.

For info on ozone monitors, you can check out our site here:
Ozone Monitors for Purchase
Ozone Monitors for Rent

For further info on ozone vs specific molds, check here:
Ozone Effects on Specific Bacteria, Viruses and Molds

Keep in mind that the ozone may be more effective on the mold spores than on the active mold growth itself (due to the various types of molds and the different types of surfaces they might be growing on). Some physical cleanup is almost inevitable, but it sounds like you are already on the right track there. Running the generator after the mold has been removed should also help eliminate the last remaining mold spores, preventing them from cropping up elsewhere.

If you have any further questions, reply here or give us a call!

Thanks,

Mark Bosma

Ozone Solutions
Ph: (712) 439-6880
http://www.ozonesolutions.com

[ricesinice]

Thanks for the information. So, if I were to rent your EZ-1X Ozone Monitor and I had it pegged at .14ppm for an hour, that should take care of most of the mold spores? Is there a way to extrapolate the level of ozone I can achieve by how quickly I get up to the .14ppm level?
I think this generator puts out a decent amount of ozone.
Thank you.

[markO3]

The EZ-1X monitor is probably not the ideal indicator for what you are trying to accomplish there. As mentioned, the level of ozone that you are trying to attain will be 1-2 ppm of ozone (preferrably 2ppm to kill microbes, pathogens, and spores), but the EZ-1X only measures 0.14 ppm (less than a tenth of the concentration that you are wanting to accomplish). If you are looking for rental monitors to help ensure that you are reaching those levels, then the OMC-1108 would be ideal (very responsive, with a range up to 10ppm).