CO2 inflator question

[ew1usnr]

I need to replace a CO2 inflator cartridge on my Voit BC vest (see attached photo). It is the same size cartridge as in my Tabata and Waterlung jackets. They don't seem to sell replacements in dive shops anymore and I'm trying to find somewhere to get a couple. Were these 12-gram cartridges? Does the cartridge in the picture on the web site look like what I need? Thanks.

http://www.bicycletires.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jqgnkqh4

 

[jonnythan]

ew1usnr once bubbled...
I need to replace a CO2 inflator cartridge on my Voit BC vest (see attached photo). It is the same size cartridge as in my Tabata and Waterlung jackets. They don't seem to sell replacements in dive shops anymore and I'm trying to find somewhere to get a couple. Were these 12-gram cartridges? Does the cartridge in the picture on the web site look like what I need? Thanks.

http://www.bicycletires.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jqgnkqh4

You can find them in paintball shops, the hunting section of Wal Mart or your local sporting goods store (look for the BB guns), or bike shops (bike shops sell tire pumps that use CO2 cartridges).

...... what is the CO2 used for though?

 

[caveseeker7]

jonnythan once bubbled...
...... what is the CO2 used for though?

Inflation. At the surface.
When horse collar BCDs were state of the art, the CO2 cartridges were pretty much the standard. As a few those BCDs are still in production, some might well have it. These days though they usually have small (1.5-2 cu.ft. cylinders) rather than cartridges. If you look at the pic you'll see the valve sticking out in the lower left.

 

[Virus]FSLR2[]

was the same cartridges we picked up from Western Auto, Ace Hardware, or K-Mart/Walmart from the Pellet Rifel/Pistol Section. I still have a case of them in the closet, and they're 12g small neck Crossmans

 

[Arnaud]

Why not just regular air?

 

[jonnythan]

Arnaud once bubbled...
Why not just regular air?

With CO2, you can pack a larger amount of gas into the same volume as you can with air. CO2 tanks are generally rated to around 1800 psi. When compressed, CO2 is in liquid form, thus allowing you get more actual gas at a lower pressure. Cheap and easy.

 

[Arnaud]

jonnythan once bubbled...


With CO2, you can pack a larger amount of gas into the same volume as you can with air. CO2 tanks are generally rated to around 1800 psi. When compressed, CO2 is in liquid form, thus allowing you get more actual gas at a lower pressure. Cheap and easy.

I had a hunch it was the answer when I asked the question. You probably can tell this was not my major at school...

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The normal pellet gun cartridges are 12 gram but are not threaded. The one on the web site looks like the one you want.

The old Scubapro BC's (up through the mid to late 80's used one 25 gram threaded CO2 cartridges and could be configured with a dual inflator to accomodate 2 cartidges. The idea was to provide for a redundant inflation souce at the surface. But on the other hand, an unintentional inflation at depth could be a problem. Most of the inflator units were removed and the ports plugged with a standard LP port plug.

If I remember correctly 25 grams was the size normally used for a 40 to 45 lb lift BC.

 

[ew1usnr]

I went to a dive shop that has been around longer and asked about the CO2 cartridges. The shop owner was surprised when I asked, but he opened a drawer and had a number of them in 12, 16, and 25 gram sizes. They still had old price tags on them and he charged me what the tag said, $3.99. That wasn't bad. I picked the 12 gram for my little Voit "pea-shooter" vest (see attached). It doesn't have an over-inflation valve so I don't want to chance "popping" it with too big a cartridge. I'll use it this weekend while diving with my Voit Trieste and 50-Fathom regulators to be fashionably cooridinated. If the other divers want to be jealous, then I will let them.