Faber 3180 plus rated HP tanks ?

[idive2]

While checking buoyancy on a couple steel Faber 100 rentals I came across two different
100 cf Faber steel tanks. They showed an HP100 and an FX100. After looking at the rental
it did not indicate HP or FX but did show a 3442 service pressure so I'm assuming it's the
FX100. The rentals are 2009 tanks so not very old. Are these other 3180 Faber tanks older
tanks ? They are much more negative than most of todays steel tanks. The 3180 is actually
14.7 lbs negative full compared to the 3442 tank at 8.4 lbs negative.

 

[rjack321]

They still make the wicked heavy 3180+ tanks. And the much less negative 3442psi tanks. So no they are not necessarily even different ages. The 3180+ tanks are good as singles in a drysuit. They make terrible doubles. The 3442 tanks are fine as doubles or singles.

 

[Scared Silly]

Blue Steel - the US distributor for Faber cylinders used to bring in a the whole 3180 series but now it looks like just the M100DVB

Blue Steel Scuba - Cylinder Specs

rjack321 comments above are spot. Fine for singles, not for doubles.

 

[idive2]

The 3180 might not be a bad tank for those colder waters when wearing a full 7mm or more.
I dove the 3442 Faber 100 today and its' buoyancy was very close to my LP85's. What's with the
narrow wobbly boot on those Faber tanks ? I found the tank to trim and dive well and other than
the boot it is a tank I could see having but my LP85's will be around for a while.

 

[lindenbruce]

So the M100 3180+ tank does not make for a good set of doubles because of their heavy weight? Because, I have one already and was thinking of getting a second to make a set of doubles for diving here in California with my drysuit or 7mm wet. Thoughts? B.

 

[Scared Silly]

So the M100 3180+ tank does not make for a good set of doubles because of their heavy weight? Because, I have one already and was thinking of getting a second to make a set of doubles for diving here in California with my drysuit or 7mm wet. Thoughts? B.

Do the math and you would find that as set of doubles they are bricks:

-14 lbs full x 2
-4 lbs bands and valves
-3 Al back plate

Right there is 35 lbs negative. So unless you need 35lbs to offset yourself and your drysuit yer going down like a bloody Led Zeppelin as you have no ditchable weight. As for doing some like that with a wet suit - are fricking kidding? It has basically zero buoyancy at depth.

BTW there is a well known accident from 8-10 years ago that was partially attributed to using such cylinders which the divers went down and had no way to control their buoyancy at depth cause they were too negative.

 

[idive2]

So the M100 3180+ tank does not make for a good set of doubles because of their heavy weight? Because, I have one already and was thinking of getting a second to make a set of doubles for diving here in California with my drysuit or 7mm wet. Thoughts? B.

Did you have any ditchable weight when using this as a single and a 7mm ? I can see as doubles that it would be probably to much
negative buoyancy. The thick wetsuits become difficult to calculate due to the greater amount of compression and buoyancy lost at depth.
The single would also be to negative in a 3mm or less. I wear two pounds of weight with a 3mm and a steel worthington LP85 so this heavy
faber 3180 would be much to negative even as a single. A 7mm would require more to sink but then you get into the buoyancy lost at depth
from wetsuit compression which can be a fair amount with a thick wetsuit.

 

[lindenbruce]

SS - That's what I was confirming, just to much weight for doubles. Got it.

i2 - Yes, I use it as a single with an Oceanic Probe BC with ditchable weights and a 7mm. I don't use it much and dive my LP95 way more often. I guess it's time to sell it and get a set of HP100's that aren't as heavy for doubles. In tropical environments I use a 3/2 full length wetsuit. But in California only a 7mm with hood and gloves or my drysuit. B.

 

[cbrich]

Another way to tell the difference is the DOT specification. DOT 3AA are the 3180 psig, and the DOT SP 13488 are FX series. The DOT specification are always stamped on the cylinder shoulder, but might be hard to read.

 

[imjustdave]

What would the opinion be for the 3180 tanks in doubles with a dry suit? Im not quiet to the point of doubles but that is my plan. Will I regret having 3180 tanks?