Dress for 13 Cubic Foot Success?

[Reg Braithwaite]

Hello all:

I have come into possession of a 13 ft.³ tank for dry suit inflation. I will not be using it very much, maybe one or two dives later this season, so I wasn't fussy about the size. I hope I haven't made a huge mistake and that a 13 ft.³ inflation tank is still DIR-compatible.

My understanding is that a 6 ft.³ tank is affixed to the backplate on the LHS below the wing. I was told that a 13 ft.³ tanks should be affixed to the tank or tanks above the wing with the valve down. True? False? And can anyone point to a picture or pictures of how it should be rigged?

Finally, I purchased the inflation gear used and on the cheap, and I would prefer to avoid paying as much for a couple of straps as I did for the tank (if that can be accomplished). Any DIY or other penny-pinching tips for rigging the inflation bottle?

Thanks in advance...

 

[b1gcountry]

I see a lot of people using a 14. If you are using argon, it will be nice since you can get 6 cf at around 1200 psi instead of having to boost it up to pressure. I use a 6, and don't even notice its there. If you have a 14, it might be just a little more noticeable.

About mounting HW, I will try to post a picture if I can, but just take some leftover webbing, and cut it to length long enough to wrap around the bottle, plus 4-5". Put a hole in both sides so a bolt can pass through. I like to use a knife and just twist it through, then burn through with a lighter to make it the right size.

Now head to Lowes and buy a SS Tee-nut (~$3) and a short SS machine screw (~$1.50 for 8). Screw the webbing into a loop through one of the holes in your BP. Now take some 3/16" bungee, and make a figure 8 knot in one end large enough to pass the argon tank valve through. Make it fairly tight. Pass it through a hole a little lower down on the BP and use it to wrap around the argon bottle neck as it is sitting in the webbing loop. Presto. Argon Mount.

Tom

 

[coldsmoke]

What Tom said with pictures. Looks like a larger bottle than a 6cf too.

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Hunter

 

[PfcAJ]

A 13/14 WON'T fit properly in the same location as a 6. Its WAY bigger, over an inch larger in diameter and 2 inches longer.than the 6.

Halcyon makes some straps that work properly. Given an option, the 14 is the right answer due to its lower service rating (2014psi), lighter weight, and increased length (makes hose routing easier), but for most diving, it doesn't really matter a whole lot. I own all three, btw.

A 14/13 goes on the left tank, valve down, orifice forward.

Dry Suit Inflation Kits | Halcyon Dive Systems

 

[rjack321]

Yeah the 13 really doesn't have anything going for it since it requires a booster for "real" fills. While the 6cf requires a booster, it makes up for that by being nice and tidy, and while the 14 is pretty big it has plenty for a weekend's worth of dives without a booster.

You <can> mount a 13 on the backplate, but it sucks. Get the halcyon or salvo velcro straps and put it on the tank.

 

[nadwidny]

Just to add my "me too" to what others have said.

The 13 doesn't work when attached to the BP. It gets in the way, especially when multiple stage/deco cylinders are being used. If you want to mount a suit gas bottle this way then you need to go to a 6.

I used to have an Al13 mounted to my doubles with the Halcyon straps and it worked unless I went inside wrecks. Then I learned about things like "keyholing". I haven't used the 13 for 4 or 5 years now. It now sits on my work bench as my "bench air" supply.

Hmmm, maybe I should sell the straps since I don't use them...

 

[rjack321]

I used to have an Al13 mounted to my doubles with the Halcyon straps and it worked unless I went inside wrecks. Then I learned about things like "keyholing". I haven't used the 13 for 4 or 5 years now. It now sits on my work bench as my "bench air" supply.

I have 3. I got 2 for argon before I knew better, they work well enough for a weekend. 1 fills my RIB.

 

[nadwidny]

I have 3. I got 2 for argon before I knew better, they work well enough for a weekend. 1 fills my RIB.

Really? A 13 fills a RIB? Interesting. I would have thought it would take much more than that. I suppose the pressure to fill a RIB isn't really that much above ambient so it's all about the volume.

 

[rjack321]

Really? A 13 fills a RIB? Interesting. I would have thought it would take much more than that. I suppose the pressure to fill a RIB isn't really that much above ambient so it's all about the volume.

I keep it full enough to have shape on the trailer, but not at pressure (~3psi). I have to drain some air so the sun doesn't heat it up too much and split a seam tho. The 13cf is perfect for replacing what I have to drain.

 

[nadwidny]

I keep it full enough to have shape on the trailer, but not at pressure (~3psi). I have to drain some air so the sun doesn't heat it up too much and split a seam tho. The 13cf is perfect for replacing what I have to drain.

Gotcha. I didn't think a 13 was big enough to do even that. Learn something knew every day.