Oxycon help anyone?? Sorta urgent!

[SassyGlass9]

I found a used medical oxy concentrator and have made a deal for it. Just don't know what I'm getting, exactly! 8-[

Here's what I was told it is - MOBILE AIRE VMobileAire V with Sens02 by Invacare

The person selling it doesn't know it's output etc... But it does have fairly low hours on it (6676) and the price is right.

I'm hoping I can piggyback it with my DeVilbiss and get enough ooomph to run a larger torch (I'm thinking about a Cheetah).

Can someone help me out with how to determine the output, PSI/LPM etc. on this unit??

Thanks in advance!!

[kebira]

Rene',
Google the name & model. You should get some tech info.I believe it's a 5 lpm unit.

Kevin

[SassyGlass9]

Thank you Kevin! Duh - I feel stupid not thinking of that! :oops:

[squid]

I don't think 2 5 lpm units will run a Cheetah though.

[SassyGlass9]

Well since I'm on a roll asking stupid questions.... ](*,)

What would I need to run a Cheetah or similar torch?? I don't want to go back to tanked oxy (although I loved it!) because of the cost and inconvenience. So I am pretty much limited to concentrator(s). :sad:

I'm currently running my Minor on one 5 lpm DeVilbiss, and is works just fine for me. I'd heard that if you linked two similar output concentrators together, it gave you more ooomph for a larger torch. I've also heard that you shouldn't hook up two concentrators of varying output? Is that correct? (Can you tell I don't know nearly enough about this whole concentrator issue?! Sheesh!)

I can['t afford a generator or any of the super expensive concentrators right now - single woman on a budget -sigh. But I do want to upgrade my torch fairly soon - I am at the point where the Minor is frustrating me a bit.

Any advice, input, suggestions on torches/concentrators is very much welcomed and appreciated!

[squid]

In theory, you should try to match the psi outputs of your concentrators if you Y two of them together, but I have 2 mismatched ones and they work fine, though perhaps not as well as two of the same output.

I can't help with what will run a Cheetah - if you do a search, you should be able to find info here on LE.

[SassyGlass9]

Thanks Squid! It's good to know you CAN link two mismatched concentrators together without dire effect. And thanks for pointing me in the right direction - I guess I have a bit of research and reading to do - thank goodness you and so many people here on LE are so generous with their time and information! What a great group. :-)

[kbinkster]

Just make sure that the DeVilbiss doesn't backflow or backpressure too much the Invacare. As long as the ball on the flow meter does not just sit at the bottom of the tube, you should be fine.

Two DeVilbisses hooked up together can power a Cheetah to about hal of what tanked oxygencan. However, that is still pretty hot, because the Cheetah is a hot torch.

Just an FYI, I connected an 8 psi machine to a 5 psi machine and found that the 5 psi machine was only able to contribute just a little bit of flow.

[squid]

I have a Devilbiss and an Invacare also - 8 psi and 5 psi respectively - and I can tell a huge difference between the Devilbiss by itself and them together. Perhaps my experience is unusual <shrug>, but it works for me :).

[Hayley]

When I first got my M15, I linked it with my DeVilbiss and within five minutes, the DeVilbiss started sounding its alarm. I have read different advice on linking oxycons with different outputs together . . . I use two M15s linked together now for my Barracuda.

I think you will be much happier with your Minor using two 5 lpm units but they won't power the Cheetah that well.

Hope this helps.

[Hayley]

Ah, Kimberly is here - I will let her take over, she knows much more than I do! ;-)

[SassyGlass9]

yes, please keep the info coming, folks! It is wonderfully helpful! :smile:

[kbinkster]

When I first got my M15, I linked it with my DeVilbiss and within five minutes, the DeVilbiss started sounding its alarm. I have read different advice on linking oxycons with different outputs together . . . I use two M15s linked together now for my Barracuda.

I think you will be much happier with your Minor using two 5 lpm units but they won't power the Cheetah that well.

Hope this helps.

This is the perfect example of what happens when pressure outputs are greatly mismatched. Hayley's M-15s put out about 15 psi and the DeVilbiss puts out about 8.5 psi. That's a big difference when it comes to matching outputs. 8.5 and 5 psi are not as big a difference (much cloaser to the 2 psi or less difference that I recommend) and that's why sometimes you can get a little added flow. But, like I mentioned, when I added my mismatched ones together, the added flow was minimal - I think it was 1-2 LPM.

A Minor on two correctly matched oxycons does very well.

As for whether or not two 5 LPMs on a Cheetah would be better than a Minor, well, if they were matched up correctly, yes, it would actually be hotter (and part of the reason is the triple mix feature of the Cheetah). But, you would do even better if you were increase your oxygen supply.

It all depends on how much you want out of the torch - what you plan to do and how fast you want to do it.

[SassyGlass9]

Wow - this is great to know Kimberly - thanks!!! From what you say, it sounds like I *COULD* actually run a Cheetah on 2 linked 5lpm concentrators, although not a full power, at least until I can afford to upgrade in the concentrator area. I only work in soft glass and don't really forsee doing boro (although never say never!). I really just want a bigger torch that will melt the glass faster but still allow for detail work.

I tried out a Cheetah at the Gathering during open torch and just fell in love. :smile: Vickie Lee told me she uses one and loves it, and Larry Brickman was kind enough to give me all kinds of good info on the torch (which he also uses). I was just AMAZED at how much faster it melted the glass, compared to my Minor! :fireblob: There would definitely be a learning curve with the Cheetah, that's for sure. It was melting the rod so fast I was afraid I would end up with nothing but a blob of molten glass on the tabletop! But it was awesome, and I'm sure I would quickly adapt. ;-)

So one last question - I hope! Is there a "recommended" optimum set up for a Cheetah in terms of oxy concentrators? In other words, it sounds like I can 'make do' with a couple of lower powered units linked together, although not able to get the max out of the torch. What would you say is the prime recommended set up to get the full capacity out of a Cheetah?

Again, thanks so much for all the info - it's super helpful!

[kbinkster]

The Cheetah at this last Open Torch was being run on a Regalia (the whole time, as far as Willy and I remember). So, if you tried the Cheetah out in Oakland at this year's Gathering, then you were running it on the Regalia.:)

[SassyGlass9]

Aaahh... No wonder the Cheetah was purring like a big cat! :-D

[Hayley]

This is the perfect example of what happens when pressure outputs are greatly mismatched. Hayley's M-15s put out about 15 psi and the DeVilbiss puts out about 8.5 psi. That's a big difference when it comes to matching outputs. 8.5 and 5 psi are not as big a difference (much cloaser to the 2 psi or less difference that I recommend) and that's why sometimes you can get a little added flow. But, like I mentioned, when I added my mismatched ones together, the added flow was minimal - I think it was 1-2 LPM.

Thanks for the clarification, Kimberly, so keeping the difference minimal is the key. Good to know!

Rene' - that Cheetah on a Regalia at the Gathering was pretty awesome, wasn't it? I had a chance to chat with Brian from Sequal too, nicest guy. Wish he had set up a Regalia with a Barracuda so at least I could see how much it powers the Cuda . . .

[SassyGlass9]

Rene' - that Cheetah on a Regalia at the Gathering was pretty awesome, wasn't it? I had a chance to chat with Brian from Sequal too, nicest guy. Wish he had set up a Regalia with a Barracuda so at least I could see how much it powers the Cuda . . .[/QUOTE]

Hi Hayley! Yes, it was awesome - I fell in love! Unfortunately, I was so enthralled with the Cheetah that I didn't try out some of the other torches and now wish I had... It seems from this thread, and all the great info I'm receiving, that I might have been better off trying several other torches as well to give myself some options for a bigger torch while sticking with two concentrators.

But everyone was so nice at the Gathering, I had so much fun meeting so many great people. At open torch Larry was so cute - he was so enthused about the Cheetah and telling me all the great stuff about it - that I just said "this is it" and didn't even look at any other torches!

Maybe I need to go get some Lotto tickets and see if I can win enough to finance an early, early retirement and a whole new studio!! :rolleyes:

[FairyVerre]

If you have oxy concerns isn't the new cricket a good bet for all you need ? And the price is certainly fantastic ! Just wondering... Kbinkster knows about this torch and GTT seems to be pretty much the best torches, as I see it. There is a info thread that tells its great advantages somewhere around here, it works awesome for people with limited oxy availabilty, maybe it would work for you ~