Zelos Bottle Conversion Valves and Pressure warning

[WesBob]

Hi Guys! Snowpeak finally sent off the next batch of 80 Bottle valves for the M60B/Zelos, and all those that pre-ordered should start getting shipment notifications next week. I've put in an order for for 100 more and will make them available for pre-order soon. I want to get an estimate on when they'll be able to ship first so I'm not leaving people waiting.

I want to make a note here that it is really important for those changing their Zelos to a bottle, whether they use these valves I am selling or from someone else, that they are aware that these Zelos are not built to handle more than 250bar. Just because you put a 300bar tank on it does not make it safe to fill to 300bar, because the regulator on these guns is inside the gun not the bottle. The air pressure goes into the front of the rifle and then up through a port hole into the regulator area and so if you fill it to 300 bar you are putting 300 bar of pressure on that fairly thin piece of aluminum, which is pretty scary. This is no different than if you filled your stock Zelos with 300bar. Don't do it is what I'm trying to say. The only safe way to do this is to buy a Huma regulator or Altaros bottle regulator that is built to withstand 300bar and install that in your bottle and set it below 250bar. (I'd set it to less than 200 bar myself since I doubt you'll be setting your internal regulator that high). Then you can fill your bottle to 300bar if you want and the gun will not be taking that stress on it, because the bottle regulator will be dropping the pressure before it gets to the gun.
But if you don't want to do that, just keep your bottle to 250 bar/3600psi max. With a 420 cc bottle you are still more than doubling your shot count, and with the Zelos you can actually get a 500 or 580cc bottle and it will still not be longer than the barrel so you have lots of air to make a ton of shots without overpressurizing something.

Thanks! Just want everyone to stay safe!
Wes

[WesBob]

This issue was made more stark to me after I got a report of an M60b cracking at the front end and starting to leak there. That made me stop and think more about the fact that the regulator not being made for 300 bar is not the main issue with filling to 300bar on this gun, though that is an issue, but the main thing to realize is that front end is taking all the non regulated pressure. That's a lot of pressure. There are other guns like this of course, older fx impacts and fx crowns and the Aselkon rifles. Any rifle with a bottle that the regulator is inside the gun should never be filled past the max capacity of the gun even if you put a higher air pressure capacity tank on it.
As for the m60b that cracked and started to leak I've let Snowpeak know about it along with the serial number and they are looking into it. They are replacing the frame under warranty but the testing technicians have also been informed of the failure of that rifle.

[Back_Roads]

 Good warning to heed ! A plus of double regulating would be a possible lower ES, so a good way to go none the less.

[WesBob]

Thanks, yes it would help I'm sure.