No2 conversion to "power tank"

[Jon]

I want a Power tank but they really like them and want an arm and a leg. A guy I went wheeling with last year had a had a home made "power tank" and I was impressed to see my 35's go from 4psi to 40 in around a minute.

I just found two 10lb NO2 tanks that I had in the attic and I'd like to use those if possible. Looks like I'd just need a regulator and an air chuck fitting. I already have on board air and just swapped out my MV50 compressor for a new one. Today it took almost 30min to get all four from 8 to 40psi.

I am pretty unfamiliar with "tankology" so any help would be great. I'm probably gonna take them down to a welding supply place and see what they can come up with.

Current setup

 

[blkexp98]

You may be better off selling the two nitrous tanks and just buying a nitrogen tank. I dont know anything about nitrous so the top valve may be different from nitrogen. With that said you can pick up regulators for a nitrogen tank for CHEAP on ebay. Most will have a 1/4 NPTF port where you can add whatever hose and fitting type you need. The tank connection on a nitrogen tank will most likely be a CGA 580.

I would use nitrogen just because its temperature stable. I suppose compressed air would be just as good but may be harder to find in a high pressure.

If you own your tank (most welding supplys wont lease small tanks) it will need to be hydroed every few years but they should fill it as long as that is good. I have a small nitrogen tank I thought about doing this with too. How far does say a 25lb tank with a 2200-2500 psi fill go filling tires (very rough figure)?

 

[fourwd1]

"Power tanks" are CO2 so I guess you're asking about using or converting your nitrous tanks to that ??
Is so the questions are will the regulator handle CO2 and will someone one fill them with CO2.

 

[mace.]

You may be better off selling the two nitrous tanks and just buying a nitrogen tank. I dont know anything about nitrous so the top valve may be different from nitrogen. With that said you can pick up regulators for a nitrogen tank for CHEAP on ebay. Most will have a 1/4 NPTF port where you can add whatever hose and fitting type you need. The tank connection on a nitrogen tank will most likely be a CGA 580.

I would use nitrogen just because its temperature stable. I suppose compressed air would be just as good but may be harder to find in a high pressure.

If you own your tank (most welding supplys wont lease small tanks) it will need to be hydroed every few years but they should fill it as long as that is good. I have a small nitrogen tank I thought about doing this with too. How far does say a 25lb tank with a 2200-2500 psi fill go filling tires (very rough figure)?

You won't be able to fill nearly as many tires with nitrogen as you would with CO2. Also with nitrogen you have to keep a tank with significantly higher pressure than you do with CO2.

At a minimum, to use a NO2 cylinder for CO2 you would need to swap the valves. If I recall a NO2 uses CGA 326 while CO2 uses 320.

 

[blkexp98]

Thanks for the heads up mace. I was curious how the nitrogen would compare. About 800 psi of liquid co2 does sound a little better than over 2200 psi of nitrogen safety wise. Especially if it goes further.

Have you taken the tanks by airgas or anyone like that to see what they say as far as a gas change?

 

[mace.]

[MENTION=9758]blkexp98[/MENTION] You're going to have to call around near you and see what they say as policies vary from place to place. Some places don't even want to fill the cylinder you bring it and give it back. They just want to swap it out with one of theirs. I'm guessing they will do a swap rather than change out the valves.

 

[slapdappy]

I bought a 20 or 25lb tank off CL for $25, got a $55 150psi regulator from Wheelers Off Road, and already had a $15 hose and chuck from my air compressor. 20lb Tank swap refills are $7 at my local grow shop.
A local liquor store sells, refills, and swaps a wide variety of tank sizes. Ive discussed swapping my full 20lb for a full 10lb plus a refill and they seem agreeable. 10 lbs is plenty. Smaller size and weight is a big deal to me.
The fixed pressure regulator is fine because the CO2 is at 800 psi until it runs out. Keep track of tank fill via weight.
Everything i read about using different tanks (scuba, nitrous, whatever) and regulators convinced me it would be wiser, safer, simpler, and ultimTely less expensive to stick with stuff origianlly designed for CO2. Check out CL and stores that supply home brewing supplies. Here in denver there are lots of large tanks for sale from people getting out of the grow business.