Tank regulator pressure

[Kuhn101]

What are the perks of running a lower pressure tank reg?

Also is there a gap rule for tank pressure and marker operating pressure?...ie: if the marker is running at 350 a tank reg at 425 is too low

[glaman5266]

It’s required for certain paintguns. Angel Speeds & newer, Machine Vapor, and I think maybe a few Bob Longs all need LP bottle output. There are others as well.

As for any distinct advantages, I’m not really sure. I wouldn’t think it’d be anything significant. I think it just depends on the paintgun in question & if it would work better with HP or LP bottle output.

[Toestr]

Lower pressure input can help preserve orings exposed to tank pressure for a bit longer and can help regulators run more efficiently depending on exactly what reg it is.

Your downside is that you'll lose tank interchangeability with many guns (blowbacks, automags).

The general wisdom I hear about tank output vs HPR output is that it should be at least a 200psi reduction. I have no clue if that's grounded in any actual science or if it's just something people say.

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[Jonnydread]

Also sometimes less wear and tear and it's easier to make an on/off go pfft

[punkncat]

A few first hand experiences for me:

Angels because they spec it, alternately not have to modify the HPR.

Invert (and other) Mini without the on/off lever on the reg because it doesn't bugger the threads unscrewing it.

PE markers with the newer "pops" style ASA, because it's far easier to push on.

I also liked to use LP output tanks with Check-It on/off because it made them far easier to turn.

[glaman5266]

Oh man, those Check-It on/offs were so bad for that.

[Shaftski]

Best practice is to at least half the pressure at each stage of regulation.

Each type of regulator has a max INPUT pressure that has to be accounted for as well.

450psi tanks would be used only on a reg that specifies a max input pressure in that range. otherwise just run a higher pressure input. at higher input pressures flow and recharge rate at downstream regulators improves.

[Kuhn101]

Thanks guys for the clarification, much appreciated!!!!

[ChuckLove]

There is one perk that I haven’t seen posted yet. In theory if you are using a low pressure paint gun and a low output pressure tank Reg, you should be able to “shoot deeper” into the tank. Effectively, this would give you more shots before the FPS would drop as you tank empties. Now how many more shots is the question? Not a whole lot, maybe 50 depending on the paint gun.

I stole this quote from Jack Wood directly of PBN:

"Three other points to consider:

1) a tank that started out as an 850psi output tank will normally be closer to 1000psi output after a seasons play. Especially if the field air is not kept 100% clean and filtered and fill nipples are not cleaned out before each fill. Debris from dirty air impinges on the tanks reg seal and reg seat and wear them down. As they wear down, the tank output pressure increases. At events we regularly test customer tank pressures using a digital gauge and 90% of them are several hundred PSI above what they were "set" to. Only reliable way to know know what your tank is outputting it to check it on a gauge. NOT by going off how many shims or what spring it in there.

2) A lower tank output pressure theoretically allows you to shoot lower into your tank without effecting the velocity of the gun. With older less well balanced regulators this was definitely the case, but newer inline regs are much better balanced so this is less of an issue. But lower tank reg output still generally means that you should see less drop off in velocity during rapid fire as the tank gets below 1000psi

3) A lower tank output pressure causes less wear and tear on the most heavily loaded dynamic seal in the gun, the 008 in the top of the regulator adjuster. This is the only o-ring that doesn't "see" inline regulated operating pressure air. It is constantly seeing tank output pressure, and the piston stem is moving up and down past it while it is under that pressure. This is the most neglected o-ring in any paintball gun. It should be regularly inspected and greased. A lower tank pressure puts less stress on this seal."

[imped4now]

Watch the full efficiency test here as an example of how well this theory works out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfk753VF8RM&t=1368s

[ketzer7]

There is one perk that I haven’t seen posted yet. In theory if you are using a low pressure paint gun and a low output pressure tank Reg, you should be able to “shoot deeper” into the tank. Effectively, this would give you more shots before the FPS would drop as you tank empties. Now how many more shots is the question? Not a whole lot, maybe 50 depending on the paint gun.

I remember way back that AKA used to make this statement in their marketing materials in favor of trying to tune Cockers to run at as low of a pressure as possible using their parts. On the surface it seems to make sense, but I never saw the claim actually tested. In the early 2000s it was hard to know, though, because "low pressure" was all the rage at the time.

20 years ago (when externally adjustable tank regs were much more common) I also remember always hearing the rule of thumb was to run the tank reg at least ~300-400 PSI above the output of your gun's HPR. I could never find that written down anywhere, but that's what I swear I remember.

In my case, I adjusted one of my Powerhouse tank regs to be ~750 PSI output which I use with my various Cockers (assuming around a ~300 PSI operating pressure for those types of guns). The other Powerhouse that I have, I left at the factory set 500 PSI which I use on my CS2 and M170R since they are billed as normally running below 200 PSI. I haven't noticed any issues so far, so.. <shrug>