og15 questions

[LyndaJ]

I've got a couple technical questions on the OG 15.

Can anyone comment on the noise level of one versus a concentrator (I also have a devilbiss mc84)

Also, with the og15 set to 9psi and 6lpm, I am seeing flame fluctuation in the following manner:

The machine makes two cycling sounds, one louder than the other. During the louder cycle the pressure rises from 9 to 9.5 to almost 10 psi, then drops back to a little under 9, then goes back to 9. During this swing, the flame candles get longer (more reducing) then get shorter.

What can be done to fix this???????
Thanks in advance. Lynda

[KEW]

I think my OGSI-15 is loud. I actually keep it a few walls away and use a long hose. It's the noise of a good size compressor.

The cycling sounds are normal, but I've never had the flame fluctuations. Sorry I can't help. Please post though once you get an answer.

Have you changed your filter lately?

[LyndaJ]

It's new to me, only 222.0 hours on it total.

[kbinkster]

What you are describing sound typical of that machine. It is noisy not because it has a bigger compressor, but because it is in the cabinet that it is in. Medical concentrators are much quieter because they are housed in a plastic cabinet with foam insulation.

For example, the compressor for the OG-20 is the same one that is used in the Regalia. The Regalia is much quieter, though, because it is housed in the same cabinet as the medical units.

As for the breathing. that is normal for a standard two-seive cannister concentrator like the OG-15. If you are not noticing a fluctuation in your flame, it is only because you are not pushing your torch hard enough to empty the internal storage tank and run straight off what the concentrator makes on-the-fly.

There are concentrators that do not breathe/fluctuate, and this is because they use more advanced technology than the two seive operation.

[Feldt's Glass]

Sounds very normal. Mine are loud. I have two running and hooked up to a holding tank. The holding tank for one was enough to run my lynx at about 75% with really no issues just not the the last 25% or so. With the holding tank there was pulsing. If you look at the holding tank on the unit it is very small. There is a thread someone posted a while back on making your own small holding tank. I will see if I can dig that up for you. My holding tank was custom and cost me about 50.00.

[Feldt's Glass]

Here it is. If you have questions about it I am sure Trey would give you a hand. The holding tank should do the trick as long as your unit is working like it should.
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52423&highlight=holding+tank

[castaway]

sounds a bit as if your OG15 has a blockage in one of the valves, some times some of the zeolite gets blown out of the sieve beds and goes through the valves. You need to take the exhaust muffler off and see if there is a pinkish white powder in it, I would say that there would be, get your valves stripped and cleaned because if one is blocking it will upset oxygen purity as the sieve bed will not be able to vent its nitrogen properly. Check your circuit board, there is an out put transistor with a resistor next to it sometimes this resistor will burn out causing the machine to malfuncion in a similar way.
the OG 15 is a perfect match for the Lynx and you should not need any surge tanks.
hope this helps, Bernard

[castaway]

Oh and while I think of it to quieten and OG 15 or 20 just add about 100mm of soft plastic tubing between the air intake filter and the compressor.
cheers, B

[LyndaJ]

From phone help yesterday with the GREAT guys from OGSI

My non-glassy husband worked with them on the phone with some emailed photos while I was at work

-the intake assembly was cracked, and needed to be replaced. This was making it noisier than normal
- a ground assembly had come loose, and when it was reconnected, the pressure fluctuation went away.

It purrrrs now.