Beware of over pressure tanks

[Da Wolf]

After reading these replies, I still wonder why we have LP and HP tanks if we fill LP tanks to HP capacity. Which in my eyes might be a dangerous situation. Would you fill your car tire over the recommended pressure?? Then why do it with something that you wear on your back?

SoBay Jim, that shop kept my tank free of charge (which is the main reason I allowed him to store it for me), and he put it into his rental cycle. He would also use it for dive trips that they did. So, I have really no idea on the exact number of dives/fills it has on it. Nor how many times it was filled beyond its recommended pressure.

 

[spoolin01]

Spoolin, you have it correct the valves are either 200 bar or 300 bar - however neither have anything to do with the pressure they can be used at. They only difference is the number of threads.

Just for clarification, while the 200 and 300 may have a less-than-obvious significance for service rating, the 300 bar DIN does have a higher service rating than the 200 DIN, isn't that correct?

 

[Leadking]

Both valves can take the pressure (300 bar). The issue is, can the regulator?
The purpose of 200 vs. 300 bar valves is to protect the regulator. A 200 bar regulator cannot seat in a 300 bar valve as it is a couple of threads deeper.

 

[mdax]

I'd be bummed if my lp 95's were only filled to 3300. I regularly fill them to 3600-3900 when diving in North Florida caves...however when i store them i keep them lower. Pretty cool your LDS stored them for free.

 

[halocline]

I purchased a LP 121 5 years ago,....and noticed that the LDS had filled this tank to 3350 PSI..... Needless to say I will never set foot back in that shop.

Tell me the name of the shop, and I'll get my fills there. Usually the complaint is about the opposite; not getting enough air in HP tanks. Now, I do understand your concern about a tank having that much of an overfill for years on end, but I think there would have been more stress on the tank if it had been overfilled repeatedly. Test pressure for the tank is 4000, so you were well under that.

BTW, your din valve is not "rated" to 2400 PSI, where did you get that idea?

 

[Da Wolf]

Halocline, a LP tank has a test pressure of 4,000? Thought they were tested for around 3,000? There is a sticker on the face of the valve that has 2400 psi on it. Will have to double check it again tonight.

Isn't the pressure rating for that certain tank required to be stamped on the collar along with the DOT numbers? (I know newbie question)

 

[Rhone Man]

I stopped using one LDS because they would only put 2400 PSI in my LP steels.

YMMV.

 

[cool_hardware52]

Halocline, a LP tank has a test pressure of 4,000? Thought they were tested for around 3,000? There is a sticker on the face of the valve that has 2400 psi on it. Will have to double check it again tonight.

Isn't the pressure rating for that certain tank required to be stamped on the collar along with the DOT numbers? (I know newbie question)

I'd suggest you educate yourself about *HOW* a retest is conducted, *WHAT* pressures are used and why, and *EXACTLY* what the retest measures.

Tobin

 

[SoBay Jim]

. . .that shop kept my tank free of charge (which is the main reason I allowed him to store it for me), and he put it into his rental cycle. He would also use it for dive trips that they did. So, I have really no idea on the exact number of dives/fills it has on it. Nor how many times it was filled beyond its recommended pressure.

That sounds like a fair arrangement. You had convenient storage and he had a "specialty" tank in rentals. I still don't know that I'd stop using the shop. Instead, have a conversation with the owner about what you found and ask about store fill procedures. Find out if it was a one time mistake or regular occurrence. When you've given him a chance to respond to your concerns, then decide where to spend your money in the future. If he never hears from unhappy customers, he can never make the corrections keep you coming back.

 

[Jaydubya]

I purchased a LP 121 5 years ago, and allowed a LDS keep/store it for me during that time (since I didn't have room at my place for it). When I moved and got room for the tank, I went to the LDS to retrieve my tank. I then stored it this past winter. It was not used from the time I got the tank from the LDS until this past weekend. It sat full of 32% EAN for 8 months. I hooked my computer to the tank this past weekend, and noticed that the LDS had filled this tank to 3350 PSI. Which is WAY over it's rated pressure. It also has a 2400 PSI DIN valve on it. This could have been a very dangerous situation from being filled way too much. I currently have only 860 PSI left in it. I am taking it to get it's VIP done on Friday and refilled. But I will not be taking it back to the other LDS. I can not believe that they filled a LP tank to HP standards. Needless to say I will never set foot back in that shop. Who knows how many times he has filled it to that kind of pressure. If it fails it's hydro when it comes due, I will do everything I can to have that LDS owner buy me a new tank. So, watch what your LDS are filling your tanks to. A LP tanks filled to a HP tank psi can be a very dangerous tank.

It's hard to find "good" fills in NC. Which shop was it? I want to give them some business.