When you buy a paintball gun, it comes with a simple air tank. It is the tank that fills the gun with air and makes your shots more powerful. This gives you more fun when you play this exciting game. When using these air tanks, to fill a paintball tank back for reuse can be quite challenging.
As a paintball player, you probably already know that filling your paintball tank is essential to keep your game going. However, there are certain things you need to keep in mind when filling the tank – factors including pressure and volume. So if you’re confused by all this and are looking for a step-by-step guide on how to fill a paintball tank, then this article is definitely for you. It will ensure that you fill it perfectly.
Note:
Determine whether your tank is CO2 or HPA to be filled at a paintball shop. Your paintball tank is a small pressure vessel that should never be opened. If you are filling an empty CO2 tank, you will need to use an adapter to connect the fill valve to an air compressor.
Types of Tanks
Paintball tanks are the main component of a paintball marker or gun. They store the compressed gas that is used to propel the paintballs down the barrel and toward your target.
There are three main types of tanks: CO2, HPA (High-Pressure Air), and N2.
CO2 Tanks
CO2 is a compressed gas that’s stored under pressure in an aluminum or steel tank. When it’s released, it expands rapidly and pushes out a paintball at high speed. This makes CO2 tanks ideal for use with semi-automatic markers that fire as fast as 15 balls per second.
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The downside of using CO2 is that it requires more maintenance than HPA does. When CO2 gets too cold, condensation forms on the inside of the tank’s valve and can cause accuracy problems, that’s why many players keep their tanks indoors when they’re not playing paintball. It also means that you’ll need to keep your tank warm if you plan on playing outside in cold weather – otherwise, performance will suffer noticeably because of freezing conditions.
HPA Tanks
HPA is short for high-pressure air, which is what gives you more shots per fill than with CO2 or N2 tanks. Most modern paintball guns use HPA because it performs better than CO2. To use an HPA tank, you’ll need an HPA regulator on your marker’s ASA (air source adapter) that regulates the pressure going into your marker, so it doesn’t over-pressurize when you shoot.
Most mechanical markers come with this regulator built in, but if you have a marker that doesn’t have one installed when you buy it, you’ll need to buy one separately before using an HPA tank with your gun.
N2 Tanks
N2 tanks are designed specifically for paintball and other recreational activities like airsoft or skirmishing. They hold more than twice as much nitrogen as a CO2 tank does, making them a better choice for those who want to spend more time playing without having to refill their tanks every few minutes.
The biggest downside is that they’re not as easy to refill as CO2 tanks are; however, both types of tanks often come with an adapter that allows you to hook it up to an air compressor, so you don’t have to spend money on refills every time it runs out of gas.
Factors to Consider Before Filling of Paintball Tank
There are a few factors to consider before filling a paintball tank. The size of the paintball gun, the type of paintball gun, and the number of players who will use the gun are all important factors to keep in mind.
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Size of the Paintball Gun
First, you must know the size of the paintball gun. If you have a large paintball gun, then it requires more air to fill it up. If you have a small paintball gun, then it will take less time to fill up.
Type of Paintball Gun
Second, you should check if the paintball gun is CO2 or HPA-based. If it’s CO2 based, then there is no need to worry about pressure, but if it’s HPA-based, then ensure that you don’t exceed the set limit of pressure in order to prevent damage to your paintball marker and other accessories like goggles/masks, etc.
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Number of Players
Third, the number of players who will use this paintball gun matters a lot as well because if there are too many players using one marker, then chances are that they will run out of ammo faster than expected, and this could be very embarrassing during an important game!
Check for Leaks Before Filling
Before filling your own tanks, check for leaks by spraying water on all connections and areas where there may be potential leaks. If there are no signs of wetness around any connection or joint, proceed with filling the tank with compressed gas (CO2).
Decide the CO2 or HPA
The biggest difference between CO2 and HPA tanks is how fast they run out of air power. HPA tanks have a regulator built into them, adding weight and cost but allowing for greater air pressure control. CO2 tanks are cheaper but can only be topped up at the end of their life or when they run out of pressure.
The other main difference between CO2 and HPA tanks is how much power they produce. As CO2 is heavier than air and has to travel through your regulator when released from your gun, this makes it less powerful than HPA tanks filled with lighter air straight from the bottle.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Fill a Paintball Tank
The paintball tank is your gun’s reservoir and main source of power. It’s quite a complicated piece of equipment, so it can seem intimidating to fill it. However, if you follow these steps for filling and maintaining your tank, you can keep your gun working properly for years.
Step 1: Get the Right Equipment
The first thing you’ll need is a paintball tank and a CO2 charger. It is important to make sure the right one is purchased for your gun since both of these items come in different sizes.
Step 2: Open Your Tank
Remove the lid from your paintball tank and remove any protective plastic from the top of it. Then, take out your CO2 charger by unscrewing it from its place inside the tank.
Step 3: Attach Your Charger to Your Tank
Place your charger onto the valve stem at the top of your tank and screw it into place. Make sure that it’s firmly connected before proceeding to step 4 below.
Step 4: Charge Your Tank with CO2
Using your CO2 charger, connect it to an air compressor and turn on both devices (make sure they’re set to high pressure). Pump air into your paintball tank until the gauge on top shows that all the way up to 500 psi has been reached. If you have more than one gauge on top of your tank, fill each one up separately until they’re all full (each gauge represents a separate chamber within your paintball tank).
Step 5: Connect Your CO2 Tank to Your Paintball Marker
Now that you’ve filled your paintball tank with CO2, it’s time to connect it to your paintball marker. First, make sure that the regulator on top of your tank is set to between 350 and 375 psi (pressurized tanks are often preset at 350 psi). Next, open up your paintball marker and remove the pressure relief valve from the back of it (this is a small plastic piece that prevents any excess pressure from escaping when you’re not using your gun). Then, screw your CO2 tank onto the threaded fitting on top of your marker (it should be tight enough to prevent leaks).
Final Words
Remember, do not squeeze too much CO2 into your paintball tank. This can cause an implosion that will break the paintball tank and may even shatter your goggles. If you are working on a paintball tank for the first time, be safe and take extra steps to protect yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a paintball store in your area, they will most likely be able to refill your CO2 tank for you. Alternatively, you may find someone with an air compressor and fill it at their house if you don’t have an air compressor.
It is the HPA compressors that you need. They come in different sizes, so make sure you get one with enough CFM (cubic feet per minute) for your tank size. You want something that will fill your tank in less than 5 minutes. The smaller the tank, the less CFM it needs.
The cost varies based on where you are located and what kind of tank you have, but generally, it should be under $5 per fill. Some fields offer discounts for players who bring their own tanks or purchase refills from them regularly, so check with them before paying full price!
The amount of compressed air depends on the size of the paintball tank. An air tank with a larger capacity can hold more air. Smaller tanks have capacities between 800 and 900 PSI. Larger ones have capacities ranging from 2,000 PSI to 3,000 PSI or more! The higher the capacity, the more shots you’ll get from each fill.
In his impressive career, John M. Anderson has played alongside the best players in the world and earned the respect of many top competitors. His skill, versatility, and timing have helped him become one of the top players in the paintball world. He is a true pro who will likely be remembered as one of the greatest players in the game’s history. His impact goes beyond the field as well. He has become a spokesperson for the sport, sharing interesting stories and facts from the past, and he also regularly contributes to this blog to help and guide new players in the world of paintball.