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CO2 bottle filling at home

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So, a big thanks to the majority who posted informative information. I now have a much better understanding as to what needs to be done and the choices I need to make. Reaching out to my welding supply for tanks with a siphon tube, or even building a fixture that can safely hold my 50lb bottle upside down and properly securing to a wall. I do have that technology to build. Please no disrespect to bracconiere for his design, seems to be working for him and it did offer a design option to work from. There is also the option that my supplier gets his shipment of CO2 in, but he did say it could be months. I can also drive the 100+ miles to the city where I have better options for filling
 
I used to rent a 50# siphon tube tank from a welding supply shop to refill paintball tanks when I had a rec team. It was a few years back so I don't remember the exact cost but it wasn't much for the monthly rental then a like $20 fee for refills. Charge with a few second burst then purge the tank you're filling to chill and it wasn't any trouble getting a full fill. I made the fill adapter with fittings and hose from a plumbing supplier and a remote tank on/off valve from a paintball shop. I'm sure Amazon has something pre-made for cheap.
 
fwiw, I did indeed finally invest in a 20# siphon tank and it is the bomb! I have three 5 pounders which are a ridiculous way to deal with CO2 but the 20# siphon tank is the leveler: it's up in the "cheap to fill" zone, and partially filling the 5 pounders takes only a couple of minutes whenever needed...

Cheers!
I know it has been awhile since this discussion occurred, but I am interested in my options for filling 5lb tanks from my 20lb. It sounds like I need the transfer hose and either a siphon tank (which I assume simply has a tube to the bottom similar to the liquid side of a corny keg), or can I just mount my standard 20lb tank upside down? Safety is obviously an issue, but it sounds like a number of people do this regularly, especially the paintballers. What am I missing?
 
My xfer hose has one. If you put the valve end at the receiving cylinder there's a little less liquid CO2 to be concerned about when you disconnect that end of the hose, then you can close the siphon tank valve and open the hose valve to let the trapped CO2 safely escape.

fwiw, I use the last breaths of CO2 from the receiving cylinder to gas-purge the transfer hose before hooking it up to the siphon tank...

Cheers!
 
The thing I'd be most concerned about is the hose. Does it have a 900 psi working pressure? 1200 would be better.


i honestly would have just assumed it would be ~3,000psi? my tank when full is usually at 1,000psi?
 
i honestly would have just assumed it would be ~3,000psi? my tank when full is usually at 1,000psi?
Depends on the temperature. I thought a CO2 tank at room temperature was about 870 psi. The tanks are hydrostatically tested at 1800, I believe. Oxygen tanks are quite a bit higher. Whatever the number, I think my point still stands, are you sure the hose has a working pressure high enough to be safe? Not just a burst strength which obviously hasn't been exceeded yet but if you're close it might fail someday.
 
Mine is rated for 4000 psi. You'd definitely want at least 2000 psi...

co2pv.jpg


Cheers!
 
I use a transfer hose (with vent) from www.powertank.com. No idea if they are still in business. The vent allows you to flush the transfer line and decompress before disconnecting.
 
This hose NewJersey linked to looks like it has a bleeder valve. Is that necessary or preferred, or just a direct hose? I can't imagine wanting to introduce any risk of liquid CO2 getting out.
The bleeder valve is for when you're done filling. You close both tanks and then use the bleeder before removing the hose. It just makes it easier. Been using this hose for somewhere around a dozen refills without issue.
 
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