Frankster13
Active Member
I'm looking for suggestions and feedback on portible oxygen systems for my RV-14A. Trying to figure out what system to buy (brand, mask type, bottle size, etc.). Any suggestions welcome.
A cheapskate after my own heart.... ha ha. Well done. Off the shelf complete 2 Plc O2 aviation system is over $500.I rolled my own. I used an E size 870 bottle. It mounts upright in the baggage area and secured to the cross brace behind that seats. I provides many hours of capacity for two people with oxymizer canulas. Instead of using the regulator to control flow, I got some inexpensive O2 regulators from *bay. Get the pediatric style that go from .1 to 2 lpm and use one per O2 user.
I have less than $100 in my setup.
Larry
SNIP
To be honest, I rarely fly above 12,500, but my wife feels better on long flights above 10,000 with some O2.
I’m on oxygen starting at 8K’. For a long cross country even at 8K’ I feel tired the rest of the day without it.
I run the MH system with the AL-682 bottle: https://www.mhoxygen.com/product/aluminum-cylinders/
Buying a system from MH, the bottle comes with a very nice carrying case with straps. In the RV-10 the bottle got strapped to the tunnel top cover (the control valve just aft of the front seats), in the RV-8 the same bottle gets strapped into the forward baggage compartment. The ends of the straps go under existing screws, adding tinnerman washers as an extra step.
One bottle supports two people for a coast to coast trip. Six of us went in on a shared oxygen recharge station. Six big bottles from the local gas shop and getting the low one refilled is $40. In short my oxygen cost me pennies a flight.
Carl
The often overlooked but most important part of a good O2 system is an excellent quality, reliable pulse oximeter.
Used to be expensive and the good ones are still a little pricey but worth it. Don't fry your brain. If your oxygen saturations are low descend.
Tank too low. Leaky fittings. Bad fit on cannula or mask, etc. Like CO (carbon monoxide) hypoxia can be insidious.
You can save money by rolling your own O2 system but don't cheap out on the monitor for oxygen saturation. Listed above in some of the other posts are some good ones.......
Lately, I have used a small Inogen concentrator. I even have a splitter and my wife and I keep 95% saturation at 14K
Lately, I have used a small Inogen concentrator. I even have a splitter and my wife and I keep 95% saturation at 14K
I know you did not ask me, but I use the Inogen G5.Which Inogen do you have?
Ed
I know you did not ask me, but I use the Inogen G5.
s
While I was doing all that, my instructor sold me some old surplus O2 tank, looked to be military, maybe a bail-out bottle. It was a steel cylinder wrapped with a continuous wire strand, very small diameter wire. I've forgotten the markings that were stenciled on it, but it looked military.
The hydro test shop stripped off the wire to my disgust, but it passed hydro, and I used it to set up a home brew portable system. Bout a regulator and canula set-up from Mountain High I think it was..... still have that system stored in the back of some closet, never used it. Probably no good now.
Anyway, I was curious about maintaining a system in an aircraft.
Where you guys getting your Inogen G5 units and how much did you pay if I may ask? ...
I got mine for about $1500 on a French website which is like ebay: https://www.leboncoin.fr/ It was new, never used. I was keeping an eye out for a G5 for a few months before I found this one, so you might have to be patient.
I had a G4 than the G5 came out I got that. It is awesome, never have to worry about refills, endurance. I got the bigger battery and I can run for 8hrs on setting number 2 I also carry the 12v cord to plug in the plane if needed. My pulse oximeter reads 93-94 at 13k feet.
I have bought mine and couple others to friends from Craigslist. All low hrs costing about $1200-$1500
I just picked up a Inogen G5 and now have to figure out where to put it. Not a lot of room in the RV-8 where it can be reached in flight and still be out of the way. Any suggestions?
For the others, I bought the unit on Facebook for $1k.
I am very curious about how your unit performs. If it delivers oxygen sufficient to keep you alert at altitude, that's what matters. After a little digging, this is what I've found.
I spoke with an Inogen representative, who says they can't sell a new unit without a prescription because the oxygen becomes a controlled substance at the concentrations that their units delivery to. The representative also claims that they do not sell through facebook, and she was interested in the specifics of the site.
I have gone back and forth with a facebook page called "Portable G5 Inogen Oxygen Concentrator for Sale". They refuse any and all information about how they can sell their units so cheaply, variously claiming that the units are factory seconds, new in an unopened package, refusing to state what makes their units factory second, etc.
I’ve gone as high as 16,500 with the unit on level 3 with blood sats around 94%.
If you buy new, I believe you need a prescription. I bought my unit second hand from an individual. If you search for Inogen G5 on Facebook, you’ll find people selling used concentrators.
Mickey,
Where do you mount it in your RV-8?
How many amps (12VDC) does the G5 draw? I am looking on the website and lots of sales/marketing materials. Light though - - at 5.2 lbs., lighter than my tank.
Steve, I have not yet mounted it - I just leave it to the right where the passenger's knee would be. I've thought about bolting it to the seat back, but have not yet done that. If there were a way to get it to start when it gets power, I'd put it in the rear baggage compartment. I have heard that there is a bluetooth app, which might allow remote starting, but I have not found it.
Will the G5 provide an adequate supply for two adults?
Probably need two of them
Lately, I have used a small Inogen concentrator. I even have a splitter and my wife and I keep 95% saturation at 14K
Will the G5 provide an adequate supply for two adults?
Probably need two of them
Will the G5 provide an adequate supply for two adults?
Probably need two of them