Sorry, Newbie question, What the heck is the difference between all the air systems?

[y2ace]

Ok Co2 I know is the bottom of the line, filled with air and liqiud, Constant air, compressed air, Nitro, Pure energy, Its enough to make a kid go crazy.

Can someone please explain the differences to me as I want to be as informed as possible before even considering what system to buy. Thank you in advance

[VeNoM]

besides the tank sizes (how much air they hold) and the pressure (how much they can be filled) the diference is the regulator. some regulators recharge faster and are more consistent than other making them more accurate (and more expensive)

[y2ace]

sigh more to get info on, And I am guessing that a regulator gauges how much air you shoot at a time so that you are not shooting more than you need?

[SilverBullet]

CO2 (carbon dioxide), N2 (nitrogen), and compressed air (75% or so nitrogen) are the three types of propellants you'll see used in paintball. CO2 is the cheapest and most readily available (although you won't have much trouble finding the other two these days). CO2, since it can be easily stored as a liquid can be made very dense at relatively low pressures. However, in order to hold a lot of N2 or CA in a little bit of space, it much be under extremely high pressures. Thus, CA and N2 bottles must be much stronger are more expensive.

Typically regulators are needed to bring the extremely high pressure N2/CA down to safe levels, while CO2 needs an expansion chamber to conduct sufficient heat to the CO2. The heat helps the CO2 expand more rapidly and completely.

Although CO2 is cheaper and more commmonly used, N2/CA is usually preferred because it can deliver more consistant pressure, especially in cold weather.

[y2ace]

whoa thank you soo much, But what about constant air? My dad has one on his cocker and has no regulator. I am guessing that since the paintball refs didnt say run like hell its gonna explode, that constant air can do without a regulator right?

[fear my impulse]

dude your lucky! i wish i had a dad that had some top of the line gun that i couuld go play with..lucky

[Imus]

Constant air is an archaic term cooked up when people were making the tranisition from 12 grams to larger 6 oz 9 oz 12 oz + CO2 tanks. These new air systems came to be referred to as constant air because it was a constant supply (I guess they didn't consider 20- shots constant)and so constant air pretty much means "not a 12-gram!".

[SilverBullet]

Yeah, what he said. Constant air is by no means constant. Air tanks still operate using pin or on/off valves which prevent the tank from spewing gas when it is not needed. The only thing constant is that they hold more gas, and therefore last longer than 12 grams.

[Edited by SilverBullet on 06-08-2001 at 11:41 PM]

[krasher]

Nitro is rarely used because of the cost. Its far easier to just get your scubas filled at a scuba shop with compressed air. Constant air referrs to anything that isnt 12 grams...like a c02 tank or C/A tank.

C02 tanks are not filled with air and liquid, they are filled with carbon dioxide which is in a liquid form. Pure energy is just a tank, like a max-flow, armageddon, crossfire etc.

Nitro would be better than C02. Get at least a 68ci system so you can get a decent shot count. C02 does have one advantage- more shots out of a smaller tank. For LP guns C02 isn't that bad an alternative.

[y2ace]

ok so then the why are the constant air tanks $150+? My dad has the wrapped one, carbon wrapped? and paid 160 I think for it so if its just a glorified co2 tank wtf is with the $?

[SilverBullet]

Look, whether it holds CO2 or compressed air/nitrogen, it is called constant air if it is larger than one of those 12 gram CO2 thingies (can't think of word). The reason why compressed air/nitrogen tanks are so expensive is:

1) They are wrapped fiber/whatever so that they can withstand 3000/4500 psi

2) They may include a regulator

[dawgs712]

they all include a reg and co2 tanks are filled to 800 psi. 3000/4500 neds a stronger. they also need a reg cuz without it that much pressure going into the gun would make it explode. which is bad. so yur paying for a stronger tank and a reg

[toadman7b22]

ask your dad more about it
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[y2ace]

Thank you guys sooo much. Stupid me My dad has a fiber wrapped compressed air tank. BUt not any regulator on it. IS a regular really necessary for it? The gun has been shooting fine without it so is it even needed?

[SilverBullet]

Well, somehow I can't believe it doesn't have a regulator on it. I mean if he's going to spend all that money on a fiber wrapped tank of compressed air (for it's meager adv. over CO2) and not going to have a regulator on it, then he must be crazy! Keep in mind that he does not need a gauge on it for there to be a regulator. But, if he really does not have a regulator on it (I can't think of any CA tanks without one) then the valve should be able to control air pressure and amount sufficiently. Valves aren't precise though.

[Edited by SilverBullet on 06-12-2001 at 01:33 AM]

[toadman7b22]

ok you mean a in line regulator (ie vigilente (SP) etc)
the tank has a regulator on it if it has a guage
if it doesnt that means its a co2 tank
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