Fifty Plus (50+) - Will my CO2 explode?

If it's -10, will my CO2 cartridges explode?

er, a gas becomes less reactive as temperature decreases. Unless the cartridges are really brittle............

Do you mean implode?

Easy answer- No.

More complicated answer- Can't give one as my brain does not work that way- but I dare say some one will give you the technicalities of a scientific answer.

Thanks. I just had images of schrapnel.

Probably won't implode until you get closer to zero degK. If you're really lucky, you may even trip across the point where you get a Bose-Einstein condensate. Then, the condensate might just leak out. ;)

- if you're worried about cartridge temperature, there's at least one way to carry and ensure your CO2 cartridge stays at a constant 98.6ºF...

:-)

Actually, there's protection available that will address Solveg's concern...:)

- if you're worried about cartridge temperature, there's at least one way to carry and ensure your CO2 cartridge stays at a constant 98.6ºF...


:eek::roflmao:

- if you're worried about cartridge temperature, there's at least one way to carry and ensure your CO2 cartridge stays at a constant 98.6ºF...:-)

I'm puzzled by the quantitative reference, "at least one way." :o

By all means, linux, go into further detail so we may all be safe when we ride with CO2...

:)

I'm not sure about the CO2 cartridges used for tire air, but as the former Aviation Life Support Officer I can tell you that with our CO2 cartridges for our May West Vests and Survival Rafts we did not experience any issues from really hot - desert climates to -65 degrees F. (that is without wind chill).

I can tell you that the darn things will loose pressure / gas over time and you can weigh a new one, if you can find it, and then weigh yours and determine if it will even work any longer. I wouldn't suggest subjecting it to a hair dryer, clothes dryer or flame. I have seen them make really neat rockets, especially the big ones. Of course we were using a nail to puncture the seal to officially test viability of a given group (yea right - it was fun and the tether ball pole was a great launcher). Don't do this at home!

If you want shrapnel, take an empty cylinder and fill it half full of ffff black powder, stuff a piece of cannon fuse in it, apply match and throw it as far as you can. It also makes a really sweet bang.

I enjoyed my childhood.

Thanks. I just had images of schrapnel.

Don't carry it in your pocket!!

Speaking of low temperatures I have to travel to St. Paul MN next week. I live in Southern California. It's 65 degrees out and I am freezing! I wear a winter coat when it's 50! It's like going to be 5 degrees today in MN (not counting the wind chill). Will I die?????? :(

If you want shrapnel, take an empty cylinder and fill it half full of ffff black powder, stuff a piece of cannon fuse in it, apply match and throw it as far as you can. It also makes a really sweet bang.

I enjoyed my childhood.

Can't find anything finer than fff in my area.

If you want shrapnel, take an empty cylinder and fill it half full of ffff black powder, stuff a piece of cannon fuse in it, apply match and throw it as far as you can. It also makes a really sweet bang.

I enjoyed my childhood.
We used to fill them with match heads. Lucky we didn't win a Darwin Award.

Speaking of low temperatures I have to travel to St. Paul MN next week. I live in Southern California. It's 65 degrees out and I am freezing! I wear a winter coat when it's 50! It's like going to be 5 degrees today in MN (not counting the wind chill). Will I die?????? :(

I've seen visiting football players almost in tears from the cold. How long are you going to be here? I can loan you some good winter gear for your stay. Maybe we can even go for a bike ride!

Can't find anything finer than fff in my area.

You can take the fff and grind it up with a hammer on a steel table until it is the size of ffff:D

Speaking of low temperatures I have to travel to St. Paul MN next week. I live in Southern California. It's 65 degrees out and I am freezing! I wear a winter coat when it's 50! It's like going to be 5 degrees today in MN (not counting the wind chill). Will I die?????? :(


Eventually. :cry:
Sorry.

Speaking of low temperatures I have to travel to St. Paul MN next week. I live in Southern California. It's 65 degrees out and I am freezing! I wear a winter coat when it's 50! It's like going to be 5 degrees today in MN (not counting the wind chill). Will I die?????? :(

Don't try to lick any outdoor metal objects.

Pam,

I am sorry to inform you that, yes, you will die. You will be killed in a freak accident when a CO2 cartridge explodes in sub-zero Minnesota temps and you are ripped apart by the shrapnel.

I truly am sorry.

Tom

See............that's what cold does to you.

Low temps predicted for Minneapolis over the next several days:

-7, -15, -7, -5, 2, -9, 0

Maybe Pam can join Solveg for a ride! Solveg certainly has an extra bike (or two, or three) for her to ride. And by that time Solveg will be an expert in riding in sub-zero temps. What a wonderful learning opportunity this is going to be for Pam!

I experienced the joys of Wisconson once. January 1066 USN boot camp in Great Lakes. I've never been the same since.

Pam.........you'll probably live. It just won't feel like it.

Low temps predicted for Minneapolis over the next several days:

-7, -15, -7, -5, 2, -9, 0

Maybe Pam can join Solveg for a ride! Solveg certainly has an extra bike (or two, or three) for her to ride. And by that time Solveg will be an expert in riding in sub-zero temps. What a wonderful learning opportunity this is going to be for Pam!

I do believe the NB 26 would be JUST her size. She could bring it home with her.

How about it Pam? It's only -13 right now.... you're the adventurous kind, and I wouldn't let you freeze solid or anything! I'll bet you've never ridden your bike across a lake before!

You can take the fff and grind it up with a hammer on a steel table until it is the size of ffff:D

Don't do this. Seriously. It could go off and mess you up.

Be careful who you take advice from.

I experienced the joys of Wisconson once. January 1066 USN boot camp in Great Lakes. I've never been the same since.

Pam.........you'll probably live. It just won't feel like it.

Let me guess,you were being trained in order to transport William of Normany's troops from France in preperation for the Battle of Hastings. :D

Don't do this. Seriously. It could go off and mess you up.

Be careful who you take advice from.

Frequently by the time I get to the bottom bit in my revolver powder flask it's getting close to ffff. Obviously, steel on steel and bp are a bad mix. Thanks for the warning though. Remember kids, don't try this at home!

Let me guess,you were being trained in order to transport William of Normany's troops from France in preperation for the Battle of Hastings. :D

AAArrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhhhhh. :o The third or fourth thing to go is control of the fingers.

Let me guess,you were being trained in order to transport William of Normany's troops from France in preperation for the Battle of Hastings. :D

Definitely the third thing I should think- Along with the spell checker and thesaurus.

William of NormanDy ---Is Normally known as "William the Conquerer" over here- Due to his love of Chestnut trees.

Actually, there's protection available that will address Solveg's concern...:)

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

George! Thanks! I missed that whole series of posts!

If it's -10, will my CO2 cartridges explode?

No, but it won't fill your tire either, unless you know exactly what to do. The pressure goes down, not up in the cold. As the cartridge emptys at room temperature they get covered with ice from the gas expansion. That's how air conditioners work.
This means that the nozzle will ice up and the co2 will not fill the tire much any way. Even at plus 25 degrees F it's a problem.
If you put the whole cartride under your coat until it is warm, and act very quickly you can fill a tire (sorta). If you are too slow it ices up. Covering it with a gloved hand helps.

Below freezing, bring a pump.

Don't leave them in the car during the summer, they can explode and blow out the windows.

No, but it won't fill your tire either, unless you know exactly what to do. The pressure goes down, not up in the cold. As the cartridge emptys at room temperature they get covered with ice from the gas expansion. That's how air conditioners work.
This means that the nozzle will ice up and the co2 will not fill the tire much any way. Even at plus 25 degrees F it's a problem.
If you put the whole cartride under your coat until it is warm, and act very quickly you can fill a tire (sorta). If you are too slow it ices up. Covering it with a gloved hand helps.

I use a similar method when I have a flat in sub-freezing temps. The first thing that I do after stopping is stick a cartridge down my tights - no kidding. Then, when I'm ready to air the tire up, out comes the cart, screw it on the inflator and I've got a full tube in a couple of seconds. I've changed several flats in sub-freezing temps using CO2 without a problem. :)

I don't know about the little bike CO2 cartridges, but air-gun CO2 cartridges will explode very impressively if thrown into a camp fire. That was 30 years ago when I was stupid (more stupid?). I'm lucky I didn't hurt anyone. Shrapnel must have landed over 100 feet from the fire.

Gas pressure increases with temperature. The increase is proportional to the percentage increase of the temperature over absolute zero. Absolute zero is -273 degrees C which is even colder than Minnesota.

So to double the pressure you have to get to from 0 degrees C (freezing point of water), you have to go to 273 degrees C which is something like 400 degrees farenheit. So inflating your tire at low temperatures will not result in dangerously high pressures at shirt sleeve temperatures. Bike tires are generally made to blow off the rim at 2X the recommended pressure (or so I have heard).

PV=nRT Universal gas law.

I found a couple of web sites which contained safety information about CO2 cartridges and they said that they are manufactured to be safe from -30 to +120. They can frequently go outside of those ranges without problems, but one should attempt to keep them within this range.

I've seen visiting football players almost in tears from the cold.

When you say "visiting," do you mean on the football field, or at your place?

And if it's the latter, are you sure they're almost in tears "from the cold?"

:)

I hope to see some frozen tears on the cheeks of the NY Giants tomorrow.

I found a couple of web sites which contained safety information about CO2 cartridges and they said that they are manufactured to be safe from -30 to +120. They can frequently go outside of those ranges without problems, but one should attempt to keep them within this range.

I certainly try to keep myself within that temperature range.

I hope to see some frozen tears on the cheeks of the NY Giants tomorrow.

And some on the New England Patriots as well. :)

The current prediction for the weather at game time in Green Bay is 0 degrees with a -18 windchill factor.

I know of about 20 of my co-workers who are going to the game.

Will there be many of the no shirt green an yellow painted cheeseheads in the stands?

I'm sure there won't be as many. I am also sure there will still be some.

Speaking of low temperatures I have to travel to St. Paul MN next week. I live in Southern California. It's 65 degrees out and I am freezing! I wear a winter coat when it's 50! It's like going to be 5 degrees today in MN (not counting the wind chill). Will I die?????? :(
No, but you may wish...don't worry the outside exposure is limited going between the car and building etc...
By the way, lake riding is fun!!!!

If you are going to downtown Minneapolis, then don't worry. That is the cold weather wuss capitol of the Great North. Every building is connected via heated walkways, there are heated tunnels around, a lot of them at Gopher Wuss University.

Here in Madison there are no heated walkways, or even covered walkways. No tunnels on campus. We even play football outdoors (likewise in Green Bay).

In Minneapolis people go to their heated garages, get into their cars, drive to heated or covered parking lots, take the heated elevators to the heated walkways and walk to their office. At lunch they walk via their heated walkways to restaurants or stores. They never even go outside during the day.

In Minneapolis people go to their heated garages, get into their cars, drive to heated or covered parking lots, take the heated elevators to the heated walkways and walk to their office. At lunch they walk via their heated walkways to restaurants or stores. They never even go outside during the day.

You make it sound like that's a bad thing! :)

Must admit there have been days when I had to walk across campus into bitter winds blowing off of Lake Mendota when I would have liked the option of a walkway or tunnel.

When you say "visiting," do you mean on the football field, or at your place?

And if it's the latter, are you sure they're almost in tears "from the cold?"

:)

The were cowering like toddlers in the doorways of buildings on the news....

Pam is going to St. Paul. I don't think there are skyways in St. Paul....

There are a bunch of them in St. Paul too. I've been in some of them.

I should have said Minneapolis-St. Paul is the capitol of cold weather wusses.

http://www.saint-paul.com/maps/skyway.html