Powertank/CO2 tank questions

Tech11

Tech11

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2007
Location
Greensboro
I've been looking at OBA setups for a while. I don't think IK want to fool with going the underhood method with the bracketry, and redoing of the belts and plumbing and all that. I was thinking of a 12v pump, but I don't really have a good spot to carry one in my half cab set up. Well I KINDA do, but it doesn't thrill me.

I've shyed away from the airtanks/co2/whatever was mainly because I thought I MIGHT want to run an airtool now and then. I was looking around and saw the 20# powertank can do 720 lugnuts from an impact wrench on one charge.

Is that accurate? Or company hype? I won't need to do 720 lug nuts, but that could run a wrench or tool if I needed it on the trail.

PLUS I could mount the mounting bracket on the tire carrier I will be having fabbed up soon, and it would be a perfect spot for the tank.

What is a good size for a weekend of wheeling. Not just rockcrawling, but maybe fishing on the OBX, or fooling around in the carport.

Is there another option for OBA I'm over looking? Where do you get the tanks filled? Do you ONLY use co2 or can you use other gasses? How much is a fill up generally? What do I look for to get refilled? Welding supply? gasses?

It seems to me for the price it's a portable way to get a way to air up, run tools for brief periods of time, and not have a lot of plumbing/wirining to deal with. is refilling the only hassle?

I'm looking for opinions and experiences with this type of OBA set up, before I jump is ass first in a pool of alligators.
 
The powertank will do the job, we used a Powertank regulator/gauge setup on a smaller paintball tank for a design project in school, really the biggest limitation is keeping it warm when running lots of CO2 through it like using an air tool. It will get cold quick and won't last as long cold since the tank pressure drops. Keep the tank out in the sun and take breaks to let it warm up and it will run longer. Honestly, I don't think most air tools would go through it nearly as fast as our project did so freezing might not be as big of an issue, and usually the air goes in to tires slow enough it is not an issue there either. Refilling is easy, if you have any sports store near you that sells paintball equipment they can fill it. We got ours refilled at Dicks Sporting Goods regularly while testing our project. Or any welding supply place can fill it.
 
Tech11 said:
I've been looking at OBA setups for a while. I don't think IK want to fool with going the underhood method with the bracketry, and redoing of the belts and plumbing and all that. I was thinking of a 12v pump, but I don't really have a good spot to carry one in my half cab set up. Well I KINDA do, but it doesn't thrill me.
I've shyed away from the airtanks/co2/whatever was mainly because I thought I MIGHT want to run an airtool now and then. I was looking around and saw the 20# powertank can do 720 lugnuts from an impact wrench on one charge.
Is that accurate? Or company hype? I won't need to do 720 lug nuts, but that could run a wrench or tool if I needed it on the trail.
I've had my Power Tank for about six years and it usually will last an entire summer airing up tires and running air tools as needed, but I'm very conservative with it and never use it when there is another option.
PLUS I could mount the mounting bracket on the tire carrier I will be having fabbed up soon, and it would be a perfect spot for the tank.
Since it sounds like you may be mounting it outside the vehicle, make sure it will be VERY difficult to steal, these things are not cheap but a fav of the five finger discount crew.
What is a good size for a weekend of wheeling. Not just rockcrawling, but maybe fishing on the OBX, or fooling around in the carport.
I have a 10# and 15# and I prefer the 10 due to it being much easier to carry on the trails and I've never needed more than that for several trips
Is there another option for OBA I'm over looking? Where do you get the tanks filled? Do you ONLY use co2 or can you use other gasses?
You will only use C02 since your regulator will be designed for that particular gas.
How much is a fill up generally?
Costs me about $20 for the 15#
What do I look for to get refilled? Welding supply? gasses?
welding supply, fire extinguisher places or even some sporting goods stores
It seems to me for the price it's a portable way to get a way to air up, run tools for brief periods of time, and not have a lot of plumbing/wirining to deal with. is refilling the only hassle?
pretty much
I'm looking for opinions and experiences with this type of OBA set up, before I jump is ass first in a pool of alligators.
Click to expand...
You can save a bunch of money on your tank if you get it from somewhere other than Power Tank or Source etc. I have a source for tanks that will be freshly certified, PM me if your interested. The valve is the important thing. You want one with high flow that won't freeze up. You also need to decide if you "NEED" variable air pressure. A fixed pressure regulator is MUCH cheaper than a variable one.
 
Rox&Mud said:
You can save a bunch of money on your tank if you get it from somewhere other than Power Tank or Source etc. I have a source for tanks that will be freshly certified, PM me if your interested. The valve is the important thing. You want one with high flow that won't freeze up. You also need to decide if you "NEED" variable air pressure. A fixed pressure regulator is MUCH cheaper than a variable one.
Click to expand...

I was thinking of the bracket outside but now I see the folly of that method, unless there is a way to LOCK them in the bracket?

What is the main difference in the variable vs fixed pressure regulators? Being able to fill up balls, and rafts with out exploding them? Or something else?
 
For instance a ARB air locker requires specific air pressure than say air tools of filling tires. Most fixed regulators I've seen are 150psi. Filling rafts or balls etc shouldn't be a problem at high psi. I used to run my ARB's w/ my 15# tank but I've switched it over to a 32oz paint ball bottle and keep the other tanks available for trail repairs etc.
 
So a fixed regulator looks like the knob on a helium tank at the grocery store? Do you just turn it open and its on and co2 comes out when you hook it to tires, or use tools? Do you not need a gauge or anything. I ask because there is a HUGE difference in 150-250 dollar regulators and 40 dollar ones.

Do I PM you for having a source on just the tanks or can you point me where I need to go for the whole "set up", at least tank and regulator, and I could get brackets, hoses etc.
 
I use a 20# tank and a fixed regulator. And I use it to run my air tools at home and fill tires, as well as taking it out on the trail. I am always surprised by how long it lasts. I would definitely not get anything smaller than a 20#. A friend of mine bought a 10# and it was roughly the same dia. just a tad shorter than mine. And another option to buying one, is rental from welding supply.
 
I took a 20lb tank to Tellico several years ago and it filled 5 Jeeps from trail pressure to street pressure twice and ran a die grinder to cut off the end of a driveshaft splines that were tweaked. its very big and heavy. I keep it now to run CO2 when the unimix tank runs out on the welder
 
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