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08-03-2018, 07:14 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 60
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I'm not familiar with the generational technology in the concentrators (it looks like Inogen is up to a G4 and I've got a G2).
I don't know why they would have a bad reputation. I went through some courses at CAMI a couple years ago in OKC where the subject came up; I would characterize those discussions as the same I've had everywhere else--no one has any practical real-world experience and no opinion other than curiosity. I have to say that I've not personally heard a negative review/anectdotal experience with a concentrator. The device will tell you if it is not delivering what you are asking of it with very high fidelity.
Why am I limited to 15,000 feet? It's simply as high as I've gone (currently flying a spam can and 15k is an event requiring months of planning and effort). 
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08-03-2018, 07:33 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dtw_rv6
Do you use a pulse-oximeter? I'd be curious what levels you were able to maintain at altitude.
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I do use a fingertip pulse-ox (Walmart $25). I've done a fair amount of observation over the years. My pulse goes up at a fairly low altitude, with saturations dropping below baseline well under 10k feet. On supplemental O2, pulse/saturation remain baseline as high as I've gone (15k). I fly almost exclusively solo and since buying the machine I routinely use it during the daytime if I'm going on really any cross country, regardless of altitude (assuming more than 4-5k above home ground level). I've not flown at night in quite a while but would use the machine at night quite liberally. It's quite convenient.
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08-03-2018, 08:00 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Grindstone, PA
Posts: 143
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I use the local industrial gas supplier for a $22 fill up every two years.
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08-03-2018, 08:45 PM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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I tested a couple of concentraters a few years back, and they worked great. I think the only reason they don’t make headway versus bottled O2 in our community is that the cost, and the fact that you need one for each person (which costs even more). When you do the math, you can buy a LOT of bottled O2 before you reach a break even point, given that most people aren’t using them all day every day when they fly (like folks do for medical purposes).
I really like them but couldn’t justify the cost - even for a refurb.
And yes - I do my own bottle refills from a big tank in my hangar.
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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08-04-2018, 04:52 AM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 454
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AV8AZ
I do use a fingertip pulse-ox (Walmart $25). I've done a fair amount of observation over the years. My pulse goes up at a fairly low altitude, with saturations dropping below baseline well under 10k feet. On supplemental O2, pulse/saturation remain baseline as high as I've gone (15k). I fly almost exclusively solo and since buying the machine I routinely use it during the daytime if I'm going on really any cross country, regardless of altitude (assuming more than 4-5k above home ground level). I've not flown at night in quite a while but would use the machine at night quite liberally. It's quite convenient.
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This makes for some good objective evidence that makes me thing any bad reputation the concentrators have is probably related to early technology, the high cost, or possibly just wrong... $1k per person does make me pause at jumping on board with this approach.
Thanks!
Don
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08-04-2018, 05:13 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Flat Rock, North Carolina
Posts: 360
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Been filling my own O2 tank for past 8 years from large O2 bottle that I bought from local welding supply. Entire refill setup including buying the tank was less than $250.
__________________
Steve
RV8 Flying since 2007 - Now for Sale 
RV10 - Flying (Jan 2020)
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08-04-2018, 05:47 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: n. wi
Posts: 777
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seems that i remember from the 60's when i got a diver's card that using compressed air that wasn't delivered by a pump for air meant to be breathed could be dangerous because the wrong type of pump could also deliver oil into the compressed gas.
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Bob Noffs
n. wi.
dakota hawk/jab 3300 built and flying. sold 6/18.getting serious about the 12. in the hangar now as of 10/15/19
RV-12 kit as of 9/13
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08-04-2018, 07:04 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 917
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I remember that same warning when I got my dive card years ago. But numerous threads here and elsewhere have convinced me that bottled oxygen is bottled oxygen, the price of the product just increases when someone has to place an 'Aviation use only' sticker on it (kind of like the certified vs. experimental argument).
__________________
Mike C.
Sierra Nevada
RV-6A bought flying
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08-04-2018, 07:25 AM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bobnoffs
seems that i remember from the 60's when i got a diver's card that using compressed air that wasn't delivered by a pump for air meant to be breathed could be dangerous because the wrong type of pump could also deliver oil into the compressed gas.
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Air and O2 are two very different things. With diving air, you had to worry about oil contamination from the compressor. Such a thing would take care of itself in the O2 delivery industry because any oil contamination would cause the compressor to explode long before it got to the customer?s bottle.....
I?ve been to to O2 plants - these days, they make one grade - far cheaper for them to make the highest grade than to have multiple production pipelines.
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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08-04-2018, 07:34 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 3,179
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for those performing their own refills, is a single "big bottle" sufficient? I ask because many of the online parts providers push a cascading tank system.
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