I've had pretty good luck that way lately
Now I have some questions for the more technically minded (than me) members of the board.
When I think of making a custom manifold system I picture either a setup like
Captains triple tank manifold (custom fit to size), a SS tube routing job like an older Cousteau rig:
Photo of Ryan Spences display
...or basically a cascade type system using rubber hoses to connect the tanks. Yesterday I put together an experiment to test idea #3. Here's what I did:
I used a male/male adapter on two LP regulator hoses to connect two tanks via the LP ports on two first stages. I then connected an SPG and second stage reg to one of the first stages. When pressurized both tanks fed the second stage reg. This is similar to the old cheater bar idea but rather connecting the tanks at the first stages instead of straight from the valve.
I experimented for quite a while shutting down each tank and repressurizing etc... and it all seemed to work ok though the spg did not change when it's first stage was shut down and the other first stage was charged (the tanks had different pressures).
With this all in mind I came up with this concept for an easy triple setup. The benefits of which are that I can buy three Catalina S30 ponies (they are roughly the same size as the UDS tanks) off the shelf, fit them with two K valves and one J valve and not have to do any modifications that would frighten a LDS when filling (just three ponies banded together). Hydros and VIPs would be easy and I could do the build myself instead of paying someone to machine a custom manifold for me. To connect I would only need three first stages and two custom length male/male LP hoses. I toyed with the clamshell and a pony I have and I think, externally, I could make it look just like the original UDS 1.
Here's an image of the idea:
THE QUESTIONS
1.) Could this type of set up cause the first stages to malfunction somehow?
2.) How would varying IP's affect flow?
3.) I assume the spg is sampling pressure prior to the first stage so it won't be affected or register the pressure in the other tank. Correct, or would the tanks equalize somehow?
4.) Technically, would it work?
I have a fairly creative mind in some ways but my engineering/physics skills are sorely lacking. I look at the idea and it makes sense on the surface but I don't really understand what's happening inside the first stages.