Tester/Slide Check/PSI Gauge ?

[Big Cobra]

I've been looking into buying a tester, slide check, & gauge so I can accurately adjust the pressure output on a 13ci Ninjatank/regulator. I have all 3 needed pieces sitting in my Ebay shopping cart at a price of roughly ~$40 shipped, but then I noticed another part that "might" do the same job for Much less.

I stumbled across this simple dual port tester with 1500 psi gauge installed for less than $10 bucks shipped. Can I use this as my tester with no slide check valve, my first thought is to just thread in a bolt into the open port to seal it & then slowly unscrew it as a means of degassing. 

Thoughts?

[rsterne]

The side ports are likely 1/8"-28 NPT (tapered pipe thread)…. so not a "bolt" thread.... I made a simple bleed valve as follows....



The body of the bleed valve is a steel 1/8" NPT male to 1/4" NPT male adapter (it looks like brass, but it is a plated steel 4500 psi Hydraulic fitting).... I drilled out the large side and threaded it 3/8"-24 NF.... The hole just has the tapered bottom from the drill point.... I then made a Delrin insert with a stem that centers loosely in the bore of the 1/8" portion, with a tapered seat to roughly match the drill point.... Screwing the short 3/8" bolt down against it seals it.... If you look closely, there is a 1/16" vent hole on the bottom of the adapter, just outboard of the hex, between it and the threads.... That is drilled straight through, and enters about where the straight portion of the Delrin insert is.... The HPA exhausts through that when you loosen the bolt....

Bob

[nervoustrigger]

For the one you're eyeing, check the description carefully...on the vast majority of these adapters, the knurled screw only serves to open/close the check valve on the bottle.  Unscrewing it does not vent the pressure trapped inside.  You'll need a relief valve of some kind like the one Bob made.

This one on eBay is a special design that does vent...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CO2-FILL-ADAPTER-REMOTE-ON-OFF-DEGAS-WHEN-UNSCREW-AMERICAN-MADE/273620046106

BTW, the little gauges like the 1.5k one pictured are intended to be used near the middle of their range (e.g. CO2 at around 800-900psi).  As they move toward the upper end of the scale, they become inaccurate.  I've compared a few different ones to precision gauges and they were off by anywhere from 200psi to 300psi at the top end of the scale.

My recommendation would be to get it the ebay adapter and a good gauge and a 1/8" NPT plug for the remaining hole.  This 1" gauge is a pretty good one if you're trying to do it on a budget (about $10):
https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/9767T21
But this 1.5" gauge is well worth the $23 in my opinion:
https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/3850K3

Photo of the one I'm using on my tester:

[Big Cobra]

Thank you both Bob & Jason, that was very helpful.

I'm glad I don't have to spend roughly $40 to accomplish this task...

I'm going to order the Ebay part (CO2 FILL ADAPTER REMOTE ON OFF + DEGAS ~$11.50 shipped) Jason gave a link to, then I'll order a better more accurate gauge to get the job done. Here's a picture of my proposed  1-1/2" Utility Pressure Gauge with 1/8" NPT, ~$7 shipped.
 

[nervoustrigger]

No problem, always glad to help.

Just a reminder you'll need a 1/8" NPT plug for the other hole on fill adapter.  Make sure it has a suitable pressure rating.  Considering the price on the gauge, putting a second one might be pretty close the same price as a plug!

[mackeral5]

No problem, always glad to help.

Just a reminder you'll need a 1/8" NPT plug for the other hole on fill adapter.  Make sure it has a suitable pressure rating.  Considering the price on the gauge, putting a second one might be pretty close the same price as a plug!

dual gauges is not a bad idea!

[Big Cobra]

No problem, always glad to help.

Just a reminder you'll need a 1/8" NPT plug for the other hole on fill adapter. Make sure it has a suitable pressure rating.  Considering the price on the gauge, putting a second one might be pretty close the same price as a plug!

I'm confused by your statement, since you own this part, does it have 1 or 2 fill port holes in it?

This quote is from the Ebay advertisement:
"This adapter includes 1 output port, 1/8 NPT, for standard paintball hoses."

[nervoustrigger]

Oh, sorry.  I have a couple of adapters similar to it that have two 1/8" NPT ports (generally for gauge and a hose) but that reads very clear.

[Big Cobra]

OK, thanks.

I new to this & didn't want to get caught off guard.

I'm ordering that gauge & your linked valve, all for ~$18.50, that sure beats the ~$40 I might have spent.

[cosmic]

I have one for sale on page 2..   I don't know what you have but I have a gauntlet.. Mine is only 2000 psi so plenty accurate...

[Buldawg76]

For the one you're eyeing, check the description carefully...on the vast majority of these adapters, the knurled screw only serves to open/close the check valve on the bottle.  Unscrewing it does not vent the pressure trapped inside.  You'll need a relief valve of some kind like the one Bob made.

This one on eBay is a special design that does vent...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/CO2-FILL-ADAPTER-REMOTE-ON-OFF-DEGAS-WHEN-UNSCREW-AMERICAN-MADE/273620046106

BTW, the little gauges like the 1.5k one pictured are intended to be used near the middle of their range (e.g. CO2 at around 800-900psi).  As they move toward the upper end of the scale, they become inaccurate.  I've compared a few different ones to precision gauges and they were off by anywhere from 200psi to 300psi at the top end of the scale.

My recommendation would be to get it the ebay adapter and a good gauge and a 1/8" NPT plug for the remaining hole.  This 1" gauge is a pretty good one if you're trying to do it on a budget (about $10):
https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/9767T21
But this 1.5" gauge is well worth the $23 in my opinion:
https://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/3850K3

Photo of the one I'm using on my tester:

I have one of the special design ones that vents that's linked to here, but its not meant for HPA pressure only CO2 in the 800 to 1100 range because above 1200/1300 it becomes very hard to turn and impossible above 1800 . I have a piece of square brass bolted to the cap like a T handle that's 3 inches long and its hard even with that leverage above 1800. I also have extreme pressure grease on the threads so use with caution above CO2 pressure levels. 

Mike

[Big Cobra]

I have one for sale on page 2..   I don't know what you have but I have a gauntlet.. Mine is only 2000 psi so plenty accurate...

Having trouble locating it, could you post up a link please.

[Big Cobra]

I have one of the special design ones that vents that's linked to here, but its not meant for HPA pressure only CO2 in the 800 to 1100 range because above 1200/1300 it becomes very hard to turn and impossible above 1800 . I have a piece of square brass bolted to the cap like a T handle that's 3 inches long and its hard even with that leverage above 1800. I also have extreme pressure grease on the threads so use with caution above C 2 pressure levels. 

Mike

Noted, thank you.

[cosmic]

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=151702.0

[be4meliz]

Where did you find the gauge? Have the setup- just looking for more accurate gauge.

[nervoustrigger]

(center back fitting)
(bottom mount)

[be4meliz]

Thank you ,sir ,for your prompt reply- Just ordered

[Ribbonstone]

They'll all workweel enough to figure out the setting of an HPA bottle.

Took me awhile to find the junk-box one I'd used...haven't been changing reg. settings in a long long time so it took me awhile to find it.
DSCN1587 by Robert Dean, on Flickr
Basicaly like yhour first post.  Pretty sure the big gauge came from an old-old FX pump and the on off is one that is designed to also vent the trapped gas.

I'dnot subject it to really high pressure.We may not plan for the output of an HPA bottle to be too high, but it could be (guess that's why we want to test it)...so if I were looking from something like 1500psi output, I'd probably fill the HPA bottle to 2000 psi for my first check.

[Big Cobra]

A lot of great feedback and it's appreciated, this will definitely help future people trying to do this too.

Here's the cheapest price on this gauge.

1 1/2" 3000psi 1/8 NPT,    $7.12 shipped:
ebay.com/itm/1-1-2-Utility-Pressure-Gauge-WOG-Blk-Steel-1-8-NPT-Lower-Mnt-0-3000-PSI/112570901196#shpCntId?&shqty=1#shId