Over filling LP tanks, what's the real deal?

[techintime]

All,
Taking all of the legal disclaimers and the manufacturers specs out of the conversation, what is the tech diving comunity really doing when it comes to overfilling LP steel tanks? I have seen some divers filling LP 120s and LP 95s to 3500 psi. I have also heard that this is common in other countries. I have also heard that some divers won't even fill to +10% without the plus sign on the tank. So what is the real deal? What is safe? I don't want to hear a lot of CYA legal stuff. I want to hear what people are really doing and the rationale behind it. Thanks.

 

[Scott L]

All,
Taking all of the legal disclaimers and the manufacturers specs out of the conversation, what is the tech diving comunity really doing when it comes to overfilling LP steel tanks? I have seen some divers filling LP 120s and LP 95s to 3500 psi. I have also heard that this is common in other countries. I have also heard that some divers won't even fill to +10% without the plus sign on the tank. So what is the real deal? What is safe? I don't want to hear a lot of CYA legal stuff. I want to hear what people are really doing and the rationale behind it. Thanks.

Fabers are designed, engineered and manufactured for 10,000 cycles at 4000psi. Getting them filled to 3500psi outside of cave countrty can be a challenge for many...

 

[techintime]

It is probably fair to say that the information in most of these threads may be available elsewhere. And even in the short time I have been on this site I have seen a lot of very basic discussions that were probably solved decades ago. Those with better things to do than help out a fellow diver with a (what is apparently) a common question are free to ignore this thread for more your important online matters. To those with the time and inclination to give me a hand understanding this, my question remains.

PS: One thing I have learned is that the Captain of the MV Spree has a attitude problem. I will pass that information on to fellow divers heading to Key West and your boat is now off of my list. A dive boat captain that insults fellow divers...quite the business model.

 

[techintime]

Fabers are designed, engineered and manufactured for 10,000 cycles at 4000psi. Getting them filled to 3500psi outside of cave countrty can be a challenge for many...

You're gonna die if you overfill your steel tanks, end of story.

First...To those that are providing real information...Thank you.

Valhalla and Deepstops have somewhat divergent viewpoints.

Deepstops...what is your rationale?

Valhalla...Im going to check the Faber website, but can you give me a source for your info on the 4000 psi x 10,000 cycles?

And again...thank you for the polite answers. Im a new tech diver with all of the toys, and the cards, but I'm really just getting started. I am using this website as an educational tool.

 

[Wookie]

PS: One thing I have learned is that the Captain of the MV Spree has a attitude problem. I will pass that information on to fellow divers heading to Key West and your boat is now off of my list. A dive boat captain that insults fellow divers...quite the business model.

Wow. If you feel insulted by my calling a thread silly that has a question followed by 6 non-answers, I'm sorry. I'm also sorry we won't see you onboard, but there are other good dive boats in the gulf and around the world that will be happy for your business.

Your question is framed in such a way as to make it unanswerable. The whole purpose of the pressure stamp on a cylinder is a CYA. You asked "what is safe". Well, what is safe is to fill them to the rated pressure, plus overfill if allowed.

So, you are an Air Force Pilot. Every airframe has a limit that the Air Force says is the max airspeed. They may let you exceed that limit a number of times by a certain percent. If you exceed that airspeed too many times, or by too high a percent, you are in unknown territory. It might be safe, it might not, but it hasn't been tested for.

In the end, If you get on the internet chat boards, and you ask a question that has been beaten to death over and over, for which the answer can be found by that little box at the top marked "search", you can expect to be ignored, or "insulted". I would suggest not asking if you should buy your gear online or at the LDS.

Happy diving and good luck with your fills, however you intend to accomplish them.

Frank

 

[BlueWaterDiving]

Im a new tech diver with all of the toys, and the (cards,) but I'm really just getting started. I am using this website as an educational tool.

I would think that your tech instructor would of should of talked about this in tech class. If he/she did not. I would not be to happy about my training. Just my 2 cents

 

[deepstops]

First...To those that are providing real information...Thank you.

Valhalla and Deepstops have somewhat divergent viewpoints.

Deepstops...what is your rationale?

Valhalla...Im going to check the Faber website, but can you give me a source for your info on the 4000 psi x 10,000 cycles?

And again...thank you for the polite answers. Im a new tech diver with all of the toys, and the cards, but I'm really just getting started. I am using this website as an educational tool.

My comment was tongue in cheek but only because this question gets asked nearly weekly. I routinely fill my LP85 doubles to 3500 psi.

Regarding Valhalla's source, here's the web page courtesy of the Wayback Machine Archive site (they've since stopped posting this information): OMS Steel Cylinders Specifications http://www.OMSdive.com

Faber made the OMS cylinders at the time (only the paint was different).

And please don't hold it against Wookie because he called this thread silly.

 

[scubafanatic]

It is probably fair to say that the information in most of these threads may be available elsewhere. And even in the short time I have been on this site I have seen a lot of very basic discussions that were probably solved decades ago. Those with better things to do than help out a fellow diver with a (what is apparently) a common question are free to ignore this thread for more your important online matters. To those with the time and inclination to give me a hand understanding this, my question remains.

PS: One thing I have learned is that the Captain of the MV Spree has a attitude problem. I will pass that information on to fellow divers heading to Key West and your boat is now off of my list. A dive boat captain that insults fellow divers...quite the business model.

....I know Captain Frank and highly enjoyed NUMEROUS trips on SPREE while he was servicing the Texas Flower Gardens (before he moved to the Key West Florida area)...and I think you are misreading him here......he has a long history of helpful input/answers here on SB......I think most of his comment was aimed at addressing the fact that the thread was already pretty much derailed at that point......and at best only a minor/mild 'dig' at you ....those of us who been here a while would characterize your question as 'beating a dead horse' and I'll admit even I get bored by seeing the exact same question asked here every 10 minutes.....so it's human nature for a little frustration to be displayed sometimes......also though, you openly claim you've got all the tech toys and all the tech cards...if this is true, your question is what I would call 'remedial'...as in you need to go review your books or get a refund on your classes, at best...at worst, it could be interpreted as a 'troll' question...it's way too basic a question for someone with your background/experience to really be having to ask.....I hope this helps you understand the responses received.

 

[halocline]

It is probably fair to say that the information in most of these threads may be available elsewhere. And even in the short time I have been on this site I have seen a lot of very basic discussions that were probably solved decades ago. Those with better things to do than help out a fellow diver with a (what is apparently) a common question are free to ignore this thread for more your important online matters. To those with the time and inclination to give me a hand understanding this, my question remains.

PS: One thing I have learned is that the Captain of the MV Spree has a attitude problem. I will pass that information on to fellow divers heading to Key West and your boat is now off of my list. A dive boat captain that insults fellow divers...quite the business model.

Dude, no offense, but you need to develop a thicker skin. I read absolutely no insult to you in anyone's comments. You have to understand that this topic has sparked monstro threads that run the entire spectrum of intelligence, all levels of emotion and drama, and those of us who have had the (mis)fortune of having participated in a few of those just laugh every time this topic comes up. Do a search, read for about, oh 20-30 hours, then see how sick of the topic you are.

The only 'true' statement about overfilling LP steel tanks is that it's a matter of very strong and widely varied opinion.

BTW, I've been on the spree, and Frank is a stand up guy, and does not have an attitude problem. You're the one tossing insults on this thread.

 

[The Chairman]

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