Question Is there a high pressure version of LP50's?

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@Nick_Radov @jstotz I'm by no means an expert on the subject, but I did study engineering in college, and we had more than few classes on the subject of "what happens if you push on something really, really hard." I've also done some research on the DOT standard for AL 80's. In a nutshell, the standard is what it is because that's the maximum amount AL 80's can reliable, sustainable survive cyclic, repeated loading. In all likelihood, one instance wouldn't hurt anything, but repeatedly, it would weaken the tank and, as Nick said, cause it to fail hydro.

My (former) fill guy overfilled a set to 4000 psi. That, combined with his defensive response about it and his general lack of seeming like he knew what he was doing, is why he is no longer my fill guy, even though I'm now paying twice as much. Yeah, it's painful, but I like my gear to work, and not explode. I'm already more than a little concerned about the damage he might have done, since those tanks were full to that point for nearly 3 months, but what's done is done, and anyway I'm telling myself that since it was a single instance and not cyclical, it will hopefully be fine.

 

[OTF]

Don't overfill aluminum tanks! Well, maybe by like 10%, but you cannot safely "cave fill" aluminum like you can steels.

 

[grantmac]

Look at the wall thickness of a 3AA steel vs aluminum. The aluminum tank is engineered for very little flex throughout the pressure cycle because the material cannot handle flex.
Steels are thin and do flex.

This is why springs aren't made of aluminum.

 

[happy-diver]

My (former) fill guy overfilled a set to 4000 psi. That, combined with his defensive response about it and his general lack of seeming like he knew what he was doing, is why he is no longer my fill guy, even though I'm now paying twice as much.

Excellent relationships can be had from situations such as these least the healthier pocket
Befriend the guy have a beer ingratiate yourself with the shop, and prevent overfills again

I'm already more than a little concerned about the damage he might have done, since those tanks were full to that point for nearly 3 months,

did you sack the guy that didn't check his fills too

 

[SouthernSharktoothDiver]

@happy-diver His response was evidence enough that he didn't wanna be friendly about it. As for checking them, oddly enough, I did. Turns out the gauge I was using only went up to 3600 (the numbers went higher, but I checked at the specs on the gauge itself said it only went that high), so I bled off some air and called it a day at what should've been 3400. Came back 3 months later to them at 4000. I'll admit I should've used a better pressure gauge, but also, my tanks should've never been at 4000 to begin with. I'm not buying that guy a beer, I'm accusing him of being drunk while doing my fills.

 

[happy-diver]

Yeah it's hard I was underfilled by a methhead once 20yrs ago and didn't check check my pressures at all
Nothing to do with the owner or manager though, then they realised, I still have a relationship with them

 

[jstotz]

@jstotz Where are you going for your hydros? I've never asked, but my local hydro place is generally rather friendly and accommodating, and I suspect if they were shown the european standards, would likely cert them up to that. Point being, are you going direct to the hydro place, or are you going through your LDS?

This was a couple years ago, but I called several places (I presume mostly dive shops) that came up when I googled "hydrotesting" in the Virginia area.

One dive shop took it, but later told me to come pick up my contraband a week later.

Funny thing is I actually asked a place in Richmond if they could hydro euro cylinders before I bought it. I even thought I saw a section of the DOT regulations that gave instructions for testing non-DOT cylinders, but when it came time, everyone seemed to change their tune.

Please send any contacts if you think you know someone who can make it happen.

 

[jstotz]

Filling al80s to 4500 is playing with fire
3AA steel tanks are another matter.

Do not import EU 300 bar tanks to the US unless you are prepared to fill them yourself and basically forgo hydros. ISO tanks are a mixed bag, most fill stations will have no idea and who knows the extent they will remain legal in North America at all.

I had pretty good success getting places to fill it, 2 of 3 shops. And they even were willing to go up to 300 bar. But after that manufacturer hydro expired, it was impossible to do anything with

 

[rhwestfall]

I doubt you will locate a "rogue" requalifier. It is a USDOT regulated industry, with records retention, and they stamp a tank with a unique identifier. If there happened to be an issue, they could jeopardize their certification to conduct business.

 

[Still Kicking]

I doubt you will locate a "rogue" requalifier. It is a USDOT regulated industry, with records retention, and they stamp a tank with a unique identifier. If there happened to be an issue, they could jeopardize their certification to conduct business.

Not to mention the $10,000 fines per violation.