How To Build and use the "Omni Booster"

[Ahmed Adly]

Hi,

In answer to a PM recieved from some forum members (one of which said pretty pretty please) I will post building instrcions for the Omni Booster.

Overview:
The omni booster is not in any way an actual booster in itself. It is simply and "adapter" to connect a gas cylinder to your regular compressor.

Target:
By the end of this session, you will be able:
1. To scavange left over gas from dive cylinders
2. Boost pure Helium from 2 bars to as high as the outlet pressure of your compressor
3. boost nitrox mixtures with a maximum of 40% oxygen content

For the seasoned gas blender, these functions make the omni booster an indispensable piece of kit for your compressor room.

Practical experiance example:
I used to have to have lots of extra Helium Js available to be able to cascade efficiently. Now I only need the exact amount of Helium regardless of pressure

OK, shopping list:

1 x 4" PVC T-section
2 x 4" to 1" reducers (to make 2 sides of the T into 1" pipe)
2 x little bits (20cm each is OK) of 1" PVC pipe
1 x 6" diameter rubber. (you can use inner tubing)
1 x 4" SS adjustable band (like the ones on stage tanks)
2 x 1" SS adjustable band
1 x short bit of 1" hose
1 x used to crap old shitty 1st stage
1 x shitty crappy 2nd stage
1 x SPG (without hose)

Assembly:
1. take the first stage and silicone shut the exhaust valve so it will never function again. and let it cure over night
2. Screw the SPG directly into the 1st stage for easy reading
3. set aside regulator for now

4. Take T-section and glue in the reducers on 2 sides so you have 2 sides with 1" outlets and one side with the 4" outlet
5. Attach the 2 bits of 1" PVC pipe to the 1" outlets
6. Set aside the T-section assembly to cure

7. Wake up early and have a coffe
8. Attach short length of 1" hose to one of the 1" ends of the T-section
9. Take the 6"diamiter piece of rubber and hold it down tight over the free end of the T-section and attach with the 6" adjustable band. This is a bit tricky and an extra pair of hands are best.
10. Rip mouth piece off the second stage and discard
11. Attach the second stage to the T-section using the hosed side and tighten with a 1" band
12. Attach the 2nd stage back on it's hose and attach the hose to the 1st stage
13. Set the 2nd stage to free flow
14. Attach the free 1" end of the T-section to the compressor

You are now ready to rip!

Use:
1. Attach regulator to tank you want to scavange
2. put a hand on the tank vavle and a hand on the compressor switch
3. start opening tank slowly and start compressor at the same time

Operational character:
* You will find that the rubber thingy vibrates heavily, this is good and actually the whole purpose of the dam thing. This would have been the Second stage membrane, which could get ripped apart within minutes.

* The second stage should have a small vibration that feels like a loud clock ticking at supersonic speed. If you feel it is hurting the membrane or a membrane gets damaged, just make the free flow higher.

* The rubber thingy should be sticking out more than being sucked in. If it is too sucked in, then stop the compressor and set the free flow on the second stage higher.

* When the tanks you are scavanging are close to empty, the rubber thingy will get sucked in. In this case, to drain the tanks down to around 2 bars, you can press the purge on the second stage until the rubber thingy is sticking out again.

Warning:
* If you open the tank W/O the comressor on, you will damage the rubber seal
* If you run the compressor W/O tank open, you will also probably damage the seal

** I have never had a problem thoug

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANYTHING BUT KEEP THE QUESTIONS IN THE THREAD SO ALL CAN READ.

In summery, this little device saved me thousands and thousands of dollars

[broady]

Interesting - any chance of some clear pictures ?

Cheers

Graham

.

[Ahmed Adly]

Originally Posted by broady

Interesting - any chance of some clear pictures ?

Cheers

Graham

.

I had to be asked pretty please for the shopping list and assembly instructions. Imagine what is requiered for the pictures

[colinicky]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly

Imagine what is requiered for the pictures

An extra "pretty" ?

[Ahmed Adly]

And here (boom boom boom boom) are the pictures:

hmmm.... I don't know how to insert pictures

[Paddy Diver]

Sounds cool, would also be interested to see a few pics if you could sort it.


Ian

[stevechesh]

Originally Posted by Ahmed Adly

And here (boom boom boom boom) are the pictures:

hmmm.... I don't know how to insert pictures

1. Go to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and register. It's all free.

2. Click Browse, and find the photo you want. Double click that picture and it will be placed in the Browse box automatically. Click UPLOAD.




3. The photo will upload and the screen will automatically refresh. Your photo will be displayed in a box like this:




4. You have 4 options. To display on a website such as YD, select the last one - IMG Code. Copy that link and paste it directly onto the box when you reply to a thread or start a new thread.

5. That picture will display on the website as long as you keep the photo in photobucket. If you delete the photo in photobucket, it will not display anywhere else.

[iainmsmith]

Cool...

Where you wrote:

"1. take the first stage and silicone shut the exhaust valve so it will never
function again. and let it cure over night"

did you mean "second stage" rather than first?

[NotDeadYet]

A very simple way that I've used in the past is to get hold on an old twin hose reg, disconnect the mouthpiece, hook the inhale hose on to the intake pipe on the compressor, connect the reg to a supply bottle and run the compressor that way.

[Ahmed Adly]

Originally Posted by iainmsmith

Cool...

Where you wrote:

"1. take the first stage and silicone shut the exhaust valve so it will never
function again. and let it cure over night"

did you mean "second stage" rather than first?

Yes I meant the second stage