O 2 system check

[[email protected]]

We're getting ready to re-install the oxygen system in an old LS-3

Do I understand correctly that the aluminum tank needs to be pressure
tested, (hydrostatic test) every 5 years? Is the an FAA rule, or
recommendation of the tank mfrg's...or just common practice for the
refilling people?


Cookie

[Alan[_6_]]

In article > " > writes:
>We're getting ready to re-install the oxygen system in an old LS-3
>
>Do I understand correctly that the aluminum tank needs to be pressure
>tested, (hydrostatic test) every 5 years? Is the an FAA rule, or
>recommendation of the tank mfrg's...or just common practice for the
>refilling people?
>
>
>Cookie


The Department of Transportation specifies testing intervals and
procedures for pressure tanks; hence the DOT labeling stamped near the
neck of most tanks.

The testing interval is indicated in the DOT specification marked on the
tank. A good fill station will know what these are.

Given the problems discovered with SCUBA tanks made from 6351 T6 alloy,
which often resulted in cracking around the threaded area of the neck
after periods of sustained load (such as leaving them pressurized), it
would be prudent to have the tank carefully inspected by good inspectors.

If it requires a hydro test, and has not had one, a shop shop should not
refill it.

Alan

[[email protected]]

On Apr 18, 2:12*am, (Alan) wrote:
> In article > " > writes:
>
> >We're getting ready to re-install the oxygen system in an old LS-3
>
> >Do I understand correctly that the aluminum tank needs to be pressure
> >tested, (hydrostatic test) every 5 years? *Is the an FAA rule, or
> >recommendation of the tank mfrg's...or just common practice for the
> >refilling people?
>
> >Cookie
>
> * The Department of Transportation specifies testing intervals and
> procedures for pressure tanks; hence the DOT labeling stamped near the
> neck of most tanks.
>
> * The testing interval is indicated in the DOT specification marked on the
> tank. *A good fill station will know what these are.
>
> * Given the problems discovered with SCUBA tanks made from 6351 T6 alloy,
> which often resulted in cracking around the threaded area of the neck
> after periods of sustained load (such as leaving them pressurized), it
> would be prudent to have the tank carefully inspected by good inspectors.
>
> * If it requires a hydro test, and has not had one, a shop shop should not
> refill it.
>
> * * * * Alan

So I just pulled the O2 system out of the guy's trailer. The tank is
39 years old......the regulator is 41 years old.

I understand that some tanks have a service lifespan, but aluminum
tanks are "unlimited". I think this one is aluminum

Does it make sense to try to use this old stuff, or is it prudent to
purchase new equipment? Figure the cost of inspection, testing, and
possible regulator overhaul, maybe better to spend that money on new?

Cookie

[[email protected]]

>
> So I just pulled the O2 system out of the guy's trailer. * The tank is
> 39 years old......the regulator is 41 years old.
>
> I understand that some tanks have a service lifespan, but aluminum
> tanks are "unlimited". *I think this one is aluminum
>
> Does it make sense to try to use this old stuff, or is it prudent to
> purchase new equipment? *Figure the cost of inspection, testing, and
> possible regulator overhaul, maybe better to spend that money on new?
>
> Cookie- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Actually it is a steel tank 3AA


Cookie

[mattm[_2_]]

On Apr 19, 9:36*pm, "
> wrote:
> > So I just pulled the O2 system out of the guy's trailer. * The tank is
> > 39 years old......the regulator is 41 years old.
>
> > I understand that some tanks have a service lifespan, but aluminum
> > tanks are "unlimited". *I think this one is aluminum
>
> > Does it make sense to try to use this old stuff, or is it prudent to
> > purchase new equipment? *Figure the cost of inspection, testing, and
> > possible regulator overhaul, maybe better to spend that money on new?
>
> > Cookie- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Actually it is a steel tank * *3AA
>
> Cookie

The tank may be worthwhile; if you hunt around your local yellow pages
you'll find
some place that does fire extinguisher testing that can do the hydro
test on
the tank. Around here that runs about $30. The 3AA steel tanks don't
have a
life limit, but the 3HT tanks do. The 3AL aluminum tanks also have no
life limit.
New tanks can be had for $50-60 but that's with the medical clamp
connector.
CGA-540 tanks cost more.

The regulator is likely one of the old Bendix regulators that mounted
on the panel.
They were beautiful regulators but they required an overhaul every two
years.
The overhaul kits aren't even available anymore.

You can get regulators and all the other accessories from all the
various
sailplane supply dealers. Some carry M&H, others have Aerox. There's
also medical regulators available if you hunt around on eBay. Beware
that
most medical cylinders have a different style connector, so you'll
have
to look for CGA-540 compatible connectors. I don't have any idea how
to tell which medical regulators are suitable for use in a glider, but
I will
point out that they do seem to be in common use.

I was going through this earlier this year trying to get ready for
wave camp
(I wound up flying someone else's plane actually). However, after
camp was
over I found a complete Aerox portable system for a pretty reasonable
price
on eBay. (Note that I didn't contact any wave this year so I'll be
using this
system in the future.)

-- Matt

[noel.wade]

On Apr 19, 6:36*pm, "
> wrote:
> > So I just pulled the O2 system out of the guy's trailer. * The tank is
> > 39 years old......the regulator is 41 years old.
>
> > I understand that some tanks have a service lifespan, but aluminum
> > tanks are "unlimited". *I think this one is aluminum
>
> > Does it make sense to try to use this old stuff, or is it prudent to
> > purchase new equipment? *Figure the cost of inspection, testing, and
> > possible regulator overhaul, maybe better to spend that money on new?
>
> > Cookie- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Actually it is a steel tank * *3AA
>
> Cookie

Cookie -

See Matt & Darryl's comments about getting it Hydrostatic-tested, at
the very least. Some of those steel tanks last forever, others don't.

I've flown with a couple of old regulators. Then I bought a glider
that came with a Mountain High O2D1 system, and wow what a difference
a modern O2 regulator makes! Much lower cockpit workload, better
hypoxia protection (automatically adjusting for altitude, so you don't
have to worry about forgetting to do so), uses much less O2... Can't
say enough about it. The Mountain High systems are around $600 -
$700. Not cheap, but not terribly expensive when you consider its
"life support" equipment!

Take care,

--Noel

[mattm[_2_]]

On Apr 20, 11:36*am, "noel.wade" > wrote:
> On Apr 19, 6:36*pm, "
>
>
>
> > wrote:
> > > So I just pulled the O2 system out of the guy's trailer. * The tank is
> > > 39 years old......the regulator is 41 years old.
>
> > > I understand that some tanks have a service lifespan, but aluminum
> > > tanks are "unlimited". *I think this one is aluminum
>
> > > Does it make sense to try to use this old stuff, or is it prudent to
> > > purchase new equipment? *Figure the cost of inspection, testing, and
> > > possible regulator overhaul, maybe better to spend that money on new?
>
> > > Cookie- Hide quoted text -
>
> > > - Show quoted text -
>
> > Actually it is a steel tank * *3AA
>
> > Cookie
>
> Cookie -
>
> See Matt & Darryl's comments about getting it Hydrostatic-tested, at
> the very least. *Some of those steel tanks last forever, others don't.
>
> I've flown with a couple of old regulators. *Then I bought a glider
> that came with a Mountain High O2D1 system, and wow what a difference
> a modern O2 regulator makes! *Much lower cockpit workload, better
> hypoxia protection (automatically adjusting for altitude, so you don't
> have to worry about forgetting to do so), uses much less O2... *Can't
> say enough about it. *The Mountain High systems are around $600 -
> $700. *Not cheap, but not terribly expensive when you consider its
> "life support" equipment!
>
> Take care,
>
> --Noel

Just to extend to some excruciating detail (feel free to ignore if you
already understand this): there's 5 parts to the system: tank,
fitting, regulator, metering device, and user delivery device
(cannula,
mask, or pressure mask). The MH O2D1 is an automatic metering device.
Mine came with a needle valve and flow meter. Typical medical
regulators
and some aviation regulators have that built in, but usually they are
calibrated in L/min rather than flow required at which altitude (there
is a mapping if you know what you are doing). Flow rates depend
on the user delivery device; masks and standard cannulas require
higher flow rates since they flow whether you are inhaling or not.
Automatic meters detect your inhalation and deliver the oxygen
pulse at that point. Fancy delivery devices (Oxymiser cannula, e.g.)
can help by making use of a reservoir to store up the oxygen you
need from a slower constant flow.

Whatever device you use, it's a really good idea to get an oxymeter
to be able to measure your blood oxygen. I picked one up on eBay
for about $35 (new).

-- Matt

[Grider Pirate]

On Apr 17, 8:35*pm, "
> wrote:
> We're getting ready to re-install the oxygen system in an old LS-3
>
> Do I understand correctly that the aluminum tank needs to be pressure
> tested, (hydrostatic test) every 5 years? *Is the an FAA rule, or
> recommendation of the tank mfrg's...or just common practice for the
> refilling people?
>
> Cookie

Hydrostatic testing is not expensive. A bottle failure, however rare,
would likely be fatal for anyone very near.
This link has useful information about the markings on the oxygen
tanks.
http://www.usamma.army.mil/assets/docs/Oxygen%20Cylinder%20Markings.pdf

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

On 4/20/2011 9:17 AM, mattm wrote:

> Whatever device you use, it's a really good idea to get an oxymeter
> to be able to measure your blood oxygen. I picked one up on eBay
> for about $35 (new).

I second the motion. Amazon also has them, starting at $23. Or get one
with alarms ($70 or so), or alarms and logging ($130), for very
reasonable prices.

Has anyone tried the alarm and logging units?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)
- "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarm
http://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
- "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what
you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

[Grider Pirate]

On Apr 20, 3:56*pm, Eric Greenwell > wrote:
> On 4/20/2011 9:17 AM, mattm wrote:
>
> > Whatever device you use, it's a really good idea to get an oxymeter
> > to be able to measure your blood oxygen. *I picked one up on eBay
> > for about $35 (new).
>
> I second the motion. Amazon also has them, starting at $23. Or get one
> with alarms ($70 or so), or alarms and logging ($130), for very
> reasonable prices.
>
> Has anyone tried the alarm and logging units?
>
> --
> Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
> email me)
> - "Transponders in Sailplanes - Feb/2010" also ADS-B, PCAS, Flarmhttp://tinyurl.com/yb3xywl
> - "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation Mar/2004" Much of what
> you need to know tinyurl.com/yfs7tnz

One step better - an oxymeter as a sensor for a Mountain High system.
Not Yet Available to my knowledge.