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Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:47:39 -0500
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Subject: Re: [LML] Re: Built in Oxygen
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From: "John Schroeder" <jschroeder@perigee.net>
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Rick -

On Thu, 26 Jan 2006 00:28:36 -0500, richard  titsworth  
<rtitsworth@mindspring.com> wrote:

> In your pics, the O2 tank (bottle) appears to be on the "right" side of  
> the baggage compartment (text below says left)?  Am I looking at it  
> wrong?

NOPE - I goofed. It is on the right side

> What size is the bottle?

We installed the Aerox P-CYL. It has 60 cubic ft capacity. It fits well in  
the location we chose, has acceptable weight (CG concerns in the ES), and  
we hope to be able to take long XC's without having to pay for refills at  
the normally outrageous prices FBO's charge. Since we live on an air park,  
so we are setting up a coop filling station for a couple of other users  
and ourselves. Buying welding oxygen is rather cheap by comparison. Aerox  
has a kit with all of the various fillers.

> Just curious, what are the intercom jacks next to the O2 filler for?  Are
> these below the luggage floor???

They are for a ground crew to use for external checking if we need that.  
Running cable out of the door with the engine running didn't seem like a  
safe way to do it. Yes, they are under the baggage floor.
>
> What type of hose/tube connects the filler port to the bottle (looks like
> copper)?  Any special rqmts given the high pressure?

Yes, it is copper. The same tubing is used to connect the tank to the  
regulator in aft the overhead panel.
>
> The filler port looks to be fairly close to the wall/bulkhead it's  
> mounted to.  Have you researched what a common FBO O2  
> hose/fitting/wrench looks like> - is there enough room for the line guy  
> to easily connect it?

Yes there is room.

> I currently have a portable (MountainHigh) system.  My experience has  
> been that many FBO's charge a flat rate for a fill, i.e. no way to meter  
> the
> quantity.  Do you have a "strategy" on when to top it off?

Our tank has 60 c-ft and that translates, when full, to about 24 hours of  
oxy for 2 people at 18,000 ft.. Getting the pulse cannula can extend that.  
We don't plan to buy o2 on the road unless it is an emergency. You usually  
can read the pressure of the "filled" tank and then compare that to a  
chart to get an approximation of how much oxy you have for how many  
people. Aerox has a chart, but we plan to modify it to get a better feel  
for how long a less-than-full tank will last.
>
> I've contemplated a "two medium-size bottle system" to fit "under" the  
> floor and to facilitate a "use to (near) completion then switch to  
> Bottle#2"
> strategy.  Perhaps it's not worth the added complexity (and cost) of two
> bottles and shutoffs.  Basically, this would be the same as refill when  
> it's> 1/2 empty unless mission rqmts dictate otherwise.  Thoughts???

I think it may be too complex. You will need a way to see how much psi you  
have in both tanks (panel mounted?) to be able to make the decision.
>
> Do you have any sort of "quick disconnect" where the lines/tubing connect
> with the bottle to facilitate getting the bottle filled remotely and/or
> exchanging bottles?  Some medical supply places will refill "aviation"
> bottles without a prescription (my field does not have O2).  Despite the
> folklore regarding "aviation" O2, my understanding is that it is all the
> same (i.e. dry).  Hospitals sometimes add moisture during the delivery -
> hence the folklore regarding medical O2 being different from Av O2.  Any
> knowledge to the contrary?

Nope. I would suspect that there are quick disconnects available for each  
system. Talk to the companies to be sure. We do not have one, but may do  
it to facilitate getting the tank out of the baggage compartment easily.  
It will be a major problem to get back to the batteries and have to work  
around that tank with ones' feet, torso or arms. Thanks for the suggestion.
>
> Your link also has pics of the 4 place regulator.  I'm assuming it is in  
> the overhead?  Is there also a regulator at the bottle (to step down the
> pressure), or is there high pressure O2 tubing going to the overhead
> regulator?  I've been curious as to whether to have high pressure 02
> lines/tubing in the cabin.  Primarily for a remote pressure gauge, but  
> the same concern.

There is no guage on the bottle. The one on the regulator will provide the  
bottle pressure.

> Do you also have a bottle pressure gauge on the panel (so you can see how
> much is left inflight)?  Is it feed by a small high pressure line or  
> remote electronic?

None on the panel. IMHO, putting plumbing like that on the panel is a real  
pain, unless one can get an electronic gauge - and that costs lots more.  
Yes we do have high pressure in the cabin, but any time you have a bottle  
in the cabin and a connection to a filler, you will have it.

> Do you also have a remote on/off value from the cockpit/panel?  Manual  
> or electric/servo?

No

Hope this helps add to important subject of oxygen in our airplanes.

John