Etiquette if the shop doesn't fill the tank completely

[scubadada]

My compressor is a ~ 5cfm machine. I think that higher cfm would need a tad more psi to adjust for more pressure drop as the tank cools but idk.. I have what I have.

With that said I aim for

3.3k in LP (cools to 3K)
3.3k in Al (cools to 3k)
4k in HP (cools to 3.6k)

Theres no reason to fill a tank with less air then needed. Should cool to the correct psi. Adding another 13-15% isn't going to cause the tank to go.. if it passed the last hydro why would it? Why leave it overnight, seems like a waste of my time?

I have never complained about my fills but there have been a few times that I've been tempted to fire myself for other reasons

You pump air, is that correct? How much more would your investment be if you wanted nitrox? I don't think I have ever dived air in SE Florida, too short a dive, particularly for repetitive dives.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

That'd be the Bitter Lake (Aurora Ave. N.) Home Depot? I often kill time there as well.

(Or do all dive shops have Home Depots near by? I'm genuinely curious.)

Bellevue.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

You pump air, is that correct? How much more would your investment be if you wanted nitrox? I don't think I have ever dived air in SE Florida, too short a dive, particularly for repetitive dives.

I am almost to the point where I'm pumping nitrox. The only thing stopping me is pure laziness, I have all the right supplies. If you have nothing, plan on $200-300 and whatever it costs to rent or buy an O2 tank. My buddy I think pays $30 to swap his tank? You can get away with less $$, buying used and what not but that's a good start.

We have a Welding shop, so regulators, line, large O2 tanks were already on hand. I had to buy a cheap medical O2 analyzer and a liter miter.. that was about it. So I think I have ~ $100 in it? Maybe $150 with the new O2 sensor.

Building a nitrox stick is pretty easy, plenty of plans on the internet for how to.

 

[DogDiver]

I promise. I won’t talk about Cave Fills here in North Florida.

 

[Superlyte27]

I promise. I won’t talk about Cave Fills here in North Florida.

Or here in central Florida

 

[spool]

You would only have that if the air was wet and it started forming rust. Dry air won't react with the tank.

There is no combustion happening in a stored tank to cause CO production.
In long term storage, the helium will actually stratify. I have seen it, a tank of 10/70 sitting upright for 5 years. If you analyze it without moving it, it will analyze as 100% helium. Pull it out and move it around, it will mix back up and analyze the same as when it was stored. It is kind of neat.

Very cool! And you must have a trimix analyzer.

I guess some years later you wouldn't wanna bet that the gas inside the HP was 100% dry at fill and just at least nitrox analyze it?

 

[Tracy]

Very cool! And you must have a trimix analyzer.

I guess some years later you wouldn't wanna bet that the gas inside the HP was 100% dry at fill and just at least nitrox analyze it?

Every tank gets analyzed every time before I dive it. Doesn't matter how long it was stored.

 

[Catito]

The best way to get good fills is to drop the tanks off and pick them back up later.

Yes, and then if they are light, ask them to top them off.

 

[cozmo]

At My shop we charge by the cu.ft. for all our gasses; we fill all tanks in a water bath @70f to pressure and tank is not released back to customer until the tank is at desired psi and it is @70f +/-5. An AL80 takes about 28min. Steels take a little longer as they take longer to dissipate the heat from filling. All our banks air and 36%are at 5k and can fill up to 5 tanks at a time.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Here's a compilation of customers expressing their displeasure over insufficient fills.



(I hope the mods let this one go....)