Nitrogen Tanks at the track
03-07-2003, 12:56 PM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Nitrogen Tanks at the track
I'm thinking about hauling along a tank of nitrogen to the track, either back in the trailer or strapped into the bed of my pickup. This would be used for power tools and tire inflation. I understand that the cost is fairly reasonable, around $15-25 per tank which would last several race weekends.
Has anybody any suggestions/tips? The last time I had to deal with stuff like this is when I bought oxy/actylene tanks for a welding rig 20 years ago.
- Cris
Cris Brady #88 Class E
Alpine Motorsports
<a href="http://www.alpinemotorsports.org" target="_blank">www.alpinemotorsports.org</a>
cris@alpinemotorsports.org
Has anybody any suggestions/tips? The last time I had to deal with stuff like this is when I bought oxy/actylene tanks for a welding rig 20 years ago.
- Cris
Cris Brady #88 Class E
Alpine Motorsports
<a href="http://www.alpinemotorsports.org" target="_blank">www.alpinemotorsports.org</a>
cris@alpinemotorsports.org
03-07-2003, 01:03 PM
#2
Cris:
I bought a small N02 tank from an oxygen supply store. With a regulator, I think the tab came to around $180. Make *sure* you buy a small rolling cart to haul that sucker around with--it's deceptively heavy, and new rules this year require a cart in the hot pits. Also, buy a plastic bracket holder that will permit you to store the tank laying on its side in your truck. If you have a trailer, I guess you just buy a hoop bracket from Brey-Krause or someplace like that.
Rgds,
Lee in D.C.
.
I bought a small N02 tank from an oxygen supply store. With a regulator, I think the tab came to around $180. Make *sure* you buy a small rolling cart to haul that sucker around with--it's deceptively heavy, and new rules this year require a cart in the hot pits. Also, buy a plastic bracket holder that will permit you to store the tank laying on its side in your truck. If you have a trailer, I guess you just buy a hoop bracket from Brey-Krause or someplace like that.
Rgds,
Lee in D.C.
.
03-07-2003, 02:07 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
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You can get everything you need from most welding supply places. I signed up for an account, so I didn't have to buy the bottle, just pay for refills which are around $22 for the large bottles. They also set me up with the right regulator. You'll need to size it based on the kind of tools you want to run off it. I'm using mine for an air jack system, so I needed a regulator that goes over 400 psi on the output side.
I went to an Aeroquip place to have them make up a hose for me with quick disconnects at both ends. If you're going to be swapping tools and air gages, I'd think you'd want to do something similar. I did a 35' hose which has been adequate. A 50' hose can be a pain to coil and store.
I mounted my bottle in my trailer using a set of brackets from PitPal.
<a href="http://www.pitpal.com/racks.html" target="_blank">http://www.pitpal.com/racks.html</a>
Karl
I went to an Aeroquip place to have them make up a hose for me with quick disconnects at both ends. If you're going to be swapping tools and air gages, I'd think you'd want to do something similar. I did a 35' hose which has been adequate. A 50' hose can be a pain to coil and store.
I mounted my bottle in my trailer using a set of brackets from PitPal.
<a href="http://www.pitpal.com/racks.html" target="_blank">http://www.pitpal.com/racks.html</a>
Karl
03-07-2003, 02:59 PM
#4
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I've done the same thing that Karl has for exactly the same reasons. I am using some high pressure hose from Longacre with whips for each tool. I didn't really NEED to do that but I thought it might make things easier if a hose fails or whatever. I got all of my quick disconnect fittings from Home Depot.
03-07-2003, 06:02 PM
#5
Pro
Thread Starter
Thanks everybody for the info. I called around to several welding places and got some pricing. The best place has refills for $15.
I looked at that Pitpal holder before. Not to digress, but that Pitpal stuff is way overpriced. $70 plus shipping for 2 brackets, come on now! I've got some Pitpal stuff in my trailer, but I bought it at 50% off from another racer who had sold his trailer. At 50% it became closer to reasonable.
- Cris
Cris Brady #88 Class E
Alpine Motorsports
<a href="http://www.alpinemotorsports.org" target="_blank">www.alpinemotorsports.org</a>
cris@alpinemotorsports.org
I looked at that Pitpal holder before. Not to digress, but that Pitpal stuff is way overpriced. $70 plus shipping for 2 brackets, come on now! I've got some Pitpal stuff in my trailer, but I bought it at 50% off from another racer who had sold his trailer. At 50% it became closer to reasonable.
- Cris
Cris Brady #88 Class E
Alpine Motorsports
<a href="http://www.alpinemotorsports.org" target="_blank">www.alpinemotorsports.org</a>
cris@alpinemotorsports.org
03-07-2003, 11:19 PM
#6
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Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
A bit of safety thoughts.
Nitrogen displaces oxygen ion air and in enclosed spaces can deplete oxygen to the point you will pass out and die. (This is not cool).
Also, a compressed gas cylinder, if it falls and the main valve gets sheared off, becomes a high speed missle. The safety film I saw showed one going through a 1 foot concrete wall like butter. Please be sure you secure the cylinder in a suitable rack or cart. The gas place will hace these to show you. They are pretty simple and a handy guy can probably fab something up as well.
Be sure you put hte cover over the main valve when you are movingthe cylinder as this is one of the times of greatest risk.
Some Safety notes:
<a href="http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram14.pdf" target="_blank">http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram14.pdf</a>
<a href="http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram10.pdf" target="_blank">http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram10.pdf</a>
Do the shops charge you for demurrage (i.e. a rental on the cylinder)?
FWIW-The gas supply guy at my former work place told me that some old time cylinder gas guys would buy a few thousand cylinders at fire sale prices when the business got to it's cyclical lousy stage and then lease then out. They get a very steady income with no work on their part. The trick is to get the cylinders cheap. To give you an idea of the lifetime of a cylinder, there are still ones in use with **** Swatstikas engraved on the side.
Nitrogen displaces oxygen ion air and in enclosed spaces can deplete oxygen to the point you will pass out and die. (This is not cool).
Also, a compressed gas cylinder, if it falls and the main valve gets sheared off, becomes a high speed missle. The safety film I saw showed one going through a 1 foot concrete wall like butter. Please be sure you secure the cylinder in a suitable rack or cart. The gas place will hace these to show you. They are pretty simple and a handy guy can probably fab something up as well.
Be sure you put hte cover over the main valve when you are movingthe cylinder as this is one of the times of greatest risk.
Some Safety notes:
<a href="http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram14.pdf" target="_blank">http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram14.pdf</a>
<a href="http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram10.pdf" target="_blank">http://grover.mirc.gatech.edu/safety/gashandling/safetygram10.pdf</a>
Do the shops charge you for demurrage (i.e. a rental on the cylinder)?
FWIW-The gas supply guy at my former work place told me that some old time cylinder gas guys would buy a few thousand cylinders at fire sale prices when the business got to it's cyclical lousy stage and then lease then out. They get a very steady income with no work on their part. The trick is to get the cylinders cheap. To give you an idea of the lifetime of a cylinder, there are still ones in use with **** Swatstikas engraved on the side.
