Just completed a DIY O2 set up in my slider -6
After reading through this post, and after watching Greg Aerhart put together a nifty semi-permanent O2 install in his RV-9 Tip-up, I worked with Greg to put together a semi-permanent O2 system in my RV-6 Slider.
Pictures below, but here is what we put together (and thanks for the help Greg!...you're up next for pix!)
"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
$293 in parts, along with fabbing up brackets for the flowmeters and bulkhead fittings, as well as a cover for the O2 bottle, all out of scrap AL on hand. Eric at Mt. High
http://www.mountainhighoxygen.com/ was very knowledgable and helpful when I called to purchase the needed parts! Here's how it came together (just one possible solution, of course!):
Here's the bracket for the bottle installed on the right side of the baggage compartment. Placement was set aft enough to ensure plenty of clearance between the nyloks on the back of the panel and the flap actuator. I'd post the ebay link, but would recommend saving the $$ and making this piece from .125 AL (I traced it and have the dimensions if anyone wants them...or the ebay link, just lemme know). Velcro is for the side panel covers and the bottle cover (shown in later pix):
Bottle installed (old side panel velcro was removed after pic shot):
Closer view of the bottle, regulator and "T". The tubing runs along the seat-back support to each side, then through a grommet to run forward between the arm-rest and panel insert on each side:
After running forward up the arm-rest, the tubing goes into the bottom of the flowmeter, out of the top, then up and under along the canopy rail. At the back of the rail the tube makes a 180 to connect to the quick-disconnect bulhead fitting. Placement of the QD was set to allow the 180 without kinking the hose, while allowing it to hide a bit behind the seat, yet allow for easy one-handed insertion or removal of the cannula connector:
Here's the left side with the seat installed:
Cannula inserted (easily slides in when seated by reaching under the outside arm):
Removal of the cannula is a snap...push up on the release and the male fitting and hose pops out into hand:
Here's a pic of the back of the bottle cover I made, just to make the final install look a little less industrial...perhaps a bit overkill, but kinda fun, using scrap and a "high-tech" workmate and plywood "break" to do the bending. Covered it with some left-over material from the side panels:
Here's the cover installed and the side panels back in:
Last pic, with some gear in the back. Go-bag tool kit fits in front of it, and the regulator is an easy reach in-flight. Cannulas and pulse-ox meter fit in a little stuff-bag (not shown) that tucks nicely between the bottle cover and side-wall recess:
Kind of a fun little project. Desired result was a lightweight (came in at 8.5 pounds total), no-hassle system in which the flowmeters are out of the way but visible, cannulas are easy to insert and remove (and the cannula tubing stays out of the way behind the shoulders), and the regulator is easy to manipulate.
Great info in this thread, and Gil, good info on trapped O2 expansion in the tubing while sitting in the heat. Since the bulkhead fittings do have an internal shutoff valve, the planned procedure will be to turn off the regulator at lower altitudes in the descent, and "breath" the lines empty (till the ball stops floating).
Thanks again to Greg and Dan for the help and ideas!!
Cheers,
Bob