It is paintball season, so you and your colleagues are ready to charge the field with paintball guns, but things turn for the worst when one of your air tanks depletes. What do you do?? And do you know how to fill a paintball tank?
Obviously, if you want to keep playing, you’ll need to refill that. However, filling up an air tank is very different from inflating tires. Keep in mind that the working pressure of an air tank is around 4000 to 5000 psi. Which compressor type do most vehicles use? It’s only about 180 psi, give or take. Can a tire inflator fill up a paintball’s air tank? The quick response is “no.”
How To Fill Paintball Tank With Air Compressor
You can use a paintball-specific air compressor to fill up the tanks slowly of your paintball guns. You can buy one of these tanks if you are really into the game and can afford it.
However, most gamers go to one of two locations to get refills:
(1) The paintball gun battleground
(2) A paintball gun shop.
You may utilize the facility’s air compressor in exchange for a nominal fee. Similar procedures apply to the operation of many different compressor models. Filling the tank should be second nature if you’ve ever had to fix a flat. The air compressor’s included gauge makes it simpler to fill with the help of a paintball tank filler.
Types of Tanks
Identifying the sort of tank you have is the first step in our detailed instructions on refilling your tank. Never fear, though; there are just three basic kinds of tank contents: high-pressure air (HPA), carbon dioxide (CO2), and pure nitrogen (N2).
- In HPA tanks, high-pressure oxygen is stored. The largest ones have pressures of around 5,000 psi and can be used to fire powerful rounds in the field.
- The other is full of carbon dioxide gas in compressed form. So, what exactly is the distinction? Compressed carbon dioxide is typically a liquid instead of a gas. In other words, it’s not gas until you release it from the tank or pull the trigger on your paintball gun.
- The highly uncommon Pure Nitrogen tank is our final option. If you insist on buying one, you may need help filling this tank, even at a nearby paintball store.
Read also: What Is A Paintball Made Of – Are Paintballs Biodegradable?
Which Is the Better Choice?
Now comes the critical part, though: which variety of tanks will serve you best in battle? As most people know, HPA tanks are the norm. In other words, HPA is far more popular than CO2 among paintball players, but why is that?
One thing to consider is that temperature influences CO2 levels. If the temperature outside goes above a certain point, the liquid inside the tank will expand, which can cause problems with the tank’s integrity. When it is cold, the CO2 shrinks, which lowers the pressure inside the tank and makes long-range shooting impossible.
This is a big problem for people who use CO2 tanks since paintball is usually played in the field, where temperatures change significantly. Moreover, you won’t be able to fire in rapid succession since CO2 must change from a liquid to a gas between each shot.
To what end, then, do some continue to employ CO2? You may say that cost is the critical factor. As far as the environment is concerned, CO2 tanks are also cleaner and much less expensive. However, HPA is more effective in terms of efficiency.
Instructions on How to Fill Paintball tank
After finding fill stations, the next step is to fill up. The compressed air tanks for an HPA tank are not the same as that for a CO2 tank. It would be preferable if your refilling station offered both. How to do the task at hand:
Figure Out Tank Pressure (PSI)
The proper amount of tank psi should be displayed. Stay under 4500 PSI, which is the average maximum. Keep in mind that if you have a CO2 tank, the temperature within the tank needs to be stabilized by placing the tank in the refrigerator.
Connect the Fill Nipple
You should inspect the device that will be attached to your air tank. After connecting it to the tank, you should see a tiny black O-ring that seals tightly to prevent air loss. It’s only possible to fill the tank with air if the O-ring is present, as the air would leak out of the tank. If you discover there is no O-ring, you should contact someone immediately.
If the O-ring is present, however, you only need the drawback on the collar of the attachment to reveal the central needle. Connect it to your fuel tank’s filling nipple. Verify the tightness by jiggling the hose. The bond must be strong.
Fill the Tank Carefully
When you’ve secured everything, you can slowly let the air out of the tank. Depress the compressor’s lever to accomplish this. However, some compressors feature buttons, so you’ll want to keep that in mind.
Refrain from continually operating the switch or button. A steady and careful fill is preferable to a quick one to get the best results. The needle on the gauge should rise as the refill occurs. You should know that paintball air tanks only come in two pressure levels, 3000 and 4500 PSI.
Focus on Both Indicators
You’ll see two gauges on your rifle and the air compressor. While filling the tank, keeping an eye on both is an excellent technique to double-check the gauge’s accuracy. If both meters are functioning correctly, they should move similarly.
It’s essential to avoid a hot fill
Incorrectly filling a tank is a common mistake. Hot filling happens when the user presses the lever or button too forcefully. As the air from the compressor rushes into the tank, the pressure reading quickly climbs. You want to avoid this, as it might cause damage to the tank and lead you to misestimate its volume.
A hot fill gives the illusion that the tank is full. Even if you aren’t using the tank, the temperature of the air around you will rise rapidly when you disconnect it. Reduce the rate of filling to avoid this. You wouldn’t want to fill the tank to find it empty a few minutes later.
Let the Pressure Out
Inexperienced players frequently need to pay more attention to this crucial stage. There will still be air in the air compressor once you refill it. The air compressor has a release valve for just such an occasion. If you press on it, the excess air will rush out. You can expect a loud “whoosh” noise, but that is to be expected.
Before disconnecting the hose, it’s essential to let out all of the pressure because air will still flow through it after it’s been joined. In particular, it may damage the fill nipple of the tank.
Taking the Hose Apart
With the pressure relieved, you can remove the hose from the fill nipple. Just start with the collar and go backward. To disconnect the hose, pull it down. Carefully set the hose back on the table, and you’ll be ready to go.
FAQs
Conclusion
To sum it all up, all you need is the correct equipment to replace the air tank in your paintball pistol. When you’ve done something repeatedly, it stops being a conscious effort. Remember that frequent use necessitates frequent refills, so purchasing your air compressor will save you a ton of money if you can afford it.
