Fill Station Valves

[JackHughs]

I'm getting old and feeble so carrying around filled 9 liter tanks is becoming an unpleasant chore.

Tuxing sells a three liter tank with three valve options - all at the same price. Two of these are single gauge valves. The third has two gauges and a direct to tank fill fitting that is separate from the output fitting.

Is their any real value in the separate direct to tank fill fitting?

JackHughs

 

[markhooper]

I'm getting old and feeble so carrying around filled 9 liter tanks is becoming an unpleasant chore.

Tuxing sells a three liter tank with three valve options - all at the same price. Two of these are single gauge valves. The third has two gauges and a direct to tank fill fitting that is separate from the output fitting.

Is their any real value in the separate direct to tank fill fitting?

JackHughs

yes much easier filling.. duel gauges allow you to read tank pressure, the single gauge only reads fill pressure so to check tank pressure you have to use a deadhead plug and turn on fill valve..then you waste the air in the line when you bleed off without even filling your gun
Mark

 

[BSJ]

Yes. I've replaced two single gauge valves with duals. I got one to install on a new bottle. Liked it so much I ditched the others...

Let's me extra tether too. I normally shoot my AA rifles "tethered" to my battery powered GX compressor right on the bench. Now with a spare 480cc bottle between the pump and the gun, I can go quite a bit longer between fills and still not stress the pump with overly long runs. With the separate in and out fittings I don't have to disconnect anything...

 

[Gerry52]

Picture or link?

 

[BSJ]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09D7QC7K9/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

 

[markhooper]

Picture or link?

your the pro.. so I am going to say that whatever you say on this topic is the correct answer..
great to see you friend..
Mark

 

[Gerry52]

I'm still a fan of standard SCBA valves. They're far more robust than aftermarket valves (because lives depend on them & they're SIMPLE). I also see too many areas of possible failures (leaks) with all the extra hardware in aftermarket stuff. The "filter" in the foster is laughable, at best, imho. Ingoing air to tank should be well filtered of moisture & debris before that point. Just my 2 cents. If they work well for others, more power to them.

 

[6gun]

I'm still a fan of standard SCBA valves. They're far more robust than aftermarket valves (because lives depend on them & they're SIMPLE). I also see too many areas of possible failures (leaks) with all the extra hardware in aftermarket stuff. The "filter" in the foster is laughable, at best, imho. Ingoing air to tank should be well filtered of moisture & debris before that point. Just my 2 cents. If they work well for others, more power to them.

I've got a joe broncato valve, an scba Scott valve and a Saber valve. The Saber is a dead head setup and it's generally my favorite. I don't dead head check it at all because I fill after every use and have tons of air stored.

I like the Saber because the valve has its own carry handle and big easy to use knobs as well as an easy to read black guage face. I absolutely HATE transporting my Scott used fire scba and my Brancato great white horizontally in carry slings. I also dislike the valve in the Brancato the most, but it's got a safe flow rate restrictor and dual gauges.

The really big bottle is really light, but don't worry about that guy it's an airplane part.

 

[JackHughs]

I've got a joe broncato valve, an scba Scott valve and a Saber valve. The Saber is a dead head setup and it's generally my favorite. I don't dead head check it at all because I fill after every use and have tons of air stored.

I like the Saber because the valve has its own carry handle and big easy to use knobs as well as an easy to read black guage face. I absolutely HATE transporting my Scott used fire scba and my Brancato great white horizontally in carry slings. I also dislike the valve in the Brancato the most, but it's got a safe flow rate restrictor and dual gauges.

The really big bottle is really light, but don't worry about that guy it's an airplane part.

View attachment 563431

The valve on the third tank from the left looks very similar to the Tuxing valve in question. Does it have a direct to tank fill fitting? If so, is that fitting useful?

JackHughs

 

[Ratzy]

I have 3 types of fill valves.

Left: Dual gauge, fills through hose. Very high outlet volume air through the hose. Can adjust pressure, grossly, when filling from bottle.

Middle: Dual gauge, has fill nipple. Most restrictive outlet volume of air. On/off no adjusting pressure.

Right: Dual gauge, has fill nipple. Moderate outlet volume of air. On/off only.

I also have adjustable fill valve. I use them when tethered. Tanks filled to 300bar/4500psi. Have one set for 250 bar outlet pressure and one set for 200 bar outlet pressure. 250 bar for my regulated guns. 200 bar for my guns that are unregulated. No worries about over filling. You can use them as fill stations, just open the adjustment all the way and the outlet is tank pressure.

 

[SLICKNICK]

On 3 of my tanks. The best part is you can easily daisy chain them, as many tanks as you want

 

[markhooper]

the thing that concerns me the most is that they have no cover or valve protection like my welding tanks, which are much lower pressure..
that said please take Gerry advice because he honestly is a pro in this field of tanks.
Mark

 

[Ratzy]

the thing that concerns me the most is that they have no cover or valve protection like my welding tanks, which are much lower pressure..
that said please take Gerry advice because he honestly is a pro in this field of tanks.
Mark

Except the point was light and portable. SCBA metal tanks are heavy. About twice what the Tuxing/Alsafe/Acecare 3L CF tanks weigh.

I've been using 3L, 6.8L and 9L tanks for years and nothing has ever failed on the fill valves other than foster orings.

Just added a 1.6L tank for tethering because it only weighs around 3lbs with fill valve. A bit more when filled. Stick it in my backpack with an extension hose and I can shoot all day.

 

[markhooper]

Except the point was light and portable. SCBA metal tanks are heavy. About twice what the Tuxing/Alsafe/Acecare 3L CF tanks weigh.

I've been using 3L, 6.8L and 9L tanks for years and nothing has ever failed on the fill valves other than foster orings.

Just added a 1.6L tank for tethering because it only weighs around 3lbs with fill valve. A bit more when filled. Stick it in my backpack with an extension hose and I can shoot all day.

you don't have your information straight scba tank is carbon fiber and just lite like the tanks you mentioned, you are probably confusing them with scuba tank which is metal..
if you have any doubts ask Gerry he literally is a professional in this field.
Mark

 

[Ratzy]

you don't have your information straight scba tank is carbon fiber and just lite like the tanks you mentioned, you are probably confusing them with scuba tank which is metal..
if you have any doubts ask Gerry he literally is a professional in this field.
Mark

No, I know SCBA can be CF. But cost wise the comparison is used metal SCBA (ie Scott) to CF Chinese CE tank (ie Tuxing)

Otherwise there is no comparison, the SCBA CF 3L start about $500.

 

[markhooper]

No, I know SCBA can be CF. But cost wise the comparison is used metal SCBA (ie Scott) to CF Chinese CE tank (ie Tuxing)

Otherwise there is no comparison, the SCBA CF 3L start about $500.

whatever... the Scott I have seen was carbon fiber, but it's your story so it's fine..
Gerry52 is the authority on tanks.. I'm done with this conversation.

 

[Scotty1]

No, I know SCBA can be CF. But cost wise the comparison is used metal SCBA (ie Scott) to CF Chinese CE tank (ie Tuxing)

Otherwise there is no comparison, the SCBA CF 3L start about $500.

I’ve never seen a used steel SCBA bottle, don’t know if they exist.

 

[Ratzy]

I’ve never seen a used steel SCBA bottle, don’t know if they exist.

All over Ebay.
Usually 2216psi or 3000psi aluminum type.

 

[Ratzy]

whatever... the Scott I have seen was carbon fiber, but it's your story so it's fine..
Gerry52 is the authority on tanks.. I'm done with this conversation.

Well, that is your story, aka an opinion not "authoritative".

I doubt few if any members here are actual authority on manufacturing, testing and certification of air tanks.

 

[Sergey1972]

Well, that is your story, aka an opinion not "authoritative".

I doubt few if any members here are actual authority on manufacturing, testing and certification of air tanks.

Uhm i beg to differ. I've been manufacturing for paintball since 1987. There are others on here more specialized in different areas. Please don't underestimate expertiese available. DO check the source and their prior posts.