Hello All, I recently came across an Optimus No 3. Here a video of us testing it. (comparison an Optimus No.00) I would like to know what the pressure gage is for? I can immagine it shows tank pressure and prevents the user from overpressuring it but on the one in the video the gage is not working annymore. So does anyone know the idea behind it? thank you, Bart (PS we are talking Dutch)
@ David, yes that is the correct video. The pressure gage is on the operators side. The film wasn't made with the intent to use as a reference for questions. It was more a coincidence that I had my camera in my hands when we got to testing. Here a picture of another Optimus No.3 I took a while back at an auction, with a pressure gage, and a different burner. Link to fullsize picture Bart
I have seen many Optimus stoves but no one with that kind of pressure gauge. If you would not have told that you have seen two of them, I would have say it was a fettled thing. But now I am more keen to say that it must have been a factory custom model, maybe for a special market or military use etc. The meter itself looks very much like the one made for fitting on lanterns. On stoves another model was used, one that was fitted on the top of the filler cap instead of a pressure release screw. Bo
Hello Bart. Nice stove. I wonder if your stove has a fuel level gauge rather than a pressure gauge. Your jet is leaking at the base so it could be loose and could do with tightening. It will run a lot cleaner too once done. Cheers, John
No John. It is a regular pressure gauge. I would like a good picture to show us what the fitting on the tank looks like. Perhaps that part can tell whether it's homemade or not?
No, its definitely a pressure gauge, it reads kg/cm2, scaled 0, 1, 2 and 3 with a red line around 1,6 kg/cm2 I figured that the jet needs to be taken out and re-fastened but this stove hasn't been lit for a few years after surviving a fire (the tanks was still covered in soot particles). We just wanted to know if it still worked. The plastic plate covering the pressure gauge was melted away so that needs to be replaced. If the inside of the gauge was still functional, I couldn't judge - I need to take it out to test. But I was wondering, does the red line on the gauge show optimal pressure or maximum pressure or what? On the link of the big picture you can see the kg/cm2 description and also the text 'Optimus' in the metal. I thought I saw pressure gauges in one of the Optimus brochures on this forum somewhere; I'll have to look it up. the 0 on the gauge, indicates atmospheric pressure, so the 1,2 and 3 are giving overpressure indication. (1 kg/cm2 = 1 kgf/cm2 = 1 atm = 0,98 bar = 14.22 psi abouts)
It can take a few days, the stove is not at my house, but at storage. but I will try to make some more detailed pictures. I wasn't aware it was such a rare novelty
That's where the red line is on the lamps and lantern gauges. It show where the operating pressure is supposed to be to give about best light without unnecessary over pumping.
Hello everybody, back after an amazing camping weekend, where I had the change to take some more picutres of the Optimus No.3 and his presser gauge, It also run for about 2,5 hours (added up) without any problems. pictures: bigger pictures It took a lot of pumping to get to the 1,6 (red line) I think the gauge needs to be re-calibrated because I consider it normal for the flame ring to be red hot, but not bright orange. Bart
Just noticed that in the above post, I pasted the wrong link, but my edit time has past, so I'll post it here. and yes as you can see in the 6th picture I did lit the stove in my tent. It was very hot in the tent after a few minutes so I wouldn't do it again. Bart
