Speaking of Oxygen

[RV7Guy]

The recent thread regarding oxygen impact on the body in flight got me thinking. I'm now ready to buy an 02 system for the travel I have planned for the coming months.

I took a look at all of the ones available while at Oshkosh last year and came away confused. Everyone of them claims to be better than the other.

I fly mostly solo so I don't need a giant size. Big enough to cover 2 people for a reasonable time frame, or one for a long time.

I'd like to hear from the RVer's on what they have, what they like and would they buy something different with the knowledge they have now.

Thanks in advance.

[Mel]

I have the AerOx 2D system (Around $500) and like it fine. I did research before I bought. Call them direct. They will work with you. I actually got a better price from Aircraft Spruce, but AerOx swapped out the regulator for the one I wanted at no charge.

[db1yg]

I bought from Mountain High and sprung for the EDS system for two. This way I only need a 9 cu ft alum. bottle (2150 psi) mounted to the back of the passenger seat and it still lasts a long time. The EDS system uses standard medical canulas--it has an Electronic delivery manager that only releases oxy when there is negative pressure (when you inhale) in the line. It also has a number of other safety features and higher oxy flow options but you can contact Jason at Mountain High for the details. The EDS is a little pricey but it allows you to use a much smaller (read lighter!!) bottle.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

db

[dan]

Originally Posted by Mel

I have the AerOx system and like it fine. I did research before I bought. Call them direct. They will work with you. I actually got a better price from Aircraft Spruce, but AerOx swapped out the regulator for the one I wanted at no charge.

Ditto all around! I went with the same system other guys at my home base have -- in case somebody needs spare parts or wants to borrow a tank for use with their reg/cannulas in a pinch or something. Unlikely but possible.

I have the 2D (13 cu ft) setup and that's about perfect for any size trip I've taken. Last time I used it was on the way down to Guadalajara and back. 14 hour round trip, but while I was down there my dad and I went up to 13,500' for a couple of hours to tool around the Colima volcano. We sucked down more O2 on that flight than Jen and I did on the whole rest of the trip. If I had a "C" size bottle I don't think I would have had any left when we got home.

Anyway, Aerox 2D...works.

[the_other_dougreeves]

Originally Posted by db1yg

I bought from Mountain High and sprung for the EDS system for two. This way I only need a 9 cu ft alum. bottle (2150 psi) mounted to the back of the passenger seat and it still lasts a long time. The EDS system uses standard medical canulas--it has an Electronic delivery manager that only releases oxy when there is negative pressure (when you inhale) in the line.

The new 2-place EDS module from MH looks pretty neat and does not add much in the way of cost to a system. Complete systems are $1,100 and up.

For me, the biggest advantage is the ability to clean up the system physically and use standard medical cannulas. Here are photos of the new EDS box:





It's pretty small. You could mount it somewhere around the headset jacks so that all of the stuff that goes on the head is routed together (don't think headsets present a sparking hazard). It's not specifically designed for permanent installation, but it should mount fairly easily. It turns on automatically at either 5k or 10k MSL if you want and there's nothing to adjust - no flowmeters. Will make provisions for one in our RV project.

[Bryan Wood]

After a lot of searching for a way to mount an oxygen bottle I came up with this for clamps. There are the band clamps that Aerox sells for $37 each, or fire extinguisher clamps that local hardware stores don't stock, or galvanized heater ducting clamps, or this...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...allpartial/0/0

I have a couple of these on order and should have them in a few days. The super quick fist looks just right. These look like they will mount to the back of the flap actuator housing and hold the bottle vertically. Taking the bottle in and out should be easy. We'll see how they work.

Best,

[db1yg]

Bryan,

Set your oxy bottle behind the flap actuator support like it would be as if mounted there and test putting anything in the baggage area. I had also planned to install my oxy bottle there but decided against it after the little test. The head of the bottle/pressure gauge (the most easily damaged part) was always in the way. As a result I mounted my bottle to the back of the copilot seat using MH hard clamps. I made stand offs from UHMW plastic to smooth the corrugations on which I bolted the clamps. I can reach the valve from the pilot seat and it is not in the way. To remove the bottle I simply tilt the copilot seat forward and loosen the quick release clamps. I might add that if you are installing a large bottle you could have a clearance problem with the seat back support but give the test a try.

Cheers,

db

[db1yg]

Bryan,

A pic is worth a thousand words. Attached is a pic of the bottle mount on the back of the copilot seat. Note that the UHMW plastic is a tight fit between the corrugations and effectively connects the three corrugations together giving the mount a lot of strength. Although after thinking about it the seat back has seen everything from a 120 lb passenger to a 240 lb passenger with no problems---probably my usual overkill!!

I believe you can click on the pic for a full screen shot.


Cheers,

db
[IMG][/IMG]

[Kevin Horton]

Originally Posted by Bryan Wood

After a lot of searching for a way to mount an oxygen bottle I came up with this for clamps. There are the band clamps that Aerox sells for $37 each, or fire extinguisher clamps that local hardware stores don't stock, or galvanized heater ducting clamps, or this...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...allpartial/0/0

I have a couple of these on order and should have them in a few days. The super quick fist looks just right. These look like they will mount to the back of the flap actuator housing and hold the bottle vertically. Taking the bottle in and out should be easy. We'll see how they work.

According to the specs, the Super Quick Fist is good for a 50 lb working load. How much does a full O2 bottle weigh? Is it OK if it comes loose and flies around the cockpit in turbulence, or in a ground accident?

As a point of reference, for items of mass in the cockpit, FAR 23 requires that the mounting be good for 18g forward, which is intended to ensure that you don't get hit in the head by a heavy object in an otherwise survivable accident. There is certainly no requirement that we follow FAR 23, but it does provide a useful benchmark. A surprising number of RVs have had ground accidents, and it would be a shame if someone was hit by a flying O2 bottle.

[RV7Guy]

Hi Dave,

I sent you a private message requesting the source of the clamp you used. Others may be interested.