Re: [ihc] Re: onboard air tanks

["Dennis Bernth" <scoutdude@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ryan, John, etc-
I'm thinking that since the tanks are so overbuilt for what you're going to
use them for, it wouldn't be a big deal to have a GOOD (great?) welder add a
fitting for drain cock. The SCBA tanks I've seen have a curved bottom, since
they don't have to stand up (they're in a harness on somebody's back). It
would be a pretty simple exercise to add a fitting on the bottom of the
'curve', and when you install the tank drop that end just a tad off of
level. I don't have OBA, and probably won't, but I don't think it's rocket
science- guys use tube rear bumpers as OBA tanks, so adding the drain should
be no big deal. If you want to try to keep the water OUT of the tank, you
can get a small inline air filter with maybe a brass filter, a drain cock,
and a steel housing. Mount it alongside the tank on the 'step', out of harms
way, and keep it drained. I don't know if you would even use the OBA enough
to have water be a large issue, but it wouldn't hurt to have something in
place to deal with it. The York is gonna pump some oil out with the air, I
suppose you could not worry about trapping that oil mist, the oil will coat
the inside of the OBA tank also and prevent rust? <g>. I think for ease, I'd
just go with the drain on the end of the tank and call it good.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: "John M. Adams" <jma@domain.elided>
To: "Ryan Moore" <baradium@domain.elided>; "Dennis Bernth"
<scoutdude@domain.elided>; <ihc@domain.elided>
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 10:54 PM
Subject: RE: [ihc] Re: onboard air tanks


> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-ihc@domain.elided [mailto:owner-ihc@domain.elided]On Behalf Of
> > Ryan Moore
> > Sent: Friday, January 23, 2004 9:19 PM
> > To: Dennis Bernth; ihc@domain.elided
> > Subject: Re: [ihc] Re: onboard air tanks
> >
> > I like the idea of those high pressure tanks...
> >
> > But those tanks won't have a drain valve to drain water out, right?
> > Normally, isn't it a good idea to drain the air tank every so often to
get
> > any water out?
> >
> > I guess I could simply put in something to remove the water before the
> > tank...
> >
>
> Ryan,
>
> I like that idea also... just sent an email to a fire captain buddy of
mine,
> asking if he has a line on retired tanks.
>
> I hadn't thought about the drain valve, though. Yes, it is a good idea to
> drain air tanks. On a conventional tank, the idea is to prevent rust and
> possible rupture (as well as making it easier for the line filters).
Perhaps
> that's not as big an issue on an SCBA tank? Don't know how they're
> constructed... Dennis? Or anyone else?
>
> I don't think you will be able to remove the water before it enters the
> tank. The water comes from compression condensation after it's in the
tank.
> Maybe if your relative humidity is close to zero or something, but then
> you've got other problems!
>
> Y'all have too many interesting ideas... even after I "finish" a project,
I
> won't ever be finished.  -John A.