How To: Build a Reg Tester

xluben · 01-04-2010, 02:24 PM

Ever wonder what pressure your HPR or tank regulator is actually outputting?

Make a reg tester!

All you really need is an on/off ASA and a pressure gauge.

Here is the one I have with an Eclipse OOPS and 0-600psi gauge:

Choose your gauge according to what pressure range you want to test.
0-600psi will work fine for LP tank regs and most on-gun regulators.
Attaching a HP tank to this tester would damage the gauge.

In order to check the pressure, just screw in the tank or regulator and air it
up. Unscrew-and-rescrew in the knob on the ASA once or twice to allow the
regulator to settle in, and then read the pressure.

A Geo should operate around 130psi or slightly under.

Vicious49 · 01-04-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xluben

In order to check the pressure, just screw in the tank or regulator and air it
up. Unscrew-and-rescrew in the knob on the ASA once or twice to allow the
regulator to settle in, and then read the pressure.

A Geo should operate around 130psi or slightly under.

But the tester as you have it would only show the pressure being output by your tank right? This is before it ever gets to the HPR to regulate it down.

xluben · 01-04-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicious49

But the tester as you have it would only show the pressure being output by your tank right? This is before it ever gets to the HPR to regulate it down.

Just unscrew the HPR from the gun and screw it into the reg tester.

Just make sure the knob on the reg tester is screwed in before you air it up or it will vent all over the place.

Brules · 01-04-2010, 03:33 PM

Very cool Ben.

Vicious49 · 01-04-2010, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xluben

Just unscrew the HPR from the gun and screw it into the reg tester.

Just make sure the knob on the reg tester is screwed in before you air it up or it will vent all over the place.

Yeah, with a regular tester. I just meant with your ASA one it sounded like you said you could test the operating pressure of the gun with that last line in your original post.

xluben · 01-04-2010, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicious49

Yeah, with a regular tester. I just meant with your ASA one it sounded like you said you could test the operating pressure of the gun with that last line in your original post.

That is what I meant. Just unscrew the HPR from the gun and screw it into the ASA tester.

Uziel Gal · 01-04-2010, 04:32 PM

What brand gauge is that, and do you have a model number? Reasonable price? I've been looking for a decent, accurate, good sized gauge, with 1/8NPT threads, and some of the prices scare the living daylights out of me.....

Brules · 01-04-2010, 04:34 PM

I have heard the more fluid in th egauge, the more accurate they are......but the more $$$ as well? Any truth to it?

xluben · 01-04-2010, 04:42 PM

Added a picture to show what I meant:

Brules · 01-04-2010, 05:04 PM

I think your camera can make ANYTHING look good.....

TheRockofSweden · 01-04-2010, 05:07 PM

and if you put an airthrough grip on your geo and hook it up with the gauge/asa you can se how the reg perform when you are shooting.
Really usefull when checking recharge with say hp or lp tank and if its time for a lube of the inlinereg.

Vicious49 · 01-04-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xluben

Added a picture to show what I meant:

[imghttp://benjohnson.smugmug.com/photos/757498870_Mb9EU-L.jpg[/img]

Pic helped. Now I see what you're saying.

okitoki · 01-04-2010, 06:19 PM

the reg tester is always a handy tool to have

96 Ls lnteg · 01-04-2010, 06:39 PM

I guess I will finish my reg tester.. digital head with a slide check.. you would lawlz at the price

okitoki · 01-04-2010, 07:00 PM

Well. If u are going to do it right, might as well over do it too

96 Ls lnteg · 01-04-2010, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okitoki

Well. If u are going to do it right, might as well over do it too

already overdone..

xluben · 01-04-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brules

I have heard the more fluid in th egauge, the more accurate they are......but the more $$$ as well? Any truth to it?

Fluid just acts as a damper. More is not necessarily better, but in general a fluid filled gauge is usually desirable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRockofSweden

and if you put an airthrough grip on your geo and hook it up with the gauge/asa you can se how the reg perform when you are shooting.
Really usefull when checking recharge with say hp or lp tank and if its time for a lube of the inlinereg.

By turning the ASA on and off repeatedly you can visually see the recharge rate. Hard to quantify without a measurement system that you KNOW has a faster response than what you are testing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96 Ls lnteg

I guess I will finish my reg tester.. digital head with a slide check.. you would lawlz at the price

Can it output realtime data? If so, that would be awesome!!!! Otherwise, it really is overkill.

For most applications (ie. reading static pressures) a fairly inexpensive gauge will work just fine. It may not be perfectly calibrated to a pressure that someone else reads, but it should be repeatable enough for most paintball use.

96 Ls lnteg · 01-04-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xluben

Fluid just acts as a damper. More is not necessarily better, but in general a fluid filled gauge is usually desirable.

By turning the ASA on and off repeatedly you can visually see the recharge rate. Hard to quantify without a measurement system that you KNOW has a faster response than what you are testing.

Can it output realtime data? If so, that would be awesome!!!! Otherwise, it really is overkill.

For most applications (ie. reading static pressures) a fairly inexpensive gauge will work just fine. It may not be perfectly calibrated to a pressure that someone else reads, but it should be repeatable enough for most paintball use.

Its calibrated.. thats what I do for living its accurate to a tenth of a psi, yes all results are shown in real time..

xluben · 01-04-2010, 09:20 PM

But can they output the data. I want GRAPHS!!!!!

I'd love to have real-time pressure readings

96 Ls lnteg · 01-04-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xluben

But can they output the data. I want GRAPHS!!!!!

I'd love to have real-time pressure readings

the software was extra to purchase, I spent to much on the digital head..

Team Capital Offense · 01-05-2010, 10:51 AM

Ashcroft makes very good gauges. I have a 3 two-inch display guages for all my testing - a 0-300 gauge to test the inline pressure of the gun, a 0-2000 gauge to test the output pressure of the tank and a 0-5000 gauge to test the tank fill (as those micro gauges are all basically crap and are a rough approximation...)

With those 3 gauges you can test everything from whether that tank reg is really outputting enough consistent pressure to allow your gun to function, whether your reg is creeping and needs new reg seats, what the exact inline pressure is perfect for YOUR gun specifically at a given velocity...yada yada.

The problem as UG mentioned is finding the 1/8NPT threading. All my gauges are 1/4NPT and I had to find NPT reducers to match paintball threading...I am sure with some research you could find the right threading and not need the reducers...