Medical Oxygen Regs
I am considering finishing my abandoned hybrid project, and I want to use a pure oxygen setup, similar to SB15's. I am guessing that this will be less cost effective, considering I will go through those $7 disposable oxy tanks pretty fast, but I want a portable oxygen system, and I don't want to mess with HPA. I was looking for a cheap regulator, so, of course, I went to eBay and searched for oxygen regulators. What I found were plenty of <$20 medical oxygen regs. However, I am not sure if these will work and if they will screw on to the disposable tanks. The listings did not give very much information about them. Does anyone know if these will work with disposable oxy cylinders, and if there is any other cheap (<$20) way to regulate oxygen? From what I understand that disposable tanks contain about 400-500psi.
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Technician1002
- Captain
- Posts: 5189
- Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am
Med regulators will not screw onto disposable tanks. Medical oxygen is purified and traces of Carbon Monoxide and other toxic gases are removed. To ensure purity, they only fit medical Oxygen cylinders using a yoke style fitting. They will not attach to a welding gas cylinder.
If you use a lot of Oxygen, welding oxygen is much cheaper than medical oxygen. You may find the used medical regulators cheap, but stick with industrial gas instead.
In many places it is illegal to have medical oxygen supplies without a prescription. This could be a problem when you try to buy oxygen in bottles to fit your regulator.
Grab a welding Oxygen regulator instead. You can buy Oxygen for it with no problems. Be sure to learn every safe handling practice for the gas and regulator. Mishandled, it is very dangerous.
Disposable tanks are in the pressure range you mentioned. Refillable welding tanks are much higher pressure so they contain much more Oxygen.
Visiting a medical Oxygen supply site gives this gem;
If you use a lot of Oxygen, welding oxygen is much cheaper than medical oxygen. You may find the used medical regulators cheap, but stick with industrial gas instead.
In many places it is illegal to have medical oxygen supplies without a prescription. This could be a problem when you try to buy oxygen in bottles to fit your regulator.
Grab a welding Oxygen regulator instead. You can buy Oxygen for it with no problems. Be sure to learn every safe handling practice for the gas and regulator. Mishandled, it is very dangerous.
Disposable tanks are in the pressure range you mentioned. Refillable welding tanks are much higher pressure so they contain much more Oxygen.
Visiting a medical Oxygen supply site gives this gem;
They wind up on ebay due to hygiene reasons.The FDA restricts this device to sale on the order of a physician. You or your doctor may Fax a copy of your prescription to: 1-877-XXX-XXXX Toll Free. Due to hygiene purposes, this item is non-returnable. If this is a company purchase, your tax ID No. is Required.