Another new compressor owner....

[manni-yunk]

After thinking about it for a year, I pulled the trigger today and ordered my compressor. Just a recap from threads Ive been involved in for the last year or so. We dont have an LDS within 40 miles of the boat. We have often not gotten back to the dock in time to get to the LDS before they close to get fills for the next day. Even with multiple sets of tanks, we always find a way to do a couple more dives, leaving us with nothing for the next day.

Couple that with more and more Nitrox diving and the cost to get a Nitrox fill in double tanks (28-40).

The cost of Nitrox, as well as the inconvenience of rushing to the LDS to get fills, made us think we want a compressor. We decided we wanted a portable compressor since we need to take it on the boat (primary use), home to fill for the quarry, and possible even travel as we hit other East Coast destinations.


After researching the best possible "bang for the buck", along with reliability, cost, and portability - we decided to go with a Sheldon Sporting Goods 4.2 CFM Kiddie Gas model. So far working with Jim has been great and he is customizing the compressor to add a second filter stack that we plan on packing with 13x Linde as an additional level of drying before the air gets to the final L+F filter. I know many think this is overkill - but we felt that it would add a layer of redundancy (if we chose to run 2 of the L+F filters) or - an additional level of air drying even before the air gets to the final filter.


Cant wait to get the compressor on the boat, and the boat in the water.....Its going to be a fun season!

 

[divingtactics]

Good for you. There is no such thing as overkill in filtration in my opinion. I have a little Bauer Oceanus (4.9CFM) with a P21 (P0) dual auto dumps, a 33-inch LF tower and another Hopcalite only filter stack.

 

[manni-yunk]

My new baby.....I cant wait until the boat goes in the water.....Compressor and Nitrox Stick (Oxyhacker plans)

 

[mikecotrone]

My new baby.....I cant wait until the boat goes in the water.....Compressor and Nitrox Stick (Oxyhacker plans)

Congrats! i have been working on mine for some time now and I had to take many pictures to capture most of it. Good luck!

 

[divingtactics]

Manni - looks like you are a happy man. I couldn't see a Pressure Maintaining Valve after your final filter, just a check valve. Do you have a PMV? It is kinda essential for filtration life. Manni if you look at pic 3 and 4 of Mikes system, you will see a AE211 PMV on the left hand side of his wall mounted stack. This keeps the MC (molecular sieve) under constant pressure and extends the filter effectiveness by about 450% and increases the dwell time (time that the gas is in contact with the MC) - which is very essential for correct filtration.

 

[divingtactics]

Nice setup Mike, I'm adding another gauge to my system this evening so I can see the pressure after the 33-inch filter but before the final PMV and will post some pics up when its fitted. These things just keep growing don't they.

Why do you have a digital gauge on your oxygen output after the regulator?

I also can't see any connections going to and coming from your booster apart from the drive gas. Do you use quick couplings or something?

 

[mikecotrone]

Don't you know it brother 2 of my 3 garages are now in use for my system I started using the dwyer digital gauges and kinda got hooked on them. I am using the DPG-111 for my 5k psi gauges on on my ABO I am using the DPG-105 (up to 100 PSI) to get fractional PSI readings. It works pretty well. I just added the visual moisture monitor today on the output of my compressor. Keeps on growing

 

[divingtactics]

Ah, I've got a few of the DPG-111's but am not using the LP versions. I've plumbed my booster back into my panel too, so I can boost back through the panel but run it off my banks and a dedicated drive gas 50 litre cylinder too. Will post some updated pics tomorrow.

By the way, don't run your DPG-111's past 345 Bar (5000 PSI) as I killed one of mine adjusting the final pressure regulator on my compressor once. It will still turn on but it won't turn off, so I just drilled a hole in the back and powered it with a separate battery back with a switch. Dwyer aren't interested in fixing it so I ended up just replacing it and now use the modified one as a digital tank checker. But I have still wired both of my panel DPG-111's with an offboard battery and in parallel so I don't have to pull my panel apart every time I want to change the batteries.

 

[mikecotrone]

Thats good to know about the dwyers I am only using my booster to boost argon as it is not O2 clean and I am still kind of squeamish thinking about boosting 100% I'll still let my dive shop guys do my 100% fills for now. I look forward to your pics!

 

[mikecotrone]

Manni - looks like you are a happy man. I couldn't see a Pressure Maintaining Valve after your final filter, just a check valve. Do you have a PMV? It is kinda essential for filtration life. Manni if you look at pic 3 and 4 of Mikes system, you will see a AE211 PMV on the left hand side of his wall mounted stack.

Manni here is some more detailed information about the MOD 211 Backpressure regulator that Divingtactics was referring to on my pictures.

1/4" NPT 6000 PSI Back Pressure Regulator (Pressure Maintaining Valve)

This keeps the MC (molecular sieve) under constant pressure and extends the filter effectiveness by about 450% and increases the dwell time (time that the gas is in contact with the MC) - which is very essential for correct filtration.