Build your Own Oxygen Setup?

[MikeS]

> "but will the regulators work correctly at high altitudes?"

I got through to a technical person at Precision Medical where the Easy Pulse 5 you mention is made. The answer is "yes", it will work fine above 10K. The reason they put 10K on the spec sheet is because they test their products within specific ranges and in the case of their medical regulators they don't expect the user to normally go any higher than 10K.

So that concern is put to rest, at least in my mind.

This and the other pneumatic pulse regulators are really a fine solution for stretching the oxygen supply and avoiding waste. Getting a tank re-filled "on the road" can be a hassle so an oxygen conserving regulator such as this EP5 seems like an excellent idea.

[David Paule]

If you'll be refilling the system somewhere other than from your own refilling station, at the airports where I've bought oxygen the cost is for the whole refill. You don't pay for oxygen, effectively, just the labor. So it's cost-effective to have the largest bottle that suits the plane and your operation.

Next, individual flow-meters, valves and cannulas work great. The cannulas are limited, I believe, to 18,000 feet, though.

Finally, those finger-tip oxymeters are excellent. Rapid feedback to your own oxygen usage. Strongly recommended.

One last thought, if you're building up a system, is that the hoses ought to be compatible with pure oxygen, eh?

[prporter]

Originally Posted by rvmills

"D" O2 bottle and regulator: $50 on ebay
Hydrostatic test on bottle: $25 at local fire ext shop
Bottle mounting bracket and hose clamps: $25 on ebay
Flowmeter 1: $20 bought here in VAF class. by Dan (guccidude1) for me...thanks!
Flowmeter 2: $65 from Mt. High Aviation Oxygen
2 quick disconnect female bulkhead fittings: $30 Mt. High
2 quick disconnect male fittings for cannula hose-ends: $8 Mt. High
15' of Tygon tubing: $15 Mt. High
2 Oxymizer cannulas: $50 at a local shop (Mt. High has 'em, same price)
1 "T" fitting for tubing: $5 from a local hose/fitting store



Cheers,
Bob

Do you have a picture of the mounted bulkhead fittings?

[Greg Arehart]

PR,

I don't have a photo (actually that was Bob's list, but mine is similar). I just mounted a small piece of angle Al on the roll bar (tipup - if a slider, you might have to find another place) that has two holes of the correct size and put the bulkhead connector through the holes. You could mount similarly wherever is convenient. Mine is on the rollbar to the right of center so it is easily reachable in flight (rather than behind me, which is difficult to reach). I have both disconnects in the same place and the cannulas just hang from there.

I can take a photo tomorrow if this isn't clear.

cheers,
greg

[rvmills]

Originally Posted by prporter

Do you have a picture of the mounted bulkhead fittings?

PR,

Take a look at post 87, page 9 of this thread for some pics I posted. you can see the fitting in pics 2,4,5,6,&7. Best shots are probably 6 and 7. I'm about to jump on a jet heading east, or I'd post more now. Let me know if that give you the info you need.

Super easy to install and use, nice little gadgets. I did little angle brackets like Greg...heck, I stole the hole idea from him! Mine are placed differently, since mine is a slider and his is a tipper...but the idea is the same. As far as positioning the fittings...I like mine where they are for the aspect of having the tubes go behind pilot and pax's outer arm and up the back of the beck to the canula. However, they may be a little far back, as it can be a bit hard to connect them in flight. Doable, but a little bit of a twist. Easier to remove in flight, as they spring out when you push on the release. If you go this direction, just play with them to get a comfortable position.

Cheers,
Bob

[JackW]

All,

I note everyone puts their bottles in the baggage area. I'd like to use O2 but have the bottle up front, say under or behind the panel so as to keep the C of G forward (it's a six). Any opinions on putting a bottle there or am I asking something dumb?

[L.Adamson]

Originally Posted by JackW

All,

I note everyone puts their bottles in the baggage area. I'd like to use O2 but have the bottle up front, say under or behind the panel so as to keep the C of G forward (it's a six). Any opinions on putting a bottle there or am I asking something dumb?

I know of a six that had his engine compartment fire extinguisher bottle by the battery box (old design, aft of the firewall), so all things are possible. You'd have to check accessibility for turning it on and off. My 6A has an 0360 & Hartzell prop, so the oxy tank behind the seats actually helps with the weight & balance.

L.Adamson --- RV6A

[Norman CYYJ]

I would suggest that you find out the weight of the O2 bottle etc. and do the C of G calculations. You may find that it doesn't really shift it forward that much and might not be worth the extra trouble.

[BillC]

OK Folks,
After much reading here/elsewhere and internet searching I have decided to build my own Oxygen system comprised of a:
--"D" cylinder with standard CG540 valve and pressure gauge,
-- 0- 4 LPM regulator with good low flow selections (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 LPM)
-- Oxymizer style cannula,
-- Blood oxygen saturation monitoring.

So below is what I ended up with, All new and no eBay purchases. If I need a two person setup I will just need to purchase a "Y" splitter (<$5.00) and another Oximizer and flow meter. Total cost $191.20

Too expensive?
Well, since the regulator has click settings for flow, you could remove the flow meter from this setup and save $25 and if you didn't want the cylinder gauge and could live with the medical valve you could save an additional $30, bring your total for simple-single person system down to only $136.20!

Of course, after purchasing all of the parts I found an easy one stop purchase which comes close but without the low flow rate (starts @ 0.5 then goes to 1.0 then 2 etc. LPM) and Blood Oxygen monitor (which you can still buy separately) and flow meter from Chinook Medical for $138.80 part #06741.
--This system includes:
- One Aluminum Cylinder "D" (with toggle valve)
- One Regulator (with click dial from 0.5 to 15 liters per minute, unibody yoke, CGA 870 connection, pressure gauge)
- One Oxymizer (oxygen conserving device for on-demand, low concentration delivery)
- One Non-Rebreather Mask (with reservoir for high concentration delivery)
- One Nasal Cannula
- One Backpack

Bottom line?
-- I think I have found about the Cheapest, NEW, Medical Quality oxygen equipment available to fit for our flying oxygen needs.

Cramer Decker Medical, Inc.
Y540MDG MD Medical Oxygen Cylinder $38.95
w/ Low Profile CGA 540 with Gauge (add $30) $30.00
AREG5404 CGA540 Regulators - 0-4 LPM CGA540 $39.95

Chinook Medical Gear, Inc.
Oxymizer 06502 $17.40

Ingen Technologies, Inc
Oxyview 0-3 l/m # 203A Flow monitor $24.95

Pulse Oximeters Direct.Com
LM-800 Pulse Oximeter LM-800 $39.95

Total: $191.20

See links below:
http://www.cramerdeckermedical.com
http://www.chinookmed.com.
http://www.ingen-tech.com
http://www.pulseoximetersdirect.com

[Mark Burns]

Originally Posted by BillC

OK Folks,
After much reading here/elsewhere and internet searching I have decided to build my own Oxygen system comprised of a:
--"D" cylinder with standard CG540 valve and pressure gauge,
-- 0- 4 LPM regulator with good low flow selections (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 LPM)
-- Oxymizer style cannula,
-- Blood oxygen saturation monitoring.
(deleted stuff in between to save space, M. Burns)
Total: $191.20

See links below:
http://www.cramerdeckermedical.com
http://www.chinookmed.com.
http://www.ingen-tech.com
http://www.pulseoximetersdirect.com

Bill,
Thanks for posting this info!
Mark