Adding oxygen

[Mlasalle]

I have an M20R ovation 3. Been using portable O2 a lot lately. Has anyone added O2 system to the plane? How big of a hassle is it and cost?

[rainman]

Sir, if you have an FBO nearby that can refill your installed system then it probably won't be too much problem. If you have to travel to get it filled, then I'd say stay with the portable and get a backup. My 231had a SkyOx system added prior to my purchase. It works fine but I've noticed that several of the newer portables with Kevlar tanks can support many hours of use and can be easily refilled . Ray

[carusoam]

Welcome to MooneySpace!

Best regards,

-a-

[Nathan Peterson]

Welcome to MooneySpace as well!  I have a set of tanks in my hanger with a manifold bought from Aircraftspruce... As mentioned from Ray.. I would have to fly to another airport to get it serviced and is a pain..  Adding O2 to the plane is not  difficult... just abide by  the caution and notes when dealing with O2... also fill the bottle real slowly... if you feel any heat from the connection... please stop filling.... also you have a check valve on the connection... just crack the valve to open or unseat the valve.. you will hear it.... if you open to quickly, you could damage the valve and you will need to replace it because you will have leak and your bottle will not hold pressure.  Good luck Sir.

 

Nate

[KSMooniac]

If you want to add a fully integrated system with hidden lines and ports in the arm rests or ceiling like the factory, then I bet you'll be in for quite a price shock since you'll need factory parts.  You might be able to get a sign-off for installing some standard ports in a sidewall or headliner panel and routing lines behind them to the baggage area for connection to a portable tank.

 

I saw one heavily modified E a few years ago that had a tidy installation of a portable tank, which was secured in the baggage area and had lines clamped to the left side interior panel using the existing interior screws and some P-clamps or Adel clamps up near the window line.  I should've taken a picture...

[Piloto]

A fill up at a dive shop with Nitrox capability will cost you $15 for a portable vs $90-100 at an FBO for an installed system (if they have it). With the installed system you will loose 30 pounds of payload whether you use it or not. Keep in mind that if you are going west bound you will probably be going below oxygen altitudes due to the headwinds. I have a 13cu.ft tank that fits nicely in between the rear  seats held in place with Velcro straps. Except for some trips with exceptional tail winds the tank remains in the hangar for most trips.

 

José 

[Mlasalle]

Thanks for the insights, guys. I get medical oxygen for free and when I went to fill up a small skyox tank, I was a bit shocked for $80. But a quick cash pay was Only $40! That tank only lasted my son and I for 3 hours. I found some medical regulators called" easy pulse 5" that last way longer with the same size tank. Only problem is that it only has one output. Need one tank for each person. Prolly still lot cheaper and easier, when u can only bring what u need for a trip.

[bumper]

 I found some medical regulators called" easy pulse 5" that last way longer with the same size tank. Only problem is that it only has one output. Need one tank for each person. Prolly still lot cheaper and easier, when u can only bring what u need for a trip.

 

If money is no object, recommend you look at Mountain High's EDS system (electronic demand system) that's designed for aviation and mountain climbing etc. It's altitude compensated and is available with dual outputs and more. EDS is in wide use by soaring pilots where space is limited and extended flights at altitude are not uncommon.

 

bumper

[HiFlyer]

What about storing your own oxygen? I know medical oxygen requires a prescription, but if I can go to the local dive shop and get a fill, what are the rules pertaining to getting my own tank and filling my own plane's system?

[bumper]

You can fill from larger bottles you own or rent from the local welding supply place. All O2, whether it be aviator's, welding, medical, is cryogenically produced and typically comes from the same mfgs.

 

To fill your tank from the larger tanks you will need a "transfill" hose. Mine (used for portable bottles for both power and glider) was made up at the welding supply and consists of two CGA-540 "hand wheel" adapters, a pressure gauge, and a dump valve (to dump line pressure after closing bottle valves so as not to trash the O-rings on the "hand wheel" adapters  -  no wrenchs needed.

 

You fill from your lowest pressure big bottle first, then top up with the high pressure one. When the high pressure bottle drops below an acceptable amount, take the low pressure bottle and swap it for a full one at the welding supply. Cheap O2. Note that two bottles works acceptably well as a source, though when higher volume and more effeciency is required as for an FBO, they'll often have as many as a half dozen bottles in their manifold.

 

You should get instruction on how to safely transfill O2 bottles. Also, when filling composite bottles, it's important to go slow so as not to overheat and weaked the bottle.

 

bumper