O2 system choice

[Flying Scotsman]

Ready to buy the O2 system...looked at Mountain High, Sky-Ox and Aerox. MH is a little too pricey for my taste and mission profile, so that's out. I'm looking at a D-sized bottle, mounted on the rear of the flap motor housing (between the seats, in the baggage compartment).

Are there any advantages of one over the other (Aerox vs. Sky-ox)? Such as fittings being more or less "standard" or compatible with various filling stations, better or worse flowmeters, whatever?

N.B. I'm not interested in "roll your own" for various personal reasons. MH looks nice, but I don't want to spend that much. I'm only looking at comparing two very similar systems from the two companies listed above (unless I missed a fourth vendor somehow).

TIA!

Steve

[CPSONE]

I have aerox oxysaver cannulas that extend the duration quite a bit. At first I had the "glow in the dark" flow meters (for a built in system) with the flow adjustment integral with the flow meter. They tended to move on their own hence changing the flow rate on their own (with some help from me moving around). I returned those and got the metal flow adjustment knobs that plug into my built in scott type connectors. So big plus on the oxysaver cannulas and caution on the flow adjustment knob type. I had a 2 PERSON d sized aerox portable as well and the flow adjustment knob was right on the bottle top regulator, worked great. Just has to be within easy reach to control the flow rate and shut the bottle off when not in use. Cannula use is up to 18,000msl. Above that a mask is required.

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by Flying Scotsman

Ready to buy the O2 system...looked at Mountain High, Sky-Ox and Aerox. MH is a little too pricey for my taste and mission profile, so that's out. I'm looking at a D-sized bottle, mounted on the rear of the flap motor housing (between the seats, in the baggage compartment).

Are there any advantages of one over the other (Aerox vs. Sky-ox)? Such as fittings being more or less "standard" or compatible with various filling stations, better or worse flowmeters, whatever?

N.B. I'm not interested in "roll your own" for various personal reasons. MH looks nice, but I don't want to spend that

Steve

Your request for comparison is still a little too generic. For example, MH has multiple tiers of solutions based upon type of flow control, remote valve control, etc. It's hard to provide a specific opinion with out more detail on your objectives and mission.

My research that I did at OSH this past year was that MH was a good deal.

I was interested in the panel mount pulse demand unit, but it was outside my current budget limits. The portable unit was too. However, the entry level package was comparable to the other vendor solutions. The thing I liked about MH was that I could easily add these options at a later date when I could afford them.

One thing to look for is the orientation of the lines coming off the bottle. It may not be a big issue with a two place, but with a four place it is. Some vendors had almost a vertical orientation, which allows you to lay the bottle down on the rear tunnel area in a RV-10. One vendor's was perpedicular to the bottle, with one line every 90 degrees. This may laying the bottle down impossible for a four place.

My recommendation is to define your long term needs, determine what upgrade path may be available if you purchase an entry level bundle, then make your vendor choice. In my case, that eliminate Aerox pretty quick. While I haven't purchased yet, I'm going with MH. much. I'm only looking at comparing two very similar systems from the two companies listed above (unless I missed a fourth vendor somehow). Since i will be doing my Phase I early spring, I can wait until OSH12 for next year's show discounts.


bob

[schristo@mac.com]

consider your mounting location for ease of access in flight and for visual observation of the pressure gauge... i mounted mine on the passenger side with some backing plates to the flap actuator cover and can easily reach the valve and see the gauge without any special effort. i considered mounting the bottle in the center as you are suggesting but could not reach without contortion and the gauge was not visible for me...

[Birkelbach]

I can't help you with the comparison (mine is a roll-your-own) but I can tell you that I had my O2 bottle where you are describing (between the seats, in the baggage compartment) and I HATED IT!! It's impossible to reach in flight and it's in the way. I've moved mine to a place similar to the previous post and like it much better.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by schristo@mac.com

i considered mounting the bottle in the center as you are suggesting but could not reach without contortion and the gauge was not visible for me...

Originally Posted by Birkelbach

I had my O2 bottle where you are describing (between the seats, in the baggage compartment) and I HATED IT!! It's impossible to reach in flight and it's in the way.

Guys, the comment was from a RV 10 perspective.

I mounted mine on the tunnel in the same location, works quite fine. But, I do have a 10.

What Bob mentioned will not work in a 2 place SBS,

[Flying Scotsman]

"...determine what upgrade path may be available if you purchase an entry level bundle, then make your vendor choice. In my case, that eliminate Aerox pretty quick."

Why? What upgrade path is not available that you desired?

I don't have a 10, I have a 7, so mounting locations that might work in a 10 are "outside the scope" here . I also have on order the complete Classic Aero Aviator interior, complete with side panels and such, and I'd rather not poke holes in them unless necessary, so we'll have to experiment with location (center post vs. other locations).

Howevever, that's also somewhat less relevant than just getting basic info on the 2 systems mentioned.

So far, one vote for Aerox. And forgive me if I missed it, but I don't see a "comparably priced" similar system from MH (2-place, portable, etc.). The lowest I see at ACS for MH is at least several hundred dollars more, and it goes up from there. (And it looks like Aerox also now sells a pulse demand module as an accessory).

[Flying Scotsman]

I believe the comparable systems are:

MH XCP-415-2P-FP $584 at ACS
Aerox D 2-place kit $$477 at ACS
SkyOx SK-12-15 (can't tell if it's one or two place) $$530.76 at SkyOx

So perhaps the MH systems isn't *that* far out of line with the others, after all...

I doubt that, initially at least, I'll need the pulse demand add-ons...but it's a nice option to have for the future.

I would like more info on refilling, etc., both at home base from a large tank and while away, from various FBOs' equipment. Are they all about the same, or are there significant differences in equipment?

Etc....

[schristo@mac.com]

One nice feature with the Aerox guys is that they haul a cascade fill system with them to Oshkosh and Sun-n-fun and fill their bottles for free. I also liked the smaller regulator and easy push pull connects. Whatever the system, you should make sure that the bottle size that you get is sufficient to get you there and back... for us, the D has worked fine so far as long as the tank is full to start with but some places (FBOs) can not always get you a full charge. Prices to fill vary widely and it takes some effort to find a local fill source (welding supply) that is willing to fill your bottle rather than swap you one... If we used oxygen everyday I would get a couple of large H cylinders and set up a cascade system in the hanger... if you ask around there might be someone on your field with one already that you can utilize for a nominal charge.

[Mike S]

Originally Posted by schristo@mac.com

One nice feature with the Aerox guys is that they haul a cascade fill system with them to Oshkosh and Sun-n-fun and fill their bottles for free.

Mountain High folks did this for me at Osh this year------and I only stopped in to see if their pulse supply system would work on my old Scott equipment. As it turns out, it would not work.

But, the MH guy offered to fill my bottle anyway.

If I ever need to upgrade my O2 stuff, MH is on the top of the list.