Username Protected wrote:
This is from a POH of a Cessna 421c
Normal is 0-5.0 psi
Max is 5.3 psi
Is there a way to get the full 5.3psi? At 25,000’ that .3 difference represents a difference of 800’ in cabin altitude.. about 10%
Comparing altitudes in percentages is misleading - it's the pressure that makes a difference to your lungs. The altitude is just a reference to our atmosphere, where 0 ft = 14.7 psi.
Here's an easier-to-understand example: 10,000 ft is "ten times higher" than 1,000 ft, but it still has 2/3 of the oxygen that's available at 1,000 ft.
5.0 psi at 25,000 ft gives you a 9100 ft cabin. 5.3 psi at 25,000 gives an 8400' cabin - about 700' lower. A 9100 ft cabin is 10.47 psi total, and an 8400 ft cabin is 10.75 psi total. There's about 2.5% more oxygen available at the lower cabin altitude. Even this is misleading, because there's a minimum pressure we need to move oxygen in and out of our bloodstream, and it's not zero - but that's another discussion.
But to answer the question: My understanding is no, you can't adjust it. You have two outflow valves. One is electrically controlled and will open at an adjustable pressure, but no higher than 5.0 psi. - that's the one that's used to control your pressure. I don't think you can adjust it and I wouldn't personally try it.
The other is a mechanical fail-safe only and will let go at 5.3 psi as a backup.