Steel XS 130's Pros/Cons?

[T. Bix]

I'm looking at steel 130s and am looking for some experienced feedback from the community. Other than nearly doubling my gas and taking 12 lbs of lead off of my belt (compared to al80s) the only drawback I can figure is it may be a bit heavy out of the water but again this is weight that will come off of my waist anyhow. Let's hear what you think.... Thanx in advance.

 

[scubadiver888]

The HP130 is 8 inch rather than 7.25 inch. Some boats have holders for the 7.25 inch so you might find an issue there.

When you look at the buoyancy characteristics you see that the cylinder is more negatively buoyant than an AL80. This means you can remove some weight from your belt. Could be an issue if you don't have that much lead on your waist to begin with. The AL80 is +2.8 lbs when empty and the HP130 is -2.0 lbs when empty. You should be able to drop 5 lbs. from your belt. You want to compare empty to empty otherwise you could find yourself too light at the end of a dive.

It is a little shorter than an AL80 so no worries there.

The change in buoyancy is greater. The HP130 can become as much as 9.7 lbs lighter by the end of a dive. The AL80 can become as much as 4.4 lbs lighter by the end of a dive.

Out of the water you are looking at almost 12 lbs more weight in the tank but you removed 5 lbs from your belt. So it is really an extra 7 lbs you need to carry. However, you are carrying an additional 54 cu.ft. of gas in the cylinder. That is approximately another 4 pounds of weight. So you are back to adding almost 11 pounds to your total kit.

Pros: you have 54 cu.ft. more air and you take 5 lbs off your weight belt.
Cons: you are carrying a total of 11 pounds more on land and the change in buoyancy is greater from start to end of a dive.

 

[Peter_C]

I use HP130's for single tank diving. Mine have H valves on them. The only negative (hmm...a pun?) I found is I had to upgrade my wing from a 30lb to a 40lb wing because my rig would sink. I also have a couple single HP100's that I never use anymore as I much prefer having the extra gas.

 

[elmer fudd]

Do you need the extra gas?

HP100's, are significantly lighter, smaller and have similar buoyancy characteristics. With HP100's as compared to AL80's, your rig weighs less overall, is smaller and holds 23 cf of additional air. When you go to HP130's, your rig is bigger and heavier than it would be with AL80's and it holds 53 cf more air.

If 23 cf of extra air is enough for you, then I'd say it's a no brainer. Get 100's. If on the other hand, you think you will need the extra 53 cf, you should get the 130's.

 

[tshark]

I dive with 150's & 130's most boats I go out on only have room for each diver to bring 2 tanks with these tanks It allows me to dive 2-3 times per tank depending on depth people with aluminum 80's only get one dive per tank as for the weight forget about it it is what it is underwater you will never know the difference & above the water you just get used to it. Air is good I like to breath the more the better you can never have too much but you can have too little just something to think about? Are you worried about a couple of pounds or a couple breaths? Its a no brainer for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! & it should be for you too! Now if you weigh 90 lbs soaking wet & dont use hardly any air then there is no reason to get tanks that are too big? I always want my tanks to be big enough that I have extra air when my buddy is ready to surface. & I still carry a pony or spare air. One thing that nobody mentioned is that these are high pressure tanks & many dive shops do not have enough air in the banks or a big enough compressor to properly fill them so check with your local dive shop & make sure you can get good fills because it is pointless if you are only going to get them filled to 3000 lbs if that is the case then you want to look at low pressure steels & that is another thread all by itself good luck with your decision & safe diving. Todd

 

[deepstops]

I use HP130's for single tank diving. Mine have H valves on them. The only negative (hmm...a pun?) I found is I had to upgrade my wing from a 30lb to a 40lb wing because my rig would sink. I also have a couple single HP100's that I never use anymore as I much prefer having the extra gas.

That doesn't quite add up in my mind.

I dive PST 130s with an AL plate in the summer (lycra skin only) and a SS plate in the winter (5mm full suit) using a Halcyon Eclipse 30 lb. wing. The tank is about 14 lb negative when full and the SS plate is another 6 lb. You should still have a 10 lb. reserve even with a full tank and a SS plate.

 

[Ramsy]

That doesn't quite add up in my mind.

I dive PST 130s with an AL plate in the summer (lycra skin only) and a SS plate in the winter (5mm full suit) using a Halcyon Eclipse 30 lb. wing. The tank is about 14 lb negative when full and the SS plate is another 6 lb. You should still have a 10 lb. reserve even with a full tank and a SS plate.

I dive a HP130 with a Halcyon Eclipse 30 too. I use a 6 lb steel back plate and have 12 lbs on my belt. I dive a dry suit. But, even with the dry suit squeeze (i.e. little air in the suit), my Eclipse has enough lift for my shore dive surface swims.

 

[tbone1004]

I dive a PST HP120 with a DiveRite Travel wing. The 120 has the same buoyancy characteristics and I certain don't pop out of water and float up to my belly button, but it easily keeps my head and shoulders out of the water. Travel wing is 27lbs... I certainly don't sink. I probably wouldn't use this in heavy seas, but when I'm doing that I have a 60lb doubles wing.

 

[Peter_C]

That doesn't quite add up in my mind.

I dive PST 130s with an AL plate in the summer (lycra skin only) and a SS plate in the winter (5mm full suit) using a Halcyon Eclipse 30 lb. wing. The tank is about 14 lb negative when full and the SS plate is another 6 lb. You should still have a 10 lb. reserve even with a full tank and a SS plate.

You are leaving out the dual 1st stages, H valve, the 10 amp can light, the heavier stainless plate with a 7lb or so lead wedge. I can fill the bladder until I hit the OPV at the beginning of the dive and it is negative. If I surface with over half a tank left and clip it off to my tag line it slowly sinks. 40 lb Mach V is the solution for me.

A 30 lb wing is good for most people.

 

[tbone1004]

Was about to ask why you need so much lead then saw CA diving. Thick drysuit undies will do that, and clipping it off will sink if you're not using a weight belt, so fair enough. At that point though I'd just dive doubles... Double 130's would only add about 20lbs of weight since you have the wedge in there... Oh well