Drive gas for baby booster

colinicky · 27th April 2006, 20:24

I have a Jetsam baby booster that I normally drive from my 15L but some people have said they use normal garage type compressors to drive their booster .If I was to do this would the compressor need to be an oil free model ? just thinking about oil + pure O2 =

Does anybody do this with their Jetsam if so what compressor do they use ? output etc
TIA

diverklondike · 27th April 2006, 20:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by colinicky)

I have a Jetsam baby booster that I normally drive from my 15L but some people have said they use normal garage type compressors to drive their booster .If I was to do this would the compressor need to be an oil free model ? just thinking about oil + pure O2 =

Does anybody do this with their Jetsam if so what compressor do they use ? output etc
TIA

I have a Sears 175psi 25gal oil free compressor that does a great job.

It was approx 225 usd new.

It also runs lots of air tools...

Dive Safe

Mark

Skipbreather · 28th April 2006, 23:03

Quote: (Originally Posted by colinicky)

I have a Jetsam baby booster that I normally drive from my 15L but some people have said they use normal garage type compressors to drive their booster .If I was to do this would the compressor need to be an oil free model ? just thinking about oil + pure O2 =

Does anybody do this with their Jetsam if so what compressor do they use ? output etc
TIA

Hi Colin-

I run my boosters on shop air, but like Mark, it is an oil free compressor. You are very correct to be cautious about oil in your drive air. My old shop compressor- your basic 3hp Craftsman w/ the ubiquitous oil lubed pump core- was passing prodigious quantities of oil when I stumbled on a good deal for the one I use now. Until then I could not bring myself to drive w/ shop air. I used air from my scuba compressor.

Keep in mind that at some point your shop air (along w/ all its contaminates) with which you run your booster will eventually “see” your O2 due to wear and/ or break down. All mechanical things break. Our job is to minimize the risk of “exciting” things happening when that break down occurs. Eliminating oil as one of the possible contaminates goes a long way towards that end.

Even with an oil free compressor, you need to be careful. In my setup, I pipe the air thru 3 separate water traps, 50 feet apart. You’d be amazed at just how much condensate appears. If I see as little as one drop in the 3rd trap, I shut things down and let everything cool for a while. It also gives me a chance to inspect for any oil- that should not be there in the first place.

My compressor is an oil free 2 stage, 175 psi, 5 hp, w/ a 30 gallon tank. My O2 booster is a single stage 30:1. The compressor supplies more than enough to drive the booster as fast as I feel is safe, i.e. the booster running at a speed that gets things as warm as I’m comfortable with- booster head, check valves, or cylinder(s) being filled. My test is as basic as it gets: If I cannot put a bare hand on ANY part of the system where O2 is present and hold it there w/o discomfort, I slow things down.

Hope this helps.

Good luck,
Ken

Sutty · 29th April 2006, 10:22

I asked Jetsam about this and they were very clear that the drive gas needed to be of "breathable quality". I understand it needs to be dry too as the seals absorb water if the drive gas is too moist and can cause premature failure.

Neil

Explorer · 30th April 2006, 06:25

Colin,

I have set up our system at our shop to use air from our LP bank system for our booster. Clean breathing gas only.

27th April 2006, 20:24	#1 (permalink)
colinicky Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: uk Posts: 667	Drive gas for baby booster I have a Jetsam baby booster that I normally drive from my 15L but some people have said they use normal garage type compressors to drive their booster .If I was to do this would the compressor need to be an oil free model ? just thinking about oil + pure O2 = Does anybody do this with their Jetsam if so what compressor do they use ? output etc TIA __________________ Colin I trust my rebreather completely , I just don't trust the user onwards & downwards
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27th April 2006, 20:46	#2 (permalink)
diverklondike Just one of the Peasants Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Delaware, USA Posts: 1,612	Re: Drive gas for baby booster Quote: (Originally Posted by colinicky) I have a Jetsam baby booster that I normally drive from my 15L but some people have said they use normal garage type compressors to drive their booster .If I was to do this would the compressor need to be an oil free model ? just thinking about oil + pure O2 = Does anybody do this with their Jetsam if so what compressor do they use ? output etc TIA I have a Sears 175psi 25gal oil free compressor that does a great job. It was approx 225 usd new. It also runs lots of air tools... Dive Safe Mark
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28th April 2006, 23:03	#3 (permalink)
Skipbreather Reads the fine print Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet MK 15.X Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 557	Re: Drive gas for baby booster Quote: (Originally Posted by colinicky) I have a Jetsam baby booster that I normally drive from my 15L but some people have said they use normal garage type compressors to drive their booster .If I was to do this would the compressor need to be an oil free model ? just thinking about oil + pure O2 = Does anybody do this with their Jetsam if so what compressor do they use ? output etc TIA Hi Colin- I run my boosters on shop air, but like Mark, it is an oil free compressor. You are very correct to be cautious about oil in your drive air. My old shop compressor- your basic 3hp Craftsman w/ the ubiquitous oil lubed pump core- was passing prodigious quantities of oil when I stumbled on a good deal for the one I use now. Until then I could not bring myself to drive w/ shop air. I used air from my scuba compressor. Keep in mind that at some point your shop air (along w/ all its contaminates) with which you run your booster will eventually “see” your O2 due to wear and/ or break down. All mechanical things break. Our job is to minimize the risk of “exciting” things happening when that break down occurs. Eliminating oil as one of the possible contaminates goes a long way towards that end. Even with an oil free compressor, you need to be careful. In my setup, I pipe the air thru 3 separate water traps, 50 feet apart. You’d be amazed at just how much condensate appears. If I see as little as one drop in the 3rd trap, I shut things down and let everything cool for a while. It also gives me a chance to inspect for any oil- that should not be there in the first place. My compressor is an oil free 2 stage, 175 psi, 5 hp, w/ a 30 gallon tank. My O2 booster is a single stage 30:1. The compressor supplies more than enough to drive the booster as fast as I feel is safe, i.e. the booster running at a speed that gets things as warm as I’m comfortable with- booster head, check valves, or cylinder(s) being filled. My test is as basic as it gets: If I cannot put a bare hand on ANY part of the system where O2 is present and hold it there w/o discomfort, I slow things down. Hope this helps. Good luck, Ken Last edited by Skipbreather : 28th April 2006 at 23:14.
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29th April 2006, 10:22	#4 (permalink)
Sutty Classic Kiss diver Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Glossop, Derbyshire, UK Posts: 800	Re: Drive gas for baby booster I asked Jetsam about this and they were very clear that the drive gas needed to be of "breathable quality". I understand it needs to be dry too as the seals absorb water if the drive gas is too moist and can cause premature failure. Neil __________________ Never forget that life is a finite resource.
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30th April 2006, 06:25	#5 (permalink)
Explorer I will teach you a..... Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 773	Re: Drive gas for baby booster Colin, I have set up our system at our shop to use air from our LP bank system for our booster. Clean breathing gas only. __________________ 20 dwarves, 20 dwarves, 20 dwarves took turns doing handstands on the carpet
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