portable CO2 Tanks... Power Tank?

[super10brss]

Something has sprung my interest.... portable CO2, of course power tanks come to mind but they are a but expensive....... So after searching this forum and the dirty net I have come up with some info and though you guys might add to.....

The tank seems to be the big question.... some say old scuba tanks work and can be bought cheap since they have to change those out every couple years, others say buy a beverage tank off line... seems lots of options.... that is my question. A friend of mine works at a gas station where they despondence coke, would one of those tanks work? Also what kind of CFM would come out of that... the valve seen here.. http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/co2systems.htm non adjustable for $37.95 looks good to me. Would any tank have the correct fitting to screw the valve on, is that a industry standard? Also what is the 2.5 lb, 5 lb, 15 lb, 20 lb mean? is that teh amount of air you can put in? and how long would each operate say a standard air tool? .? . ? .

 

[twoslo4five0]

subscribed i hope this goes somewere cause i can get my hands on a coke tank eaisly

 

[super10brss]

It seems the largest use (internet searches) is for draft beer..... http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/tanks/co2.shtml You can pick those tanks up still cheaper than the power tanks and us the above mentioned valve.....

Also seems I am finding some answers to my own questions.... hopefully it will help some one else here...... the 2.5 lb, 5 lb and so forth is the amount of weight of liquid CO2 can be put in the tank. Seems CO2 is like propane, it is a liquid for the most part and the regulator turns it into a gas so it can be used for what we want to use it for..... so I guess the same would be true for the CO2 it freezes just like the small bottles of propane freezes up (like the lantern bottles and cook stove bottles). I guess the regulator you pay for is supposed to keep that from occurring....... So that leads to how long will any given bottle last in real world use? ? ? ?

Stolen from Power Tanks website...... not bad if that is true.....

"How long does it last? - This depends entirely upon how you use it. The PT-10 contains 10 pounds of CO2 which is equivalent to 82 Cubic Feet or 627.3 gals of air. Using a ½” impact wrench, that's enough to remove 72 wheels with one charge. Adjusting air pressure on a 255/35/19 tire from 35-40 PSI takes about 5 seconds or 1 pound per second. That means you can increase the pressure from 35-40psi 72 times. The PT-15 would give you half again as much energy."

"Powertank Compared to a 5 gal. airtank - We've all seen enthusiasts at track days carrying air tanks with compressed air to adjust air pressure. The truth is, these bulky tanks store very little energy. A PT-10 POWER TANK™ is less than half the size of a 5 gallon air tank yet holds 20 times the energy. As a comparison from the Off Road market, a 5-gallon air tank pressurized to 125 p.s.i. will air up two (2) 33X12.5" truck tires from 10 to 20 p.s.i. The PT-10 will air up thirty-nine (39) of the same tires. And get this! Each "air up" will only take approximately 20 seconds with the POWER TANK. [The PT-15 will do sixty (60) tires.]"

 

[bp71k5]

The valve shown in the article look like a standard CO2 valve. I've got a 5lb bottle I use for carbonating home brew. They do ice up if you use it for extended periods, but that shouldn't be a big deal.

You just have to find a place to recharge it when you're out.

 

[dbreid]

I have a Power Tank, and I LOVE it. I bought the 15, and bought the mount, etc. It will reseat beads, run air tools, and air my 40's up faster than you can imagine. I can get a few wheeling trips out of a tank, and I fill up at the local CO2 dealer (soda place) for 10 bucks. I would get more trips out of it except all my friends always borrow it because it is SO much faster than... well... everything else.

I highly recommend.

 

[super10brss]

Well I would have thought there would have been more than 2 guys that have some sort of CO2 system out there in CK5 world.........

It looks like there is a standard CO2 tank, steel or aluminum versions..... looks like gas station soda dispensers use that standard CO2 container http://www.sodabarsystem.com/index_Beverage_System_Components.htm (bottom of page) I am going to confirm this next time I go to my buddy's station and see if he can score me one.....

Also I did check my local craigslist and came up with a limited number of usable tanks which I have emailed those to see if they still have um..... seems paintball people use CO2 by the boat loads... just little bottles.......

 

[Big Blzn]

FYI: Tom (454K30) uses a beverage cylinder, 15lb I think. He is doing the Mojave Trail right now with some other SOCKO guys so maybe he will chime in in a day or two. IIRC, he paid a guy he knows about $25 for the deposit fee, since they are leased or rented tanks. Said guy ran a bar or restaurant.

 

[mcwright]

I use a 10 lb. aluminum tank that I got from the local welding shop, a Norco Gas dealer. When it is empty, I just trade it in for a full one. Using the regulator from Wheelers Supply. Used it to seat beads, run the occasional air tool, etc. I was looking at the Powertank for $300 to $400 and just couldn't afford it. I have about $100 into my setup and that includes owning the tank.

 

[cybrfire]

I believe most guys around here went the york route. That being said, I'd think trading tanks would be fairly convenient.

 

[Cajun4x4]

dont have long term experience but i acquired a couple 5lbs tanks from work... put a regulator on one and it ran my 3/4" impact for a good lil while on fumes... i needa get off of my ass and have them refilled

 

[dbreid]

I believe most guys around here went the york route. That being said, I'd think trading tanks would be fairly convenient.

Actually, I have liked owning the Powertank. I thought it might be a hassle to have to wait to fill, but where I go, I am out the door in less than 5 minutes. The first few times I went with my powertank, they looked at me a little funny. But in the past couple months, my local bev dealer became a PowerTank dealer, and they were all excited to see I had one. They were giving me catalogs and stuff.

I also LOVE the regulator that comes on the Power Tank. All in all a nice setup. And I can move it from truck to truck as well. I also keep it around for jobs around the house. Lots of times I go out and use it to blow dirt out of something, run an airtool in the driveway, air up the neighbor kid's bike, etc.

 

[super10brss]

Actually, I have liked owning the Powertank. I thought it might be a hassle to have to wait to fill, but where I go, I am out the door in less than 5 minutes. The first few times I went with my powertank, they looked at me a little funny. But in the past couple months, my local bev dealer became a PowerTank dealer, and they were all excited to see I had one. They were giving me catalogs and stuff.

I also LOVE the regulator that comes on the Power Tank. All in all a nice setup. And I can move it from truck to truck as well. I also keep it around for jobs around the house. Lots of times I go out and use it to blow dirt out of something, run an airtool in the driveway, air up the neighbor kid's bike, etc.

That is my deal... I live on a small farm and I always have a tractor tire going down or some ol POS half parts truck tire slack..... I like the whole air tool thing too... I may get one and never use it.... but who knows..... Thanks for the reply's guys

 

[BGKYK5]

Make sure you mount it so it is protected. I'd hate to see somebody roll over and break one open at ~2000 PSI.

 

[super10brss]

SCORE!!!!! I picked up a 20 lb steel CO2 tank today I found off craigslist for $50..... The guy said it had allot of CO2 left in it... I must say I didn't really realize how heavy it would be.... I do agree with BGKYK5 I believe it needs to be mounted while in route for sure.... now for the regulator... maybe after Christmas

 

[readymix]

I run a aluminum 20Lb tank in my truck, just as a back-up for the york system.

Don't remember the model of regulator I have but it is not the same as what anyone else is using. Never iced up either, even when using an air grinder for over 15 minutes.
Next time I get out to my truck I will see if it still has the info tag on it.

 

[RaysJimmy]

20lb Tanks

These were the ones that I was building, one for each rig and one for the storage shed. I think I have $200.00 invested in each tank including the fill hose. Anyways They work great. They are going up for sale in the sale section. Steel tanks are ok but twice the weight of the aluminum tanks.

 

[super10brss]

These were the ones that I was building, one for each rig and one for the storage shed. I think I have $200.00 invested in each tank including the fill hose. Anyways They work great. They are going up for sale in the sale section. Steel tanks are ok but twice the weight of the aluminum tanks.
View attachment 74111
View attachment 74112
View attachment 74113
View attachment 74114

So why are you selling them?

 

[RaysJimmy]

I went with a York set up on my Jimmy and i'm dismanteling the 76 dually I have for parts. And I can't figure a way to mount it on my 80 Dually with a 454. If you look at my avitar, you will see the york.

 

[Big Blzn]

I went with a York set up on my Jimmy and i'm dismanteling the 76 dually I have for parts. And I can't figure a way to mount it on my 80 Dually with a 454. If you look at my avitar, you will see the york.

Ray: Would you be able to get and post up about a half dozen pics of your York setup? Like so many parts I have, I've got a York in my garage that just needs to have a fabbed mount welded up and installed along with all the accessories. Your install could give me some motivation and ideas. BTW, haven't noticed you around here before, check out the Pacific region forums. It, SOCKO, is a great bunch of guys who go on a lot of wheeling trips and have good times going a lot of places. Check us out over there and join us on the next trail run.
Hoby

 

[454k30]

Hoby your dropping dimes on me now!! LOL, just kidding buddy!

I use a 20lb system with a fixed psi regulator set at 100psi. I bought the reg used of ebay and the guy said it was from powertank. I of course realize now that all fixed regs come from something like 3 companies and they are all about the same.

I agree on getting a good hose. The cheap plastic ones break easily when they are frozen. I want to say that the good ones are made out of polyurethane.

For the tank I have a friend that is in the restaurant biz. I give him $25 bucks he gives me a full tank. When its empty I take it back to his place and he gives me a full one. The pepsi distributor brings full tanks with him when he visits and takes the empties with him. I did it this way because I had it available to me and because new tanks are so expensive. Even if you get one used you might not get much time out of it because the hydro date might be nearing. I believe the stamp is good for 7 years or something like that but i'm not sure. Easiest way you will find out is when you take it in to get it filled or swapped. If the refuse to do either than your hydro is bad, or you have a "pepsi" tank.

Gas shops will not fill or exchange bottles that came from the soda business. They will know if it belongs to them because PEPSI COLA will be stamped into the bottle up by the hydro information.

CO2 is stored in a liquid form. It is also a lot less than 2000 psi; I believe it turns to a liquid in the neighborhood of 800psi. That does not meen however that you can be careless with these bottles. Anchor it securely with something designed to do the job. I am using a fire extiguisher mount that is designed for a 20lb CO2 fire extinguiser. I also have a valve guard intact so even if it did fall off the truck the valve is not getting knocked off.

I have mixed feelings about the CO2 system. It is very portable and easy to setup which no other system does. I can take it with in the truck, into the house, put it in my car, wherever I want to go with it. It works without running a pump either electrically or mechanically which no other system can claim. My complaints is that it is CO2. That meens that it is very sensitive to thermal expansion. When we finished the mojave road on sunday I gassed up to 35 psi at all 4 corners. That night my tires where at 32 psi. The next day half of my truck was in the sun. That left me with 34 psi in the sunny side and 31 in the chilly shaddy side. Also CO2 seems to seep out of tires. Before I left for NV I checked my tires pres and found them all at 28 psi. 3 weeks earlier I had aired them all up to 35 psi.

I guess a nitrogen system would be better for the problems. However a 3000 psi nitro tank does not hold the same volume of gas as liquid co2 can provide.