Scuba Air Bank

[jazappi]

I am looking at building a air bank station that can slide into a the back of a pick up or on a trailer. Two to Three of the standard size bank station tanks. Is there some instructions or plans out there that I can use? I want it for diving at remote sites where a place to get fills isn't available. Also how many fills into 80 cubic ft tank can you get of a three bank tank?

 

[JBRES1]

Well, if you put together a fill station using (3) 4500 psi cylinders you will have 1332 cu.ft. of air at 4500 psig.
I will try and find the page that lists what this will supply.
Jim Breslin

 

[jazappi]

Do you know if there is a plan out there anywhere that will list out all of the parts? I am trying to add up all the costs and see if it worth it or not. Or should I just by more tanks and fill them. Thanks for the info so far.

 

[roakey]

Airspeed Press has an excelllent book called the Oxygen Hacker's Companion that describes what's required in general terms to build a cascade.

You can also get some idea of what's required by looking at the parts that go into this Nitrox mixing whip I posted some time back.

Roak

 

[JEScholz]

A mobile cascade should have flexible whips between the tanks. Chances are you will find it cost prohibitive but it can be done. If you check with your local fire department, they may have a unit in a vehicle that they can show you. Be careful not to fill for others or you will end up in a "commercial" environment and subject to all the commercial regulations for transporting "hazardous materials". (Search SB and you will find more information than you probably want on this topic.)

The other issue is how and where will you fill the cascade when it is low?

 

[roakey]

Didn't notice the "back of a pickup" comment before. This may interest you too:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/do...ntal-storage-bottle-rack-shortbed-pickup.html

Roak

 

[mike_s]

I am looking at building a air bank station that can slide into a the back of a pick up or on a trailer. Two to Three of the standard size bank station tanks. Is there some instructions or plans out there that I can use? I want it for diving at remote sites where a place to get fills isn't available. Also how many fills into 80 cubic ft tank can you get of a three bank tank?

I'd suggest setting it up in a trailer so you don't have the hassle of loading/unloading it or having to worry about driving it around in every day driving. A trailer can also be easily dropped off at the LDS for filling to be picked up after work.

You'll want to set up with a pressure gauge so that you can fill one tank at a time to get the most out of each tank or each set of tanks set up as a bank. Otherwise you'll just have a huge storage bank that is not usefull when it goes down from 4500psi to 3000psi

how many AL80s you can fill all depends on how big your banks are and how well you use them.

here's some good info on Phil's page about Cascade bank systems.
Cascade System - Air Fill Cascade System - Air Fill System

Be careful not to fill for others or you will end up in a "commercial" environment and subject to all the commercial regulations for transporting "hazardous materials".

filling for others also opens you up to liability that you might not want or are insured for.

The other issue is how and where will you fill the cascade when it is low?

Most LDS's with decent compressor systems can fill it for you. You might have to have a long fill hose to run inside the store though. It's not uncommon to see a portable cascade bank system being filled for one of the local fire departments at my LDS.

 

[jazappi]

As far as the filling I do have a local dive shop that can do it for me.

I am leaning towards the trailer if I do it. I was wondering what the DOT required witht he high pressure tanks like that on a trailer.

 

[mike_s]

I am leaning towards the trailer if I do it. I was wondering what the DOT required witht he high pressure tanks like that on a trailer.

If you use it for commercial purposes, it's considered hazmat and you have to follow hazmat regulations. For personal use, it differs.

Also depends on where you carry it. Like across state lines or I think for X distance.

check your local state laws also.

A good reason to have it in an enclosed trailer without a bunch of scuba markings on the outside, to deter theft and also to deter nosey cops.

 

[jazappi]

I was needing an excuse for a "scuba trailer", maybe this will be it.