build your own power tank

[02running]

today i acquired a 20# co2 tank for $25 im looking to make my own power tank. ive done alot of searching and wondering if anyone else has done this. i want an adjustable regulator but the only 2 i have found are. the power tank ones which is a kit. and the one from wheeler supply.
links for each:
POWERTANK - CO2 Air Systems

HyperFlo MAX 0-250psi Adjustable CO2 Regulator

is there anything else out there? looking for some advice really dont want to spend the money for a power tank one. but i do need an adjustable regulator bc i want to run power tools off of it.
thanks for your help

 

[Dirtyfingers]

Hmm, how many psi is that tank? You can run one for a mid level regulator then another for the low psi for tools. That's how we have ours set up on the ship. Two regulators and more efficient use of the pressure.

 

[Socco]

Your probably better off getting the one from Wheelers. I've got the Hyperflo Non-Adjustable just for filling my tires. There isnt really a huge market for an adjustable CO2 reg that has enough flow to power air tools and not freeze up. So your kind of limited to whats sold to the off-road crowd. You can always jerry rig something, but CO2 packs a lot of pressure and your gonna be bouncing that thing down some bumpy roads!

 

[02running]

Your probably better off getting the one from Wheelers. I've got the Hyperflo Non-Adjustable just for filling my tires. There isnt really a huge market for an adjustable CO2 reg that has enough flow to power air tools and not freeze up. So your kind of limited to whats sold to the off-road crowd. You can always jerry rig something, but CO2 packs a lot of pressure and your gonna be bouncing that thing down some bumpy roads!

yeah thats the route im sure ill be taking. im getting quick fist clamps to secure it to my 1st gen roll bar.

 

[SV_Dude]

If you want to run air tools you're better off to sell your Co2 tank and find a scuba diving tank from craigslist. As long as you show your local dive shop that you aren't using it for scuba diving they will usually fill it without you having a dive cert. Plus, a fill for a dive tank is only a few bucks. My next air tank will be that route.

 

[KidVermicious]

If you want to run air tools you're better off to sell your Co2 tank and find a scuba diving tank from craigslist. As long as you show your local dive shop that you aren't using it for scuba diving they will usually fill it without you having a dive cert. Plus, a fill for a dive tank is only a few bucks. My next air tank will be that route.

I don't know anything about air, why is a scuba tank better than a co2 tank?

What about medical oxygen tanks, would they be suitable?

 

[02running]

If you want to run air tools you're better off to sell your Co2 tank and find a scuba diving tank from craigslist. As long as you show your local dive shop that you aren't using it for scuba diving they will usually fill it without you having a dive cert. Plus, a fill for a dive tank is only a few bucks. My next air tank will be that route.

its not alot to fill a co2 tank. my co2 tank was only $25. id rather go co2.

 

[SV_Dude]

I don't know anything about air, why is a scuba tank better than a co2 tank?

What about medical oxygen tanks, would they be suitable?

A scuba tank can be found on craigslist for under $100, the regulator setups can be found for $50-$100. Scuba tanks hold above 3500 psi and come in many sizes. They can be filled for $5-$10 and the air is filtered compressed air. It is better than Co2 because it doesn't have any moisture in it, it doesn't freeze when you use it in air tools or fill tires at a high rate of airflow. The inspections for scuba tanks are good for 10 years on a hydro test and 1 year for a visual test. These tanks are cheap to re-certify through any dive shop and are extremely rugged. Plus, with a scuba tank you can tell exactly how much air you have in your tank because the regulator will have a guage that tells you how much air is in the tank. A Co2 tank is filled based on weight of the Co2 so unless you want to weigh your tank all the time you won't know how much air you have and when you're starting to get low on Co2.

I suppose you can use some sort of medical oxygen tank but you may have issues getting it filled without proper certifications and because it's used for medical stuff it may be more expensive.

 

[TOY2G]

today i acquired a 20# co2 tank for $25 im looking to make my own power tank. ive done alot of searching and wondering if anyone else has done this. i want an adjustable regulator but the only 2 i have found are. the power tank ones which is a kit. and the one from wheeler supply.
links for each:
POWERTANK - CO2 Air Systems

HyperFlo MAX 0-250psi Adjustable CO2 Regulator

is there anything else out there? looking for some advice really dont want to spend the money for a power tank one. but i do need an adjustable regulator bc i want to run power tools off of it.
thanks for your help

I did this with a scott pack. I used the non-adjustable regulator. I use mine for air tools and airing up tires. I got mine from TRDParts4U it was pretty cheap ($50ish)

you can only run air tools so long BC it freezes up on you, same with tires, the longer you use it, the more it freezes.

 

[TOY2G]

A scuba tank can be found on craigslist for under $100, the regulator setups can be found for $50-$100. Scuba tanks hold above 3500 psi and come in many sizes. They can be filled for $5-$10 and the air is filtered compressed air. It is better than Co2 because it doesn't have any moisture in it, it doesn't freeze when you use it in air tools or fill tires at a high rate of airflow. The inspections for scuba tanks are good for 10 years on a hydro test and 1 year for a visual test. These tanks are cheap to re-certify through any dive shop and are extremely rugged. Plus, with a scuba tank you can tell exactly how much air you have in your tank because the regulator will have a guage that tells you how much air is in the tank. A Co2 tank is filled based on weight of the Co2 so unless you want to weigh your tank all the time you won't know how much air you have and when you're starting to get low on Co2.

I suppose you can use some sort of medical oxygen tank but you may have issues getting it filled without proper certifications and because it's used for medical stuff it may be more expensive.

CO2 tanks valves freeze due to the low temperature of the co2. The CO2 does not freeze. the moisture in the outside air freezes to the valve from the outside. By volume a CO2 tank (filled by liquid weight) is more than triple a compressed air tank. A compressed air Scuba tank will run an air tool for 20-30 seconds, where a CO2 tank will run it for several minutes.

Not trying to pick you apart, but your understanding of compressed gas is lacking. What you stated may confuse someone turning to this forum for information, so i am simply trying to set it straight. CO2 has ZERO moisture and can be compressed to the point of becoming a liquid netting a 10lbs tank the same expanded volume as a 190gal air tank at 120psi.

Also my Scuba tanks are rounded on the bottom, it would make them hard to stand up even if you did fill them with CO2.

 

[02running]

A scuba tank can be found on craigslist for under $100, the regulator setups can be found for $50-$100. Scuba tanks hold above 3500 psi and come in many sizes. They can be filled for $5-$10 and the air is filtered compressed air. It is better than Co2 because it doesn't have any moisture in it, it doesn't freeze when you use it in air tools or fill tires at a high rate of airflow. The inspections for scuba tanks are good for 10 years on a hydro test and 1 year for a visual test. These tanks are cheap to re-certify through any dive shop and are extremely rugged. Plus, with a scuba tank you can tell exactly how much air you have in your tank because the regulator will have a guage that tells you how much air is in the tank. A Co2 tank is filled based on weight of the Co2 so unless you want to weigh your tank all the time you won't know how much air you have and when you're starting to get low on Co2.

I suppose you can use some sort of medical oxygen tank but you may have issues getting it filled without proper certifications and because it's used for medical stuff it may be more expensive.

as far as knowing how much you have left simply put it on a scale before you head out on your next trip out. its not to hard to know. a co2 tank will give you the same pressure until it is empty.

 

[02running]

I did this with a scott pack. I used the non-adjustable regulator. I use mine for air tools and airing up tires. I got mine from TRDParts4U it was pretty cheap ($50ish)

you can only run air tools so long BC it freezes up on you, same with tires, the longer you use it, the more it freezes.

what psi was it set at? bc most air tools say nothing over 90. does it freeze bc its too much psi? wouldnt an adjustable one keep it from freezing?

 

[Socco]

what psi was it set at? bc most air tools say nothing over 90. does it freeze bc its too much psi? wouldnt an adjustable one keep it from freezing?

If your planning on using tools, get the adjustable one. The fixed reg is set to 150#, too high for tools. The freezing occurs with all regulators because you are taking liquid CO2, dropping its pressure through the reg, which causes the liquid to flash into a vapour, that process absorbs a lot of heat, which drops the temp of the reg causing moisture in the air to condense and freeze.

I don't know anything about air, why is a scuba tank better than a co2 tank?

What about medical oxygen tanks, would they be suitable?

Oxygen + Oil + Pressure = Boom. Never use oxygen. Cant use the tank either, because the valve style wont allow for filling with anything other than oxygen. If you replace the oxygen valve (CGA 540) with a CO2 (CGA 320) style, no one will fill it for you due to potential liability.

 

[KidVermicious]

Oxygen + Oil + Pressure = Boom. Never use oxygen. Cant use the tank either, because the valve style wont allow for filling with anything other than oxygen. If you replace the oxygen valve (CGA 540) with a CO2 (CGA 320) style, no one will fill it for you due to potential liability.

No, I wasn't planning on using oxygen. But I have a couple old medical oxygen tanks kicking around that I'd thought would make good OBA.

Maybe I can just rig them to fill from my compressor and use them as a buffer.

 

[rideexileex]

PV=nRT.... and people thought they would never use simple high school chemistry.... ha

 

[Offroad_Medic]

No, I wasn't planning on using oxygen. But I have a couple old medical oxygen tanks kicking around that I'd thought would make good OBA.

Maybe I can just rig them to fill from my compressor and use them as a buffer.

Medical O2 tanks are very easy to find for cheap but the problem comes when trying to fill. You will need a new neck assembly completely since they can only be filled with a certain adapter. All pressurized tanks are fitted with a certain pin system so that they can only be filled with the gas intended. If somehow you could swap a pressurized air neck onto an O2 bottle it would in theory work. However in order to be filled by anyone professionally you had to show them proof of the tank hydro testing which would be hard to get for a somewhat ghetto rigged O2 tank.. haha.

The used SCUBA tank would be best. Or possibly a firefighter SCBA tank if you could get a regulator to fit them for a decent price. They either 2216 PSI or 4500 PSI depending on the bottle. And it you get one of those you can get an airbag lifting setup that is far superior to any offroad jacking system. It would essential be a supercharged exhaust jack :bigok:

 

[Socco]

No, I wasn't planning on using oxygen. But I have a couple old medical oxygen tanks kicking around that I'd thought would make good OBA.

Maybe I can just rig them to fill from my compressor and use them as a buffer.

I found a small medical oxygen tank earlier this year. Out of curiosity, I took the breathing regulator out and rigged a ball valve to it. I was thinking along the same lines, like a buffer, but it held sweet f*ck all. At 120 Psi, it would barely dust off my workbench before emptying. So I threw it in the scrap bin.

 

[Dirtco]

I've been running a 20 pound CO2 tank with a single flow Poly Performance regulator for at least 8 years, it's a welding tank and I just exchange when I run out. The single flow regulator works just fine, even with limited air tool use (trail repairs). I wouldn't use it with something that really uses a lot of CFM, or daily garage work, but for a couple lug nuts, lower BJ nuts, and the large CV nut it works great. I also use it for blowing out the screens at my home, dusting off inside the truck, and other odd ball stuff.

I do have an ARB compressor that I can use as a back up when I run out of CO2, but I've gone through enough tanks that I know when it's running low (by how long it takes to fill a tire and the sound).

 

[02running]

I've been running a 20 pound CO2 tank with a single flow Poly Performance regulator for at least 8 years, it's a welding tank and I just exchange when I run out. The single flow regulator works just fine, even with limited air tool use (trail repairs). I wouldn't use it with something that really uses a lot of CFM, or daily garage work, but for a couple lug nuts, lower BJ nuts, and the large CV nut it works great. I also use it for blowing out the screens at my home, dusting off inside the truck, and other odd ball stuff.

I do have an ARB compressor that I can use as a back up when I run out of CO2, but I've gone through enough tanks that I know when it's running low (by how long it takes to fill a tire and the sound).

what air hose did you pair with it?

 

[SV_Dude]

CO2 tanks valves freeze due to the low temperature of the co2. The CO2 does not freeze. the moisture in the outside air freezes to the valve from the outside. By volume a CO2 tank (filled by liquid weight) is more than triple a compressed air tank. A compressed air Scuba tank will run an air tool for 20-30 seconds, where a CO2 tank will run it for several minutes.

Not trying to pick you apart, but your understanding of compressed gas is lacking. What you stated may confuse someone turning to this forum for information, so i am simply trying to set it straight. CO2 has ZERO moisture and can be compressed to the point of becoming a liquid netting a 10lbs tank the same expanded volume as a 190gal air tank at 120psi.

Also my Scuba tanks are rounded on the bottom, it would make them hard to stand up even if you did fill them with CO2.

You're right, my full understanding of compressed gasses is lacking a little bit. I was mainly talking from experience more than as a science professor. I think I may have mis spoken a little bit or I was mis understood. I didn't mean to imply that Co2 is a liquid but it does produce a LOT of moisture that I wouln't want in any air tool. From what I have read it doesn't eally hurt the tires so I wouldn't hesitate to use it in a tire. But you can run an air tool off of a scube tank for a lot longer than 20-30 seconds. A smaller 60 cu/ft dive tank filled to 4500 psi can run any air tool at 90 psi for quite a long time.

As for the round bottom of the tank, most tanks come with boots from the manufacturer. If they don't you can get one from a dive shop for a few bucks.

as far as knowing how much you have left simply put it on a scale before you head out on your next trip out. its not to hard to know. a co2 tank will give you the same pressure until it is empty.

Yes, Co2 will give a constant pressure till it's empty which in my opinion is the only benifit of it Co2 over compressed air.





I'm not saying that Co2 is a bad option because it's not. My point is that compressed air is more user friendly since there is a guage to show how much air you have left. It is also more readily available at any dive shop. Last, a fill or swap of a Co2 tank is going to run between 15-25 bucks as opposed to a fill on a dive tank is about 5-10 bucks.