How To Fill A CO2 Paintball Tank?

Are you new to the paintball gig? If you are, then the most troublesome and complex thing for you might be filling up the paintball tanks. Well, that will not be a problem anymore, buddy! You see, here we have the perfect guide on how to fill a CO2 paintball tank.

In a few effortless steps, you can finally become a pro at the task. All you need to do is read the entire article, which is not that big, and follow all the steps accurately. You will be filling the tanks and be done with them within a matter of moments.

How to Fill A CO2 Paintball Tank?

Exhausting your paintball tanks is one of the most common things that might occur during or before a fight. And, believe us, such a thing is going to happen whenever you are in the clutch. Well, there is nothing to worry about anymore. Here are the steps that you need to follow to fill your paintball tank effortlessly.

Step1: Knowing the Tank’s PSI

The very first thing that you have to do is figure out the PSI rating of the tank. You see, every tank has its own pressure rating. Therefore, if you do not have an accurate idea of the tank’s PSI, doing the task becomes automatically impossible. Now, how can you find out the PSI of your tank?

Your tank comes with an indicator on it. That will show you the PSI requirements of the cylinder. Plus, no tank would have a PSI of more than 4500, so you should keep that in mind. Also, you need to chill the tank to keep it stable.

After you keep these precautionary factors in mind and have a clear idea of the PSI rating, it’s time we moved to the next step.

Step2: Finding the O-ring & Using the Filling Nipple

Once you know the pressure, you have to find the o-ring. It is a dark circle-like spot where you would generally fix the attachment. When you have found the o-ring, fix the attachment to it so that the needle is fully exposed. Then, plug the thing into the air tank using the filling nipple.

You must follow this step. That’s because the tank will never be completely filled if you don’t.

Step3: Releasing The Air Inside The Tank

So, are you done with the previous step? If so, let’s move to the next step, which is filling the tank. Now, in this step, you have to be pretty patient. You see, if you make any mistake, then there is a big chance that your tank will either not be filled or exceed the 4500 PSI restriction.

Therefore, when you are filling, make sure that you are slowly pushing on the trigger or lever instead of doing it all out. As you do this, the gauge’s needle will gradually rise. Keep doing it until the needle hits the maximum PSI tolerance of the tank.

Another problem that you might face when you are filling the tanks is hot-fills. If you rapidly fill your tanks, the pressure meter’s needles will rise quickly due to heat generated by friction. However, some of the pressure will be lost after the tank cools down, which can be troublesome.

Such a thing happens because the air inside, in this case, CO2, gets heated up. The CO2 molecules collide with one another more and cause the pressure to rise significantly. Now, when the CO2 cools, the pressure lessens as the collision of the molecules reduces. Thus, the pressure lowers!

So, this is another reason why you should do the filling task slowly.

Step4: Checking The Meters

There are going to be two gauges, one on the tank and the other on the compressor. You must keep inspecting them simultaneously, and if they are rising at the same rate, you are doing a good job.

Step5: Releasing The Extra Pressure

Since you are done filling your tank, you must release the excess air inside the compressor or hose that is ready to pass into the tank. All you have to do is switch on the release tank, and the extra air should be emitted.

If you do not do this, your tank might get damaged, especially the filling nipple, since there is additional pressure within the unit.

Final Words

After you are done with all five steps, you should have the perfect pressure in your tank. All you need to do is detach the hose and get back into the fight. Even if you are not in a fight, knowing how to fill a CO2 paintball tank is crucial. Without it, you won’t even be able to compete.