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All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => PCP/CO2/HPA Air Gun Gates "The Darkside" => Topic started by: geewhiz380 on December 31, 2013, 06:58:37 PM

Title: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: geewhiz380 on December 31, 2013, 06:58:37 PM
i see some pcps that say regulated and non -regulated and for regulated ags they want much more cash  ??? ...please explain ...thank you in advance ...
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: rsterne on December 31, 2013, 07:07:54 PM
An unregulated PCP is one where the pressure at the pellet drops from shot to shot.... You would think that would make each shot slower, but in fact through careful design and adjustment, the shots start off slightly slower, increase in velocity, plateau, then gradually decrease.... By adjusting the gun and the fill and refill pressures you can determine how much velocity variation you have over the string.... 4% is typical for shooting out to 50 yards or so, 3% to 75 yards, and 2% at 100 yards to keep the vertical stringing within an acceptable group size....

A regulated PCP has a regulator between the high pressure part of the reservoir and the pellet, which delivers a constant pressure, and hence a more consistent velocity over the shot string.... A 1% variation would be typical.... However, since the output of the regulator is less than what you could use without it (for example a 3000 psi gun might be regulated down to 1800) you generally will not achieve the same maximum power as you can with an unregulated gun.... There are exceptions, of course, and regulated guns can be designed with that problem in mind and addressed to some degree.... Generally, regulators are better for delivering long, consistent shot strings at low to medium power than for maximum power....

Bob
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Ribbonstone on December 31, 2013, 07:21:54 PM
Can see the confusion, and I’m likely to make it worse.

REGULATED There is a mechanical device inside the air tube (or on the end of a detachable bottle) that only lets out a certain set pressure.  So the valve side of the PCP only sees one pressure even if the other side of the air tube is filled to 3 or 4X that pressure.  So thought out, the pressure remains constant to the valve.

NON REGULATED: No device, so every shot taps off a bit of air, so the air pressure constantly drops, so the air pressure to the valve constantly drops.


Now to add confusion:

SELF REGULATION:

Over a short pressure range (small number of shots), a non-regulated gun can very consistent.  This is because of a tug-of-war between the striker’s hit to the valve stem and the pressure in the tube holding the valve shut. Have one force (the striker) trying to open the valve and another force (air pressure) keeping it closed.

So when the air pressure is high, the striker can only open the valve for a short little “blip”.  At lower pressure, the striker can open the valve a bit longer, giving a “blap”.  Odd thing is that for a short pressure range, the valve hit and the shutting force kind of blance, and the pellet’s velocity with a “blip” is about the same as with the “blap”.

WHICH is why, with a non-regulated PCP, if you fill it to higher pressure than the striker force, you can either get lower velocity (or no shot at all if the striker can’t open the valve at all).  At  the other end of the tug-of-war, at too low a pressure, the velocity also drops, as there just isn’t enough pressure left to drive the pellet to the same speed.
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: grobe1458 on December 31, 2013, 07:34:44 PM
my marauders are not regulated, that first pcp love affair quickly slowed when I acquired two new mistresses, the s510 and bsa mk2.
I plan to regulate the marauder soon.
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Motorhead on December 31, 2013, 07:48:04 PM
If you shoot a PCP for utmost accuracy, require shot to shot POI for many shots, Don't like to be neurotic on filling to a specific pressure and stop shooting at a specific pressure in order to maintain accuracy .... There is a Regulated gun in your future !!

Own 4 PCP's of which NONE came regulated ... ALL have regulators in them now  ;D
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Ribbonstone on December 31, 2013, 08:17:35 PM
Kind of a counter point, but  will readily agree that Motorhead is 100% right. If you want a long consistent shot count, regulated guns are the way to go. 

Do run some regulated guns, and it’s great for long strings of consistent shots (often +100 shots). 

It’s a lot more work, and you have to be  strictly attentive to fill pressure, but for some guns, for some uses, am not going to resist regulation.  Know I could get 3X as many shots per fill, but suspect it would take me 3X as much pumping to refill it., so my effort would be the same either way. 

If I were a tank filler, might look at it differently as the “sweat equity” wouldn’t be mine.

Only get 30 shots, but over those 30 shots, doubt a regulator is going to really make much difference on target. (OK. I”cheated” with my best example. Those AAs200’s are awesome):
(http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t50/ribbonstone/AA%20s200/c629ab9a-d7ce-4845-ac8c-88eea4743951.jpg) (http://s157.photobucket.com/user/ribbonstone/media/AA%20s200/c629ab9a-d7ce-4845-ac8c-88eea4743951.jpg.html)
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: geewhiz380 on December 31, 2013, 08:34:30 PM
absolutely there will be a regulated ag in my arsenal for sure  ;D ..i gladly appercciate the feeback and education i got from you gentlemen  :D ...thanks ..jorge
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: 1216bandit on January 01, 2014, 09:50:56 AM
Does one tune regulated and non-regulated guns the same way?
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Chemdawg on January 01, 2014, 12:54:58 PM
Could someone point me in the direction of where i can get a regulator for my .25 mrod?
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: rsterne on January 01, 2014, 02:50:33 PM
Regulated guns have a "sweet spot" where the velocity peaks.... If you increase the hammer spring preload, that peak moves to higher pressure.... In a regulated gun, changing the preload has a similar effect, as in the graph below....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo221/rsterne/QB%20on%20HPA/QB79NinjaDelrin1200_zps999456be.jpg) (http://s378.photobucket.com/user/rsterne/media/QB%20on%20HPA/QB79NinjaDelrin1200_zps999456be.jpg.html)

If you have more hammer strike than you need, the velocity doesn't increase, but the gun wastes air on every shot, this is on the plateau on the left.... If the hammer strike is too light, the velocity drops, as on the right.... Where the plateau and the slope meet is the "knee" of the curve, and IMO the best place to operate a regulated gun.... You will get nearly maximum performance from that pressure at good efficiency.... On that graph, I would run the gun between 4-5 turns out on preload....

Bob
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Chemdawg on January 01, 2014, 03:26:47 PM
I found two places to get the regulator from. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BENJAMIN-MARAUDER-M-Rod-FX-WEBLEY-Regulator-/121238620648?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET&hash=item1c3a6289e8 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BENJAMIN-MARAUDER-M-Rod-FX-WEBLEY-Regulator-/121238620648?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Hunting_ShootingSports_ET&hash=item1c3a6289e8)

and this one:

http://www.altaros.cz/regulators/benjamin-marauder (http://www.altaros.cz/regulators/benjamin-marauder)

Which one is the better bet for the .25 marauder...?
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: QVTom on January 01, 2014, 03:34:42 PM
If you shoot a PCP for utmost accuracy, require shot to shot POI for many shots, Don't like to be neurotic on filling to a specific pressure and stop shooting at a specific pressure in order to maintain accuracy .... There is a Regulated gun in your future !!

Own 4 PCP's of which NONE came regulated ... ALL have regulators in them now  ;D

Best case for a regulator I've come across. :)

The convenience factor hadn't occurred to me. :P

Tom
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: grobe1458 on January 01, 2014, 05:46:52 PM
that altaros unit looks pretty simple to install. I appreciate the links.
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Motorhead on January 01, 2014, 08:13:42 PM
that altaros unit looks pretty simple to install. I appreciate the links.

Easiest to install .... WORST consistency, Lowest power potential   :P being a NON-VENTED design & non enough plenum space

Huub ... Audrius ... Dan Brown your better choices In That Order  ;)
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: geewhiz380 on January 01, 2014, 08:24:02 PM
Could someone point me in the direction of where i can get a regulator for my .25 mrod?
  yes i have seen them in aoa airguns of arizona .....
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Motorhead on January 01, 2014, 09:14:37 PM
Could someone point me in the direction of where i can get a regulator for my .25 mrod?
  yes i have seen them in aoa airguns of arizona .....

.25 M-rods are NOT a good candidate for a regulator ... unless you want lower power overall.
The bigger calibers take HUGE mounts of air and a very large plenum ....
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Chemdawg on January 01, 2014, 10:40:21 PM
Thank you for that Motorhead.  Glad I didn't waste the money. 
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: grobe1458 on January 01, 2014, 11:15:22 PM
Could someone point me in the direction of where i can get a regulator for my .25 mrod?
  yes i have seen them in aoa airguns of arizona .....

.25 M-rods are NOT a good candidate for a regulator ... unless you want lower power overall.
The bigger calibers take HUGE mounts of air and a very large plenum ....
thank you for sparing me pain and frustration. I'm researching regulators and came upon rober lane design on youtube which along with you guys information very informative. he mentions a valve standoff did you incorporate that in your AG's? if so how did you determine the length?
I now understand the importance of having the breathing hole.and will look into more of the units you spoken of.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Motorhead on January 01, 2014, 11:42:44 PM
Valve standoff ??? ... not too sure what that refers to ?

We do use spacer sleeves or other means to gain volume between regulator output and valve. ( AKA: Plenum )
Bob came up with a very useful approximation of "Plenum" volume required being a maximum/optimum of 1cc plenum volume per Foot Pound of power your wishing AG to produce.
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: rsterne on January 01, 2014, 11:46:39 PM
I always strive for 1 cc of plenum volume for every FPE you want the gun to produce.... It's not a hard and fast rule, and you can get away with half that volume, but you will pay a price by having to increase the setpoint of the regulator to get back to the same power level.... This is why Motorhead said that regulators are best in the smaller calibers and for lower power, because you don't have to lose as much of the reservoir to the pleunum (volume downstream of the regulator, often provided by a "valve standoff", ie spacer between the regulator and valve).... I have several high powered, regulated, PCPs, but they have separate tanks and very large plenums.... Once so equipped, they are fabulous guns, but to do that you have to do things like reverse the tank, placing it below the original reservoir like this....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo221/rsterne/22%20PCP/2260and2560HPA_zps371be138.jpg) (http://s378.photobucket.com/user/rsterne/media/22%20PCP/2260and2560HPA_zps371be138.jpg.html)

The upper rifle is a 2260 HPA, shooting 18 gr. JSBs at 960 fps (37 FPE), and gets over 40 shots from 13 CI of air regulated to 1600 psi.... The lower one is a 2560 HPA, shooting 25 gr. JSBs at 960 fpe (52 FPE), and gets over 32 shots from 17 CI of air regulated to 1800 psi.... Both rifles have the entire 2260 tube (65 cc) as the plenum.... They both have Lothar Walther barrels, custom repeater breeches, and Hawke 3-12 x 44 SF Scopes, and are set up for identical trajectories....

Bob
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: grobe1458 on January 02, 2014, 12:02:20 AM
Valve standoff ??? ... not too sure what that refers to ?

We do use spacer sleeves or other means to gain volume between regulator output and valve. ( AKA: Plenum )
Bob came up with a very useful approximation of "Plenum" volume required being a maximum/optimum of 1cc plenum volume per Foot Pound of power your wishing AG to produce.
yes, plenum would equal that. I guess once you determine the volume needed, that's when you drill the the breather hole.
funny thing is watching all the videos on you tube most the guys with s510's were regulated and I assumed they all were (NOT) ;D. on the bright side the bsa r10 mk2 is regulated. the s510 as it is is a very good gun and I could be happy with it in it's current state. I think I may focus on the mrod for now, ship out the rainstorm to Mr. Piatt and just keep collecting pcp's
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Motorhead on January 02, 2014, 12:12:29 AM
In .177 cal ( 20 Ft Lb ) and .22 cal ( 35 Ft Lb ) regulator conversions we find sufficient plenum volume when we pull out the valves internal sleeve, open up the gauge manifold and increase flow threw valves  spring/poppet retention cap.

* The newest Huub regulators made as M-rod specific utilize a built in plenum that replaces the factory gauge manifold.
Venting is done via gauge hole already present in tube.

Looks like this  ;)
(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp182/vincentvangerven/reghigh02_zpsf844b1a1.jpg)

These can be purchased from AGE .... see: http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=55400.msg529058#msg529058 (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=55400.msg529058#msg529058)
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: grobe1458 on January 02, 2014, 12:15:31 AM
I always strive for 1 cc of plenum volume for every FPE you want the gun to produce.... It's not a hard and fast rule, and you can get away with half that volume, but you will pay a price by having to increase the setpoint of the regulator to get back to the same power level.... This is why Motorhead said that regulators are best in the smaller calibers and for lower power, because you don't have to lose as much of the reservoir to the pleunum (volume downstream of the regulator, often provided by a "valve standoff", ie spacer between the regulator and valve).... I have several high powered, regulated, PCPs, but they have separate tanks and very large plenums.... Once so equipped, they are fabulous guns, but to do that you have to do things like reverse the tank, placing it below the original reservoir like this....

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo221/rsterne/22%20PCP/2260and2560HPA_zps371be138.jpg) (http://s378.photobucket.com/user/rsterne/media/22%20PCP/2260and2560HPA_zps371be138.jpg.html)

The upper rifle is a 2260 HPA, shooting 18 gr. JSBs at 960 fps (37 FPE), and gets over 40 shots from 13 CI of air regulated to 1600 psi.... The lower one is a 2560 HPA, shooting 25 gr. JSBs at 960 fpe (52 FPE), and gets over 32 shots from 17 CI of air regulated to 1800 psi.... Both rifles have the entire 2260 tube (65 cc) as the plenum.... They both have Lothar Walther barrels, custom repeater breeches, and Hawke 3-12 x 44 SF Scopes, and are set up for identical trajectories....

Bob
thanks, it's making sense, as for the larger calibers, I sold the .25 mrod to a friend and he really wants a regulator on it. it's getting about 22 accurate shots before pellet drop off. he prefers to leave it in my gun cabinet so it's still like I have a .25.*L*

thanks again for your informative knowledge, I'm beginning to see the light.
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: grobe1458 on January 02, 2014, 12:19:40 AM
In .177 cal ( 20 Ft Lb ) and .22 cal ( 35 Ft Lb ) regulator conversions we find sufficient plenum volume when we pull out the valves internal sleeve, open up the gauge manifold and increase flow threw valves  spring/poppet retention cap.

* The newest Huub regulators made as M-rod specific utilize a built in plenum that replaces the factory gauge manifold.
Venting is done via gauge hole already present in tube.

Looks like this  ;)
(http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp182/vincentvangerven/reghigh02_zpsf844b1a1.jpg)

These can be purchased from AGE .... see: http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=55400.msg529058#msg529058 (http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=55400.msg529058#msg529058)

thanks, I'm sitting here with the biggest grin on my face
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: 1216bandit on January 02, 2014, 08:48:06 AM
Can one just install the regulator and call it done or are there other things that need doing also.  Other than doing things that require machine work what other drop in low cost items would be suggested?  I have read about the lighter hammers and modified valves available but not quite sure how they complement the regulator, or if they really are needed.
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Blind Squirrel on January 02, 2014, 11:32:53 AM
In .177 cal ( 20 Ft Lb ) and .22 cal ( 35 Ft Lb ) regulator conversions we find sufficient plenum volume when we pull out the valves internal sleeve, open up the gauge manifold and increase flow threw valves  spring/poppet retention cap.

(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/school/student-head-explodes-smiley-emoticon.gif)
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: rsterne on January 02, 2014, 02:10:39 PM
To optimize performance with a regulator, you need to at a minimum tune the gun by adjusting the preload on the hammer spring.... If the tune is radically different than the way the gun came from the factory, you may have to change the spring itself.... Further improvements in efficiency may be possible with changing the hammer weight or travel....

If you are trying to achieve a tune that the regulator is not really suitable for, you will obviously have to change other things to try and accomplish your goal....

Bob
Title: Re: REGULATED AND NON-REGULATED whats it mean?
Post by: Tjr on January 02, 2014, 10:57:10 PM
I had to stop reading. Way to complicated. Unregulated means you have a spring fighting against an ever decreasing amount of pressure, find your sweet spot and fill to the shot string you want.
Regulated just means you will only achieve a certain maxi pressure release per trigger squeeze, regardless of your reservoir pressure. Preference really depends upon the purpose of the gun  hinting or target.