Nitrogen Fill Unit Info - an education / discussion thread

[Gertrude]

Hey guys,

What do you think about having a thread solely for the purpose of educating us newbies on the details of Nitrogen fill stations ?

Lots of members (new and old), often struggle with the issues of going to PCP's, and the added expense's of how to fill their guns.

 We often discuss the options of hand pumps, vs. cylinders, Boosting hand pumps with small compressors,  3000psi vs. 4500psi, SCUBA tanks vs. SCBA tanks, Shoebox vs. Nitrogen, and the associated variables with each, as well as availabilty and costs, which can widely differ amongst members in various geographic locations.

 Some times it seems that the associated costs of going with Nitrogen set-ups, are a better route (in the long run),... especially for those who don't have locally available shops that can do 4500psi fills... but have "air hungry" 3000 psi rifles.

So my hopes for this thread are, to have a "Nitrogen Specific" education on the various set-ups, and associated costs, of building a complete and SAFE Nitrogen Fill Station.

 It is NOT intended as a thread to debate the virtues of HPA sources vs. Nitrogen.

Please feel free to show your pics of your Nitrogen Stations, related equipment, regulators, valves, hoses, fittings, and include the parts, sources, costs, etc.

THANKS !

[travels4fun]

For my 6000 psi Nitrogen Fill Station, I am using Roberts Oxygen as my supplier here in Northern VA. Here is the breakdown of my setup along with costs:

One Time Costs:
6000 psi Nitrogen Cylinder - $65 refundable deposit to lease a 444 cf Nitrogen tank at 6000 psi and $65 for a fresh filled tank swap out. The process is they drop off a new filled tank and take my old one. It's as simple as calling my rep and telling him I need a tank and the next morning they come to my house to do the swap.
6000 psi Fill Assembly - $195 from Air Hog. This is the interface between the nitrogen cylinder and your carbon fiber tank. It screws on to the Nitrogen Cylinder and has a valve, pressure gauge, and male foster connect. Don't worry too much about this as both Air Hog and Joe Brancato will know what you need.
75cf Carbon Fiber Tank - $585 from Joe Brancato. Mine is called the Tiger Shark Deluxe. I fill this tank from the nitrogen cylinder by connecting my tank to the cylinder using my tanks hp hose. The hose connect to the male foster on the cylinder side. I open my carbon fiber tank valve first and then the nitrogen cylinder which starts the fill process. There is no need to worry about too much nitrogen coming out as the fill assembly has flow control built in. Once my tank is topped off, I use the tank to fill my guns. One cylinder will top up my carbon fiber tank approximately 15 times from 3500 psi to 4500 psi.

Recurring Cost:
I always have my nitrogen cylinder swapped out when it gets down to 3700 psi. The reason for this is I fill my Bobcat to 3626 psi.  Usually, I go through a cylinder every 4-5 weeks. Cost is $65 to swap with fresh tank.

[blackdiesel]

How many times will the 444 cf tank fill your carbon fiber tank to 4500 psi?

[travels4fun]

How many times will the 444 cf tank fill your carbon fiber tank to 4500 psi?

One 444cf cylinder will top up my carbon fiber tank approximately 15-16 times from 3500 psi to 4500 psi.

[blackdiesel]

How many times will the 444 cf tank fill your carbon fiber tank to 4500 psi?

One 444cf cylinder will top up my carbon fiber tank approximately 15-16 times from 3500 psi to 4500 psi.

Thanks.  I think that made up my mind.  I would be topping my carbon fiber tanks from 3k to 4.5k psi since all my guns operate at 3k psi.  But considering it cost me $12 each per month to top them off at the fill station I should still be saving money.  I have 2 fill assemblies so I cascade tanks to use more air before refilling.

[blackdiesel]

For my 6000 psi Nitrogen Fill Station, I am using Roberts Oxygen as my supplier here in Northern VA. Here is the breakdown of my setup along with costs:

One Time Costs:
6000 psi Fill Assembly - $195 from Air Hog. This is the interface between the nitrogen cylinder and your carbon fiber tank. It screws on to the Nitrogen Cylinder and has a valve, pressure gauge, and male foster connect. Don't worry too much about this as both Air Hog and Joe Brancato will know what you need.
There is no need to worry about too much nitrogen coming out as the fill assembly has flow control built in. Once my tank is topped off, I use the tank to fill my guns. One cylinder will top up my carbon fiber tank approximately 15 times from 3500 psi to 4500 psi.

Just to be clear, the fill assembly from Airhog does have a regulator set at 4.5k for filling the tanks?

[travels4fun]

Just to be clear, the fill assembly from Airhog does have a regulator set at 4.5k for filling the tanks?

No there is no regulator in the Airhog fill assembly. Though unlikely, it is possible to over fill your CF tank if you step away while filling. However, the Airhog fill assembly does have a built in flow control so you don't have to worry about filling too quickly. To give you an idea of the fill speed, it takes about 2-3 minutes to top off my CF tank from 3700 psi to 4500 psi when connected to the nitrogen cylinder.

[aack73]

while regulators are nice. they are expensive and not entirely necessary. you just fill it the same way you would fill your gun from a 4500 psi tank with no reg. slow and easy.

most 6000 psi nitrogen tanks will only have 5500 to 5600 in them. so when doing fill calculations i would use that as starting point. i would also recommend a portable tank for any trips you may want to take it on.  those nitrogen tanks are heavy. i have hauled mine to genes on multiple occasions and i can say even with hand trucks its a job rolling it around the house. they are extremely heavy. truly a 2 man job. just something to consider. i prefer to park mine in one spot in the garage and leave it.  the above mentioned rates are really good and better than most i hear. they charge differently from place to place. so negotiate a better deal with them if you can. nitrogen has several benefits and if you can use it for roughly the same cost i would recommend it.   
mine last me roughly a year filling my mrod to 3200 psi. i dont count the fills but its a lot.

i use and extra fosters on my assembly so i can use the same fill assembly hose to fill from big tank to small tank. and from big tank to gun or small tank to gun. 1 fill hose assembly.

[Dockey 454]

        I use an unregulated fill station on a 6k nitrogen tank to fill my 100 cu ft dive bottles. As long as you fill slow and pay attention there will be no problems. One thing you have to do is mark the dive bottle for nitrogen to keep it legal. The bottles are very heavy. I use my loader to get them in and out of the truck.
       Tom