Does anyone set -up a scuba tank and second stage port with a tire chuck for filling tires out on the trail or trails end for that matter? I don’t intend to do a compressor set up any time soon but have scuba tanks readily available.
Scuba tank for on-board air?
BBRider64
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Does anyone set -up a scuba tank and second stage port with a tire chuck for filling tires out on the trail or trails end for that matter? I don’t intend to do a compressor set up any time soon but have scuba tanks readily available.
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Maybe you can make it work with a Powertank regulator/system?
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If you do find a way I would strongly suggest not using those tanks again for breathing gas. Jack your lungs up real good that way.
Scuba tanks use compressed air. Flow is one way (out) so I am not sure I understand your referance to gas and re-use problems.
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Yes they do use compressed air filled from a diving compressor using the correct oil for it. If you use a shop compressor, then refill it there can be residual oil in it from that fill which can cause lipoid pneumonia.
Understand Doc, and I would not use anything but a dive compressoer to fill the tanks. All tanks are up to date hydro and vis and will be properly filled.
The dive tanks are here at the shop I was just wondering if anyone uses them for on-board air.
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I've seen it done, but not sure who sets 'em up.
Years ago I had a chuck that would hook up to the second stage BC hose. Can't for the life of me remember where I got it or where it currently is. Hit the dive shop and see if the have some fittings you could cobble up something with. 2nd stage is fairly low pressure so as long as you can adapt the fittings you can do just about anything you want except maybe set a bead that pops off, but you might be able to.
If I were going this route i'd buy a used regulator from a pawn shop and set up a hose long enough to reach all around the jeep. Just make sure you don't plumb into the gauge port(1st stage), that's full 3000psi. And I would think that the 80 cubic feet in a standard tank would be plenty to get you through a trail. You might even be able to canabalize parts from a used BC inflator to make yourself a nice setup.
Good luck if I find mine I'll post a pic for you.
-Txsjp
If I were going this route i'd buy a used regulator from a pawn shop and set up a hose long enough to reach all around the jeep. Just make sure you don't plumb into the gauge port(1st stage), that's full 3000psi. And I would think that the 80 cubic feet in a standard tank would be plenty to get you through a trail. You might even be able to canabalize parts from a used BC inflator to make yourself a nice setup.
Good luck if I find mine I'll post a pic for you.
-Txsjp
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A normal shop compressor would never be able to fill a SCUBA tank to capacity. They range from about 2800-3400 PSI.
Update-
Just did a quick google search. Looks like a local dive shop should have or be able to get you an adapter for the LPI(low pressure inflator) hose that normally goes to the BC.
Back when I was diving on Lake Travis every other day, the dive shop charged like $5 to fill an 80cf tank. That's right when all the "new" and different size tanks like the super 80(same volume higher pressure, smaller tank) and the steel 120s were making a big splash, so to speak. Bear in mind some shops won't fill a tank without a certification card, but some will. Also remember to do a little math with your tire volume/desired air pressure and the volume/pressure of your tank. An aluminum 80 should be able to inflate four 33x12.5 tires from 10psi up to 35psi three to five times.
Just did a quick google search. Looks like a local dive shop should have or be able to get you an adapter for the LPI(low pressure inflator) hose that normally goes to the BC.
Back when I was diving on Lake Travis every other day, the dive shop charged like $5 to fill an 80cf tank. That's right when all the "new" and different size tanks like the super 80(same volume higher pressure, smaller tank) and the steel 120s were making a big splash, so to speak. Bear in mind some shops won't fill a tank without a certification card, but some will. Also remember to do a little math with your tire volume/desired air pressure and the volume/pressure of your tank. An aluminum 80 should be able to inflate four 33x12.5 tires from 10psi up to 35psi three to five times.
SCUBA tanks will work I've seen people use them for air nailers for fence repairs and such. The only issue is volume, air like nitrogen tanks is stored as vapor, CO2 is a liquid and gas in equilibrium and as vapor is drawn off CO2 "boils" to produce more vapor maintaining equilibrium in the tank. So a CO2 tank depending on size will produce more usable cubic feet of vapor that a SCUBA or nitrogen tank
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:thumbsup:...
I am a Scuba Instructor and have quite a few tanks that I have for teaching class.
I have thought about the same thing.......I just didn't know if I wanted to haul around a scuba tank in the back of my jeep on offroading trips.
If you give it a try let me know how it works out.
I
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Great friggin' idea!
Back in Virginia, filling an 80 cost $8. A buck or so more if you were filling a 100. Visit a shop and ask them to dig around under the counter for some equipment you could use, make sure they know you don't plan on diving with it. I bet they'd have something beat up enough that they wouldn't let somebody dive on but that you could get dirt cheap. Also, consider Craigslist.
If the shop tries to run up the bill by telling you you'll get better results from Nitrox, tell them to get bent. (
to the scuba crowd)
IF you have the resources, you could even look at the smaller tanks to see if it would get you the cubic footage you need. I guess it'd depend on your tires. If you could get away with a smaller tank like a 65 or whatever, the smaller the tank the better so you have more room in the back for other gear and a cooler to keep the post-wheeling campsite BEvERages cold.
Anybody got a resource for the cubic footage in an average tire of such-and-such a size?
Oh, and BTW: I'm sure it goes without saying, but PLEASE buy or fab up a BOMBPROOF mounting system for that tank if you use one. Imagine that thing getting loose in a rollover and knocking the valve off. Now you're in a tumbling Jeep with a rocket rattling around the inside with you.
:laugh: unless it really happens, then
Ike
Back in Virginia, filling an 80 cost $8. A buck or so more if you were filling a 100. Visit a shop and ask them to dig around under the counter for some equipment you could use, make sure they know you don't plan on diving with it. I bet they'd have something beat up enough that they wouldn't let somebody dive on but that you could get dirt cheap. Also, consider Craigslist.
If the shop tries to run up the bill by telling you you'll get better results from Nitrox, tell them to get bent. (
to the scuba crowd)IF you have the resources, you could even look at the smaller tanks to see if it would get you the cubic footage you need. I guess it'd depend on your tires. If you could get away with a smaller tank like a 65 or whatever, the smaller the tank the better so you have more room in the back for other gear and a cooler to keep the post-wheeling campsite BEvERages cold.
Anybody got a resource for the cubic footage in an average tire of such-and-such a size?
Oh, and BTW: I'm sure it goes without saying, but PLEASE buy or fab up a BOMBPROOF mounting system for that tank if you use one. Imagine that thing getting loose in a rollover and knocking the valve off. Now you're in a tumbling Jeep with a rocket rattling around the inside with you.
:laugh: unless it really happens, then
Ike
As one with three scuba tanks in my storage shed, I wouldn't even consider running one of them as an OBA source. And after having had my previous TJ with its built-in OBA stolen and not having a good source of air for the last year except with a borrowed C02 tank (thank you Blaine Johnson), I would have used one of them if it would have been a good solution.
For $140, you can make your own C02 tank with a brand-new 10 lb. aluminum tank. I just finished mine... $85 for a new 10 lb. alumium C02 tank found from http://www.amazon.com/10-lb-Aluminum-Co2-Tank/dp/B0045H8GRI/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1307307918&sr=8-11 , $40 for a C02 regulator from http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/CO2-Fixed-Regulator-p-297.html and $7-8 for the remaining misc. parts to allow me to connect my air hose to the regulator. Or $50 for complete regulator from http://eastsidecustomtruck.com/i-61362-hyperflo-fixed-regulator.html
For $140, you can make your own C02 tank with a brand-new 10 lb. aluminum tank. I just finished mine... $85 for a new 10 lb. alumium C02 tank found from http://www.amazon.com/10-lb-Aluminum-Co2-Tank/dp/B0045H8GRI/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1307307918&sr=8-11 , $40 for a C02 regulator from http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/CO2-Fixed-Regulator-p-297.html and $7-8 for the remaining misc. parts to allow me to connect my air hose to the regulator. Or $50 for complete regulator from http://eastsidecustomtruck.com/i-61362-hyperflo-fixed-regulator.html
I can get a scuba tank filled for$5.00.
I already own the scuba tank, regulator, and air chuck,
If I can get 10-12 tires to go from 12 psi to 30 psi on a tank, it doesn't seem too bad to me???
As someone else stated I'm not sure how many cubic feet of air a 33"-35" tire would hold. Would need to do the math.
This has all been dicussed before http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f27/converting-scuba-tank-369281/ see post 12. You can use it, it's just that for size, weight and volume most prefer co2 tank setups.
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i run a SCBA tank for air. never had a problem and it filled my 30/9.50's just fine. one charge at 2500PSI would fill my trucks 31x10.50s 7 or 8 times from empty. of course i have an advantage, i am a fire fighter and have access to the fill station. contact your local FD, they may have the adapter for filling SCUBA tanks. i know we do and have filled bottles several times for divers that live in the area. all we have to do is flip the switch from dry to wet and GTG. for using it as OBA you wouldnt even have to do that.
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haha this topic reminds me of a friend that used a scuba tank for a nitrous tank. he painted it like a ketchup bottle(ketchup..catch up...get it? lol) and he actually took the time to calculate the lbs on the label
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