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Acetylene lights
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 9:14 pm
by Farmer J
I have a MC tank for my acetylene lights. Have any of you come up with the hardware to control the gas? A normal regulator will not reduce the pressure enough. I know the old horizontal tanks had a regulator that worked, but I’m wondering if there is a modern one available?
Re: Acetylene lights
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2023 11:47 pm
by KWTownsend
An MC tank will work for short periods of show for a static display only.
If you want to run acetylene lights, get a B tank and mount it on the running board.
Re: Acetylene lights
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 5:39 am
by Dan Hatch
Didn’t the original B tanks use an orifice in the fitting to control the pressure?
Re: Acetylene lights
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 10:07 am
by Original Smith
What is all this talk? I have carbide lamps on two of my cars, and they operate just the way they are supposed to. There is no pressure that I'm aware of!
Re: Acetylene lights
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 11:26 am
by Farmer J
Unfortunately neither car I am trying to use the lights on have an operable acetylene generator. I would like to use them on Saturday night at the OCF safely. One is a 06 Cadillac and the other is a 08 Northern.
Re: Acetylene lights
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:22 pm
by Russ T Fender
I have run on a tank with no regulator for years without any problem. Open the lamp doors, just crack open the tank and light the lamps. Then you can adjust the flame from the tank. The key is to just crack the tank open a little bit to start. I don't know what the pressure is from a carbide generator but it's very low so the big mistake people make is opening the valve way to much.
Re: Acetylene lights
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:42 pm
by TWrenn
Russ T Fender wrote: ↑Sun Jun 11, 2023 4:22 pm
I have run on a tank with no regulator for years without any problem. Open the lamp doors, just crack open the tank and light the lamps. Then you can adjust the flame from the tank. The key is to just crack the tank open a little bit to start. I don't know what the pressure is from a carbide generator but it's very low so the big mistake people make is opening the valve way to much.
Just as Val said! When I had an MC cylinder on a previous car I barely cracked the valve and I would get about 4-5 hours of burn time. Just be sure to tilt the cannister a bit, I'd say mine was about 25 degrees maybe.