Running oxygen concentrators at below freezing - big issue or small?

pmoores · #1 01-19-2007, 08:37 AM

Just curious. My furnace in the garage just went dead this morning when I went to turn up the heat for some glass work.

Furnace guys seem busy.. might not get here today, and since its not a house furnace it could be monday. Course I leave on vacation on Wednesday so considering not getting it fixed until I return in mid Feb.

Anyone run those machines at low temps without any apparent effect?

Course if I wait to feb then I arrive Friday night but they wont be in to monday... a couple of days no glass isnt the end of the world I guess but just the fact I cant make glass makes me want to go out there. Just like when I was on pager duty.. made more glass that week then any other just to spite the fact the pager might go off and force me to drop everything.

**Alan Cross** · #2 01-19-2007, 12:14 PM

I just got mine so I can't help you but as I work in an unheated shop I would like to also know what people think....well I do have three kilns for heat lol...
Alan

Padre · #3 01-19-2007, 12:18 PM

[quote=pmoores]... Anyone run those machines at low temps without any apparent effect?...quote]

What kind of 'low temps' are we talking about?
I'm freezin my butt on the Texas coast...
I had to skip the shorts today and put on jeans

.

Seriously though... are we talking sub-zero or what?

Me

glassfreek · #4 01-19-2007, 12:36 PM

they say not run them if its under 40.

Mike

pmoores · #5 01-19-2007, 01:58 PM

Temperature today is quite high for Ottawa... just below freezing. -25 to -35 in a worse case scenario but not today.

Either way glad to say it was nothing major.. guy arrived to fill the tank... it was half full so gadge was working. Filled it up.

Apparently he showed me a reset button that could never have seen without a full ladder. Reset it and all working fine. He said it possibly was a frozen fuel line from the -28 or so we had a day or 2 ago (havent been in garage since making marbles on Tuesday night.

But course he was concerned as he explained it too me. I had a oversized too large 2 inch marble on a stick of clear lauscha trying to round it on my mini cc. So I had to divide attention between him and the torch.

So all it now good in my garage. And hopefully everything working when I get back from vacation. Will have 3 days to torch after return before its back to work again.

debx2 · #6 01-19-2007, 04:05 PM

Hi ya.
I see that you have solved the below freezing temp situation, but thought I would mention that I live in Southern Illinois, where it does get below freezing regularly during the winter (it's 28 right now). I have been running a concentrator in my unheated (and uncooled) garage/studio for about two years now, never had a problem. Have often torched in 20 minute intervals - torch - go in house to warm hands and feet - back to the torch for 20 minutes or so.

**Alan Cross** · #7 01-19-2007, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debx2

Hi ya.
I see that you have solved the below freezing temp situation, but thought I would mention that I live in Southern Illinois, where it does get below freezing regularly during the winter (it's 28 right now). I have been running a concentrator in my unheated (and uncooled) garage/studio for about two years now, never had a problem. Have often torched in 20 minute intervals - torch - go in house to warm hands and feet - back to the torch for 20 minutes or so.

That sounds like a lot of work Deb I got one of those little space heaters I put under my desk blowing on my feet and legs...that helped a lot.
Alan

debx2 · #8 01-19-2007, 06:01 PM

That would be nice- but the circut breaker won't handle any more electrical draws on the power line. We are going to re-wire the garage this summer - I hope! It's a hundred+ year old house and garage, the wiring to the garage was a later addition and was not ment to handle the oxy-con, kiln, ventilation, light and a heater. Ahhhh - how we suffer for our art!

pmoores · #9 01-19-2007, 11:08 PM

Actually you need something like this one:

http://www.mrheater.com/productdetails.asp?catid=57

Dont have one but prior to getting this garage did consider it... works off propane tanks. Its a indoor model.

kbinkster · #10 01-21-2007, 12:45 PM

Here's the thing about concentrators and cold...

Some will run at cold temps, some won't, but most manufacturers recommend that they be operated in temps of at least 40-50 degrees F.

What happens is that the concentrator warms up while it is being run. But, when it is turned off, and cools down too quickly, condensation can form. Moisture from condensation can shorten the life of your seive material. The best thing to do (if possible) is to run your concentrator from indoors and run lines out to your torch.

Salute to our Partners