m3830431
Contributor
If you wait for the fill don't expect much. If I drpo it off I would expect a full fill which should be within 5%. I need all the capacity I can get.
Short fills- how short is too short?
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One local dive shop near me has seen my last dime because of short fills. The first time they filled a al80 for me I got it back and it was VERY hot to the touch. I didn't check the pressure until I got home and by then it had to cooled to 2500psi. the next time I went to that shop I was very polite and asked for a good full air fill as I needed the air to do a pool job. The guy brings my tank back out to me and it's so hot I couldn't hardly hold it by the valve. I checked the pressure right there and it was 2800psi. I asked the guy about it and he told me "that's the way we fill 'em here".
Sorry, but I'm not spending $7 for a short hot fill.
Now Divers Supply fills all my tanks. I'll get an al80 back from them and it's not hot, It's pumped up to 3200psi and they cool to a perfect 3000psi.
Sorry, but I'm not spending $7 for a short hot fill.
Now Divers Supply fills all my tanks. I'll get an al80 back from them and it's not hot, It's pumped up to 3200psi and they cool to a perfect 3000psi.
The Kraken
He Who Glows in the Dark Waters (ADVISOR)
ScubaBoard Supporter
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
Well, less see here, Bubba.
That there is a 3000 psi tank.
Now you done gone and give me 2750 psi and be chargin me for a "fill" fer $5.
Well, less see here! 2750 divided by 3000 would be bout 92%.
So, here ya go . . . one dollar, two dollars, three dollars, four dollars, twenty-five cents, fifty cents, sixty cents, aw hell!!! I ain't got no pennies.
We'll just make that $4.65 and you can keep them pennies.
the K
That there is a 3000 psi tank.
Now you done gone and give me 2750 psi and be chargin me for a "fill" fer $5.
Well, less see here! 2750 divided by 3000 would be bout 92%.
So, here ya go . . . one dollar, two dollars, three dollars, four dollars, twenty-five cents, fifty cents, sixty cents, aw hell!!! I ain't got no pennies.
We'll just make that $4.65 and you can keep them pennies.
the K
I'll spend several thousand scuba related dollars this year. The short fill shop has lost 100% of my business. One would think that a dive shop operator would be smart enough to treat potential repeat customers a little better than that. I know I would.
LiteHedded
Contributor
you'd think that would make you miss it even moreTSandM:
cummings66
Contributor
To me my limits on what I consider a short fill and easy, anything less than rated pressure. Whether or not that will affect my decision depends on my buddy. I've got 2500 psi fills on a 3500 psi tank giving me less air than an AL80 would hold and still did the dive because I knew I had better air consumption than my buddy and the math worked out.
If I had a buddy that had better air consumption rates then that would be an unacceptable fill for me, that's how I look at it. The reason is simple, no matter what I spend on a fill if I don't use it all and can't do a second dive on it, the excess air doesn't won't change anything for me and I'm still tossing money in the water so to speak.
If I had a buddy that had better air consumption rates then that would be an unacceptable fill for me, that's how I look at it. The reason is simple, no matter what I spend on a fill if I don't use it all and can't do a second dive on it, the excess air doesn't won't change anything for me and I'm still tossing money in the water so to speak.
I have two standards.
#1) I am getting air filled for a dive I am doing right now and am standing there in my wetsuit booties with water dripping off my face. Whatever I get as to mix and fill is going to have to do but 85% full would be nice. The EAN % within 3% this way or that.
#2) I drop the tank off ahead of time. I come back the next day or more later. The tank should be 100% and the EAN% within 1%. YOU had all day to get it right and it should be. Now for the Wah Wah's who gripe about the .353 ~ .365 and I asked for .360 man you gotta be kidding.
#1) I am getting air filled for a dive I am doing right now and am standing there in my wetsuit booties with water dripping off my face. Whatever I get as to mix and fill is going to have to do but 85% full would be nice. The EAN % within 3% this way or that.
#2) I drop the tank off ahead of time. I come back the next day or more later. The tank should be 100% and the EAN% within 1%. YOU had all day to get it right and it should be. Now for the Wah Wah's who gripe about the .353 ~ .365 and I asked for .360 man you gotta be kidding.
rushingwaters
Registered
I would have to agree with you Cummings66, is it enough hair to do the dive with this buddy. I also take into account I am a new diver so I want every bit I can get. I also take into consideration the dive plan. How log will this dive take, and using the 1/3 rule will I have enough air is something were to happen. I have been lucky most fills were right at 3000 psi, or just a bit over. I let them know I am a new diver and need the tank full since I will usually be using my air faster if I am diving with a more experienced buddy.
Here is my understanding of how short fills happen from my son who works in a dive shop...
There are cold fills and hot fills...
When the tank is a hot/fast fill, it will register as being full, even up to 3200psi... thus when the tank cools down it now becomes a short fill at 2800psi.
When the tank is a cold/slow fill the compressed air has a chance to cool down and compress even further. A cold fill that takes a few hours to do will result usually in a full tank at 3000psi.
So it probably is the situation with most LDS and dive boats that they are doing a hot/fast fill and to them, it looks full. Thus cooling down later or when hitting the water the air pressure drops.
There are cold fills and hot fills...
When the tank is a hot/fast fill, it will register as being full, even up to 3200psi... thus when the tank cools down it now becomes a short fill at 2800psi.
When the tank is a cold/slow fill the compressed air has a chance to cool down and compress even further. A cold fill that takes a few hours to do will result usually in a full tank at 3000psi.
So it probably is the situation with most LDS and dive boats that they are doing a hot/fast fill and to them, it looks full. Thus cooling down later or when hitting the water the air pressure drops.
Iam confused by those that are complaining about short fills. The shop I use has a big sign on the compressor door saying make sure you check your pressure before leaving. This is to assure that you got the correct fill or they fix it while you are still there (a CYA). I use to have that issue as some of the employees at the shop would take less then 5 minutes to fill a high pressure 3442 psi 120 tank. Now I just fill them myself and even leave them there and top them off later that week as I am there so often.
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