Doc Bruce - DIY Oxygen system

bbchien said:
Ted, in the first six months there is a predominance of fetal hemoglobin which has a different spectrum. You would not want to rely on an adult POX in this situation. However, the unloading curve in the neonate favors unloading the available oxygen in the brain.
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Good information to know, and logical. Out of curiosity we might throw the adult one on him just to see what the numbers are (if it will even give a reading on his little fingers), and understand not to take much stock in the numbers.

As a practical limit, when the kid vomits, his Saturation is wayyy to low. Don't ask me how I know this....
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:rofl:

Sound, practical advice from the good doctor... as always.

I'll just not bother buying a specific child POX. As I said, we're not intended on hitting oxygen levels anyway, but do have the appropriate equipment. If we hit the practical limit above, we're descending or landing anyway.
 
Adult sized pulse oximetry sensors will not reliably pick up signals from an infant, so do NOT use an adult sized device on a four month old. Further, to expose an infant to hypoxaemia to the degree that he/she vomits - amounts to child abuse..
 
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Hi Everyone,

I just put a system similar to this together and here are the parts, and updated cost breakdown:

1. 43 Cubit Foot Steel Oxygen Cylinder (filled) $143.50 (Purchased at a Welding Supply Store)
2. Oxygen Regulator $90.00 (Purchased at a Welding supply store)
3. 1/4 inch hose 8ft. $5.12 (Purchased at a welding supply store)
4. 2 X Nipple 1/4 $1.32 (Purchased at a welding supply store)
5. 2 X Ferrule .593X1 $1.20 (Purchased at a welding supply store)
6. 2 X Nut, oxygen Hose B-Size, Female, Hex. Right Hand Thread TPI- 9/16"-18 CGA-022, 200 PSIG $1.20 (4, 5, & 6 need to be assembled and crimped on the hose) (Purchased at a welding supply store)
7. Roll of oxygen safe Teflon tape $3.50 (don't know if this is really necessary but figured it could not hurt) (Purchased from WW Grainger Inc)
8. Western Industries Part number B-50 (CGA-540 male to 1/4 NPT male) fitting $5.00 (Ordered from Praxair)
9. Western Industries Part Number 244 (1/4 female to male "B") fitting $5.00 (Ordered from Praxair)
10. Sky Ox Regulator (4-place) $329.06 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
11. 4 X Cannula Case $40 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
12. 4 X Oxymizer Cannulas W/2757 and flow indicator $229.32 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
13. Oxi Go Pulse Oximeter $44.99 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
14. Buckeye Fire Equipment Fire extinguisher Bracket $78.00 (to hold Bottle in Cargo Area, this gives you a flat surface when you strap the bottle down) (Purchased at WW Grainger)

Total complete system Cost : $977.21

To put it together, place the Welding Regulator on the Oxygen Bottle, run the hose from the Regulator to the front of the cockpit, on the other end of the hose put Part number 244 then Part number B-50, now you can attach the Sky Ox Regulator on the end. Hook your cannulas up and you are ready.

Before start-up, turn on Oxygen Bottle, then adjust the Regulator (remember to do it in that order and reverse to turn off). With the Skyox Regulator now up front, you can control when and how much Oxygen is needed for you and your passengers.

I have not tested this yet, but it should work as planned.

I don't think I saved a lot or any money doing it this way, but having control of the system up front while the Bottle is in back is worth the hassle of putting it all together.

Flav
 
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Chache said:
Yep I'm cheap too! I did the same thing, after reading this thread.

What L/min settings do you use on the regulator?
Is there any optimal rate for specified altitudes?
I'm doing this, because I'd like to fly at night, without getting dull.....
..............................................................(I've tried the latest jokes, but the passengers still tend to groan....):rofl:

Seriously.... I want to avoid any chance of hypoxia, or even that headachy tired feeling. :(

TIA!
Click to expand...

Nasal cannula = 2 to 6 lpm
Mask = 4 to 10
Rebreather mask (bag attached) you can run 10 to 15.

Watch your pulseox and keep above 90%.

But if you get dizzy or feel very "anxious", and pulseox says 98 to 100% you may need to cut back to prevent hyperventilation.
 
Resurrecting an old thread with a question, but first my thanks to everyone who has provided information. This has been very helpful.

With regard to the hose end fittings, are those just simple barbed fittings that are held in place with a hose clamp, or are they fittings that have to be attached with special tools?

Thanks!
 
We did wet fills doing steel tanks with air (not O2) when I was in the fire department. O2, we didn't bother (nor did we worry about kevlar tanks).
 
murphey said:
Update.....$49 at Walgreens
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IIRC Bruce was talking about the Aeromedix CO monitor (actually made by KWJ Engineering), since it is the one he recommended at the time. That one hasn't come down much in price, retailing for something like $140 now.

So the real question is whether the $49 cheapies from Walgreens are as accurate. (Though, truth be told, KWJ recommends annually calibrating their unit if accuracy is a priority.)
 
azure said:
IIRC Bruce was talking about the Aeromedix CO monitor (actually made by KWJ Engineering), since it is the one he recommended at the time. That one hasn't come down much in price, retailing for something like $140 now.

So the real question is whether the $49 cheapies from Walgreens are as accurate. (Though, truth be told, KWJ recommends annually calibrating their unit if accuracy is a priority.)
Click to expand...
missed that....thought the topic was a pulse ox....I have the Aeromedix CO, just had it recalibrated this summer.
 
Oops... my bad. Don't know if Bruce ever recommended a specific pulse ox meter. But they've come down big time in the last few years, so it's possible that if he did, they were much higher priced back then.
 
Here's a link to an old thread that may have something of interest in it. Since I posted last on this subject, Inogen has come out with a newer model, smaller even than their G4.

https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/portable-o2-system.114633/#post-2622585

Also re pulse oximeters, the prices I'm reading on this thread are insane. Six years ago I was buying them brand new off of eBay for about $35 (bought one for a neighbor with COPD). It's held up just fine.
 
I have a home brew
oxy top.JPG
system based on a medical regulator for a few hundred dollars and use a large 44 cubic foot cylinder I bought from a welding supply in my plane. I also bought two of those very large K cylinders which I use to refill my airplane cylinder by cascading. The advantage of the 44 cu foot cylinder is that even filling to only a few hundred PSI gives me plenty of oxy for most trips and I do use the the remnants for welding. The weight is trivial in a solo C-210 flight. I use standard welding shop tank fittings so I could refill a at any welding shop if needed (buy him a beer).
 
Flavius Renatus said:
Hi Everyone,

I just put a system similar to this together and here are the parts, and updated cost breakdown:

1. 43 Cubit Foot Steel Oxygen Cylinder (filled) $143.50 (Purchased at a Welding Supply Store)
2. Oxygen Regulator $90.00 (Purchased at a Welding supply store)
3. 1/4 inch hose 8ft. $5.12 (Purchased at a welding supply store)
4. 2 X Nipple 1/4 $1.32 (Purchased at a welding supply store)
5. 2 X Ferrule .593X1 $1.20 (Purchased at a welding supply store)
6. 2 X Nut, oxygen Hose B-Size, Female, Hex. Right Hand Thread TPI- 9/16"-18 CGA-022, 200 PSIG $1.20 (4, 5, & 6 need to be assembled and crimped on the hose) (Purchased at a welding supply store)
7. Roll of oxygen safe Teflon tape $3.50 (don't know if this is really necessary but figured it could not hurt) (Purchased from WW Grainger Inc)
8. Western Industries Part number B-50 (CGA-540 male to 1/4 NPT male) fitting $5.00 (Ordered from Praxair)
9. Western Industries Part Number 244 (1/4 female to male "B") fitting $5.00 (Ordered from Praxair)
10. Sky Ox Regulator (4-place) $329.06 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
11. 4 X Cannula Case $40 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
12. 4 X Oxymizer Cannulas W/2757 and flow indicator $229.32 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
13. Oxi Go Pulse Oximeter $44.99 (Purchased from www.skyox.com)
14. Buckeye Fire Equipment Fire extinguisher Bracket $78.00 (to hold Bottle in Cargo Area, this gives you a flat surface when you strap the bottle down) (Purchased at WW Grainger)

Total complete system Cost : $977.21

To put it together, place the Welding Regulator on the Oxygen Bottle, run the hose from the Regulator to the front of the cockpit, on the other end of the hose put Part number 244 then Part number B-50, now you can attach the Sky Ox Regulator on the end. Hook your cannulas up and you are ready.

Before start-up, turn on Oxygen Bottle, then adjust the Regulator (remember to do it in that order and reverse to turn off). With the Skyox Regulator now up front, you can control when and how much Oxygen is needed for you and your passengers.

I have not tested this yet, but it should work as planned.

I don't think I saved a lot or any money doing it this way, but having control of the system up front while the Bottle is in back is worth the hassle of putting it all together.

Flav
Click to expand...


OMG THANK YOU!!! I am doing this right now so my step dad can fly in my lance at higher altitudes. Skyox has been worthless getting back to me. Thank you!
 
noobs necro'ing the living snot out this forum notwithstanding, some opportunity cost anecdote on the whole flying with O2 which I came across recently. :eek:
On a more positive note, witnesses say BT forum members went and scavenged what they could outta the tail. "Magnesium's good,some shrapnel holes but it'll pass balance"


iTs sAfe cUz iTs sUrTiFied. kaBOOM.
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