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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
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