It says right on my tanks - DO NOT OVERPRESSURIZE

[Ted Judah]

A year ago, I bought tanks for my wife and I. In that year we have used them on 16 dives and had them filled at 5 different dive shops. The pressures after each fill seem to vary wildly and is often overfilled.

Here are the markings on the tanks:

FABER MADE IN ITALY M8303 21/0154/ 073 02•21+
TC - 3AAM - 184/DOT - 3AA2400 DO NOT OVERPRESSURIZE REE67 BS85S


Below are the start fill pressures for each dive:

2400 lbs.
3400 lbs.
2600 lbs.
2500 lbs.
2500 lbs.
2500 lbs.
2200 lbs.
2800 lbs.
2800 lbs.
2800 lbs.
2950 lbs.
2400 lbs.
3000 lbs.
2750 lbs.
3250 lbs.
3525 lbs.

Am I missing something? should I be concerned? Should I request a certain pressure from dive shops?

 

[Manatee Diver]

That spring looks beautiful! Too bad it’s 3000 miles away compounded by the fact I don’t have any cave training

It isn't that far, you can drive it in 2-3 days if you are in a rush. I do it in 4 taking my time to enjoy the food along the way. And there are many instructors that can fix the lack of training.

 

[Bearded Diver]

I wouldn't recommend overfilling these old 2,250 psig 72's. I never ask for mine to be overfilled beyond its 2,475 psig plus-stamp. However, it sometimes gets filled to 3,000 psig (because some shops around here have their fill stations set up to fill Al 80's, and sometimes people neglect to check, I think). I never complain, though.

"New" low pressure steel (3AA) cylinders are commonly 2,640 psig (= 2,400 + 10%), and seem to be engineered a bit stouter.

rx7diver

I would agree with you. My Al 80s are sometimes filled “over” as in 3200/3150, it’s extra air and I’m not one to complain about that.

 

[Bearded Diver]

72 degrees all year round. The spring run might be a degree or two warmer or cooler.

Thank you

 

[Bearded Diver]

It isn't that far, you can drive it in 2-3 days if you are in a rush. I do it in 4 taking my time to enjoy the food along the way. And there are many instructors that can fix the lack of training.

Seeing as I’m based in FL, would you be able to give any suggestions on restaurants you stop at while headed to Ginnie from wherever your live?

 

[Bearded Diver]

Intermediate Pressure, it is the pressure that the first stage delivers to the LP side if the reg.



Ginnie is very pretty when the crowds die down. That was taken in late August.

Thanks for the info. I’ll have to go in late August when I get the chance, being a local Floridian, and not having visited seems like a “crime” lol

 

[Bearded Diver]

Are they

I love it when they fill my 72’s to 3000. I keep my mouth shut.

PSTs?

 

[Manatee Diver]

Seeing as I’m based in FL, would you be able to give any suggestions on restaurants you stop at while headed to Ginnie from wherever your live?

I don't really stop at any places that I would recommend, as I am normally in rush to get there and back home. My normal diving day food is McDonald's hashbrowns, Subway sandwich, Arby's curly fries, and some Oreos.

But in the High Springs area I can recommend Mi Apa, Bev's drive through, the Mexican trailer by CCDS, and the Pink Flamingo.

Apparently there is a new diner, I will be giving that a try if I can next week when I am in town.

 

[Bearded Diver]

T

I don't really stop at any places that I would recommend, as I am normally in rush to get there and back home. My normal diving day food is McDonald's hashbrowns, Subway sandwich, Arby's curly fries, and some Oreos.

But in the High Springs area I can recommend Mi Apa, Bev's drive through, the Mexican trailer by CCDS, and the Pink Flamingo.

Apparently there is a new diner, I will be giving that a try if I can next week when I am in town.

Thank you for the suggestions. Oreos are delicious

 

[rx7diver]

I would agree with you. My Al 80s are sometimes filled “over” as in 3200/3150, it’s extra air and I’m not one to complain about that.

Careful: Aluminum cylinders are different than steel. If your Al 80 is filled so that it is 3,150/3,200 psig warm, but cools to 3,000, then this is probably okay. It's better (perhaps) for an Al 80 to be filled to 3,000, then allowed to cool, and then topped-up to 3,000.

rx7diver

 

[lostsheep]

Careful: Aluminum cylinders are different than steel. If your Al 80 is filled so that it is 3,150/3,200 psig warm, but cools to 3,000, then this is probably okay. It's better (perhaps) for an Al 80 to be filled to 3,000, then allowed to cool, and then topped-up to 3,000.

rx7diver

Do you have any data on this? Sounds like keyboard engineering to me.

Please don’t just throw out fatigue or stress/strain…I want numbers and/ or credentials.

I have a very hard time believing a 6% overfill exceeds any safety factor.

Edit: I’m not advocating for cave filling aluminum , just that a +200psi mistake is not the end of the world.