Oxycon Information Requested

[Reenie]

I put out a few pm's to some of you but thought that I would add a post here since alot of you guys know soo much about anything lampwork related.

I have an oxygen concentrator that my father in law bought for his mom last year. She passed this February and the machine is at my house. My father in law does not want it back.
I did some research online last night and found out that this machine sells for $1200 or so.
So I threw it on ebay!
But......does this machine have to be modified in order to use it as a lampworking oxycon? I remember trying to hook it up to my other oxycon earlier this year and there wasn't a difference. I don't know if we hooked it up right or anything but that's all I remember. I don't think I've tried to hook it up alone to the torch to see how it goes...But I am curious as to how I can make it work with my other oxycon....
Any advice is appreciated and thank you to those who are trying to get me answers.
I don't want any money for the machine...I just want a second oxycon!
Irene

[kbinkster]

Irene,

Is your other unit one that puts out a different psi than the one your late MIL had? If the difference in pressure is big enough, the lower pressure unit won't have enough oomph to push its oxygen into the main oxygen line (because it would be pressurized by the concentrator putting out the higher psi).

Some people are reporting success with running two units of different pressures, though. The main thing to watch for is that the higher unit does not push its oxygen upstream into the lower pressure unit. Most concentrators have an internal check valve that prevents this backflow, but some do not (especially if they have ever been reworked or modified - you just don't know without opening it up and looking). To be safe, I recommend that when you connect two concentrators, you use backflow prevention valves. They don't really impede the flow very much and are just a good peace of mind thing to use. Otherwise, you shouldn't have to do anything to the unit to use it for lampworking. Try running your torch on that unit alone and see if it works. It should, unless there is something wrong with the machine. When you turn on the machine without anything connected, and you set the flow meter, you should be able to feel the oxygen coming out. It won't feel very forceful, but you should feel it nonetheless.

When you have two units working together, one thing that you will notice is that the higher pressure unit will be the dominant one. You will usually have one concentrator putting out a higher LPM than the other because of this. The concentrators will only put out what your torch uses. So, if you are running a small flame, you may only be using 3-4 LPM. Almost all of that might be coming from the dominant machine. If your torch only uses 7 or 8 LPM tops, then the dominant machine might put out 4 or 5 of that and the lower pressure machine would put out the rest.

[Reenie]

This is my father in laws


The Invacare Platinum XL Concentrator offers all the great features of Platinum 5
Electrical: 120VAC +/- 10% (132VAC / 108VAC); 60Hz

Related Current Input: 4.3 amps average @ 5L/min.

Sound Level: 50 dB average

Oxygen: Output: 95.6% to 87% at all flow rates

Maximum Outlet Pressure: 5 PSI +/- 0.5 PSI

Operating Flow Rate: 0.5 - 5 L/min

Power: 390W

Pressure: Relief mechanism: 35 PSI +/- 3.5 PSI

Filters: Cabinet, outlet HEPA, Compressor inlet

Dimensions: 18-3/8"W x 26-3/8"H x 14-3/8"D

Product Weight: 52 lb

Shipping Product Weight: 58 +/- 1 lb.

Warranty: 5 year limited

The one I have isnt' listed on the site but it's the Devilbiss 5lpm model...It's the brown one if that helps.
Thanks Kim
irene

[kbinkster]

Well, the Invacare puts out 5 psi. The DeVilbiss should put out 8.5 psi. I would think that the 3.5 psi difference would be too great - BUT, I have been hearing back from a couple of people who are putting those two together and getting them to work.

However (since I already used "but," I'm going with "however"), I believe the vendor you bought your DeVilbiss from was tweaking them to put out 9.5 psi. If that is the case with yours, then I really do think that the pressure difference would be too great.

You know, if you have a concentrator repair guy nearby, maybe you could have him turn your pressure on the DeVilbiss back down to where it should be (raising the psi on concentrators can really shorten their life) and then it might work with the Invacare. It's worth a try.

[Reenie]

Wow that is a huge difference. I don't think we have any repair guys for anything out here lol...so does that mean that with my devilbliss..I'd have to stay with the same machine model or something to get it to work right?
Thanks for all your help Kim...
irene

[kbinkster]

That's what I recommend - sticking with like pressures. The machines don't have to be the same model or even the same brand if the pressure output is the same.