Hey all. I'm wanting to hear thoughts and ideas. I currently have a yong Heng compressor and 9 liter carbon fiber tank. I had a tuxing portable compressor a couple years ago but it did not hold up at all. I am getting into big bores more and more and have realized I need to up my air "game" if I want any extended shooting sessions. The tank is nice but only allows around 30 shots. Give or take. I can get another tank and lug it around as well or buy a portable compressor and top the guns off as needed during extended shooting sessions. Please let me know how you address this issue. Thanks in advance.
What's better? Carbon fiber tank or portable compressor?
- Thread starter bearair
- Start date
My advice is if you have a fill source close by, go with a large tank or two. They'll last many years and if the fill source can fill with dry air, you won't have to contend with the filter discussion.
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Bear,
Consider improvements to portable pump offerings since you last owned one. The GX series (CS2, CS3, CS4) might be worth researching. I'm sure you'll find much information in the archives. Best of Luck, WM
Consider improvements to portable pump offerings since you last owned one. The GX series (CS2, CS3, CS4) might be worth researching. I'm sure you'll find much information in the archives. Best of Luck, WM
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What kind of gun are you shooting that only gives you 30 shots refilling from a tank and what size tank? My Boss (.30 cal) gets about 30 shots per fill (top off) & about 4 or 5 top offs from a 30 min tank.
EDIT: Just looked it up & a 9L tank is a 60 minute. HOW on earth are you only getting 30 shots? Did you mean 30 total or per fill? Something doesn't add up. Again, what caliber gun & what psi/bar are you filling to?
EDIT: Just looked it up & a 9L tank is a 60 minute. HOW on earth are you only getting 30 shots? Did you mean 30 total or per fill? Something doesn't add up. Again, what caliber gun & what psi/bar are you filling to?
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Pains me to say it. 
For your needs, if you have a reliable fill source, get a large scba tank.
The current evolution of portable china compressors seem to breakdown, overheat quickly and lack adequate filter systems to deal with the water that heat produces. They may get better some day, but it is hard to overcome physics.
Several cheap china generators will fail long before your expiration date on your new tank.
If portable compressors improve to become a reliable source of dry air to fill bottles, you have a head start.
This is coming from a compressor advocate.
Regards,
Roachcreek((
For your needs, if you have a reliable fill source, get a large scba tank.
The current evolution of portable china compressors seem to breakdown, overheat quickly and lack adequate filter systems to deal with the water that heat produces. They may get better some day, but it is hard to overcome physics.
Several cheap china generators will fail long before your expiration date on your new tank.
If portable compressors improve to become a reliable source of dry air to fill bottles, you have a head start.
This is coming from a compressor advocate.
Regards,
Roachcreek((
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I think your guns fill pressure is in play here. If it's 300 bar, I'd say compresser. If 250 bar or less, a scba 4500psi tank or two might work out for you. Since you need to go to your rig to fill, there's not an advantage either way in that regard. If you have a moisture - dirt trap on your home unit just swap it to the 12v portable. I sold my scba tanks 3 years ago and would do it again. I do have a dedicated battery for my 12 volter so don't worry about a dead battery in my rig. Bill and Addi
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After using a CF tank for several years, I switched to compressors. My first was a Nomad II. After having the Nomad crap out twice in under two years, I switched to a GX3cS-I. The GX is used almost daily and it has chugged right along. I did have a main piston seal die at about 6 months. With the help of Target Forge YouTube videos and Bill himself I was able to get it up running without too much anxiety. The trick to these Chinese compressors is learning the proper ways to operate and service them. Again, get on YouTube and watch all of the compressor care and feeding videos. The other nice thing about the GX compressors is that there repairs parts available through Target Forge and GX USA.
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Thanks for posting, I've no personal experience with any compressor other than Yong Heng and am unimpressed with the waterless, oil-less compressor longevity, however, stories like yours, about the newer GX models, caused me to suggest the OP look into them. If he had a Nomad II, or similar, that died too young, it's possible, like yourself, he might find an answer in the GX. WM
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First, let me say I have no direct experience in what you are doing - I'm not in the big bore game and don't ever plan to be, and other than Roachcreek I would not be surprised if nobody else posting so far has direct experience in this space either . . . and I'm not about to question what you are doing, as we all get to make our choices on hobbies!
But if you are solidly planning to stay in this space (very high fill levels with very high air usage) then you most likely will end up completely reworking your game for air . . . meaning a whole different compressor set up too. If you stick with Yong Hengs you will probably have several of them as you will be wearing them out and needing backups to backups (and maybe one running while an other cools down). As for the smaller stuff, they likely would just do worse . . .
With that in mind, I'd start rethinking your air source first and then decide what to do about the number and usage of tanks. The first thing that came to mind was a gasoline powered dive compressor, as it would be "portable" to take with you places, assuming you have a truck (or alternately, a generator that powers an electric dive compressor?). Maybe a 6000 psi nitrogen set up would be best? You could fill smaller SCBA tanks off it. Lastly, you could do two 9L tanks in a cascade, and that would give you a good bit more than the 60 shots that two separate tanks would do on their own (maybe 80? - I don't know).
Bottom line, I think Roach is right in that the portables won't cut it, at least speaking directly to your question. But I do think the best answer probably takes a deeper dive into thinking about what you want to do . . .
On the crazy enabling end of things, I know the F-150 HEVs and EV both have onboard power output that can run pretty much anything you want electrically, so one of those and whatever you do with compressors you could put in one of those and easily refill tanks on the fly . . .
But if you are solidly planning to stay in this space (very high fill levels with very high air usage) then you most likely will end up completely reworking your game for air . . . meaning a whole different compressor set up too. If you stick with Yong Hengs you will probably have several of them as you will be wearing them out and needing backups to backups (and maybe one running while an other cools down). As for the smaller stuff, they likely would just do worse . . .
With that in mind, I'd start rethinking your air source first and then decide what to do about the number and usage of tanks. The first thing that came to mind was a gasoline powered dive compressor, as it would be "portable" to take with you places, assuming you have a truck (or alternately, a generator that powers an electric dive compressor?). Maybe a 6000 psi nitrogen set up would be best? You could fill smaller SCBA tanks off it. Lastly, you could do two 9L tanks in a cascade, and that would give you a good bit more than the 60 shots that two separate tanks would do on their own (maybe 80? - I don't know).
Bottom line, I think Roach is right in that the portables won't cut it, at least speaking directly to your question. But I do think the best answer probably takes a deeper dive into thinking about what you want to do . . .
On the crazy enabling end of things, I know the F-150 HEVs and EV both have onboard power output that can run pretty much anything you want electrically, so one of those and whatever you do with compressors you could put in one of those and easily refill tanks on the fly . . .
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Thanks for all the feedback. I'm shooting a 457 hp max and a m50. I fill to 250 bar take the first three shots and refill. From a full fill over 30 shots it lacks the pressure to quite reach 250. Good to see you on the forum RC. I know that the yh is on borrowed time lol. This one has done pretty decent though. I would love to get an alkin from Rick. Maybe someday. Until then I'm just going to shoot what I have and just know that when the big bores come out it's going to be a shorter session. I still have a fair share of other guns 25 cal and down that I can take out if I want a longer shooting sessions. It helps to keep it real in this hobby! Or at least I try.
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Multiple scba tanks and a aqua environment regulator!!!!! I usually gets at least 30 shots off 45 min scba from 4300 to 3625 psi on my50 Texan. You need both tanks and compressor. I'm going to get a altros booster when I finally have funds¡!!!!!!
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I did not know about the Texan when I recommended tanks.
I used to have 45 minute tanks that I ran in a cascade setup.
RC
I used to have 45 minute tanks that I ran in a cascade setup.
RC
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