Overwhelmed by Oxygen Choices

[donkaye]

I was the one who couldn't get the O2D2 to work with the Bravo.  I wish it would have, but I could never get the O2 Sat level above an unacceptable 93% even on the highest setting.  I do have a dual O2 setup in my hangar, but I'm considering terminating it.  Airgas used to be reasonable; now they are not with fees upon fees upon fees and their delivery cost is now out of sight.  With only 2 tanks I send them back half full.  Their monthly fees have just about doubled over the past several years.  Just buying at Top Gun is now cheaper than maintaining an in hangar setup with Airgas.

[Schllc]

The cost of any conserver is secondary to convenience and comfort to me. 
your O2 will last 10x as long with a conserver, and some people, like me, have real sinus problems with constant flow. 
I will have nosebleeds for weeks after three hours with a constant flow. 
I use the precise flight system, and I absolutely love it, and it’s worth every penny. 
An 02 fill up in my neck of the woods is $100-120 but it’s getting it done that is the pain in the butt. 
I made it easier by buying the tank connector to expand my options, but even so, it’s always a challenge, and great inconvenience to refill. 
with the conservers my o2 lasts me a year or more. 

[Rick Junkin]

@Max Clark You've already received copious valuable input so I'm just adding this for an additional data point on the Precise Flight equipment. I've not used the Mountain High equipment. Bottom line up front, I have two X3 demand conservers, fly somewhere around 80-100 O2-required hours per year, and have plenty of O2 left in my 115cuFt built in O2 tank at annual. I target a minimum of 94% O2 sat and confine my high altitude flying to the mid-upper teens. I find this setup simple, effective and efficient. I was willing to pay the extra money for the "simple" part.

I fly primarily at 15,000 to 17,000 for trips over ~250NM. That keeps me in center's airspace almost everywhere and I avoid all the radio changes for the approach control sectors beneath me. Less interruptions to the XM radio entertainment. I don't go higher to avoid the more serious physiological risks in the flight levels. They're manageable and it's safe to fly up there with a good mask and proper mitigations, I've just decided it's not for me. That, and I recently moved to Basic Med .

I started with Precise Flight A5 flow meters and Oxymizer cannulas, then moved to the boom cannulas. I also have a mic mask for the A5. With the A5s I was needing to refill twice between annuals at about $120 per refill. I was able to buy a pair of used X3 demand conservers and used standard dual lumen cannulas for a bit before purchasing the dual lumen boom cannulas. I was going to have my mic mask converted to the dual lumen setup but haven't needed it as I don't plan to fly above 18,000 and the cannulas work for me to that altitude.

Happy to discuss my experience if you like.

Cheers,
Junkman

 

[Max Clark]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I bought the Aerox Oxysaver Mustache Cannula Kit for the time being.

I plan on flying with this, seeing how much I use O2, what my consumption is, and what I like/don’t like before doing anything else.

[Rick Junkin]

2 minutes ago, Max Clark said:

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I bought the Aerox Oxysaver Mustache Cannula Kit for the time being.

I plan on flying with this, seeing how much I use O2, what my consumption is, and what I like/don’t like before doing anything else.

Good plan

[NewMoon]

On 6/7/2024 at 2:30 PM, Max Clark said:

I have built in Oxygen and my Ovation and trying to understand what the best way to use it would be.

My understanding of my options at this point:

Buy an Aerox Cannula Kit

https://www.sportys.com/aerox-oxysaver-mustache-cannula-kit.html

https://www.sportys.com/aerox-oxysaver-pendant-cannula-kit.html

Buy an electronic demand conserver (negatives cost, and batteries)

O2D1 (one person):

https://www.mhoxygen.com/product-category/portable-pulse-demand/o2d1/

O2D2 (two person):

https://www.mhoxygen.com/product-category/portable-pulse-demand/o2d2/

Buy a mechanical demand conserver

Precise Flight X3 Demand Conserver

https://preciseflight.com/product/all-in-one-solo-pack-with-x3-demand-conserver/#

Questions:

1. Feedback on mustache vs pendant?
2. Is it really worth the premium to buy and run the demand conservers?
3. Mechanical seems like a better choice, am I incorrect?

Thanks!

Previous post for reference:

 

O2D2 is a great box. 

[Fly Boomer]

8 hours ago, Marc_B said:

I've stopped using Duracell for this reason.  I've had more leaks with Duracell then other main brands.

Same.

[hazek]

I'm in the same boat as the OP and I guess I will do the same as him and then see after a while. Great thread at the right time everyone, thanks!

[acehole]

Consider an Inogen oxygen concentrator. These portable units are good into the high teens and preclude the expensive, awkward and arcane traditional oxygen tank systems. You will save huge amounts over time just avoiding the expensive O2 refills, even if you fly with a small backup tank. See recent Av.Consumer discussion.

[hubcap]

With the O2D2 system, I only fill my tank up once a year. I have only good things to say about it.

With the factory constant flow system I would need to fill my tank after every trip, or before my return trip.