VIP on tanks?

[EmmaDives]

Hi everyone,

My AL80 tanks are turning 1 year old this month and so I'm due for a VIP in February. This is more of a hypothetical question, but one I'm curious about nonetheless: I won't be diving with these tanks until the summer (I'm a wetsuit diver in New England and all of my winter diving is done when traveling). If I were to wait a few months to get the VIPs done, say in May, would my tanks need a hydro as well? Or would they just get a standard VIP and be alright? I'm planning on taking them in later this month anyways, but wanted to know what the official policy is with getting VIPs done.

Thanks for your expertise!

 

[tursiops]

You don't need a hydro test until 5 years from the date stamped kinto the metal.
Just wait for the VIP....it'll be good for 12 months from whenever it is done.

 

[Tug]

As long as they are within 5 years of the hydro, you can get them visually inspected anytime you want. I do the same thing myself. Often times I'll have a that I get filled right before the visual expires and don't use it for months. In that case, I'd wait until I used the tank before popping the valve off and inspecting it.

EDIT: living in New England myself, I tend to do most of my gear maintenance in the winter when I don't dive nearly as often. I find this to work well because during the summer, I don't want to worry about having to inspect a tank when I'd rather be diving.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[redacted]

Waiting a few months, if you can, is a good idea. Hyrdos expire at the END of the month stamped so your 02#19 hydro date will require a re-qualification in March 2019. But most ops will consider your vis expired at the beginning of the month indicated so you will be a month short, at best. Your current VIS that is probably FEB 14, is already expired so another VIS would be required for a refill now.

What you want to avoid is having to do 6 VISs before your hydro expires or having to do your re-qual earlier than required.

 

[NAM001]

WHY, I know shops that have perhaps 20 vis's between 5 yr Hydros. Educate me.

What you want to avoid is having to do 6 VISs before your hydro expires or having to do your re-qual earlier than required.

 

[tbone1004]

if he is having to pay for VIP's then there is no sense in having one vip run out 2 months before hydro, it makes sense, wait until you need to get it done then do it.

FWIW the annual VIP is an industry thing, not a DOT/legal thing like hydro is, and even on hydro if the hydro date is Feb but you won't be diving until June, you can wait until May to get your hydro done. Oh, and neat little trick, but if you are diving with boots on your tanks, have them put the vip sticker on the bottom, it is less likely to get rubbed off during use

 

[NAM001]

Understand, Especially when its your own tank. I do the same I hydro and vip as the start of the season. I sounded like you did not want more than 5 vis's per hydro. For high use tanks like rentals they often get vis's quarterly. Or every hundred fills. Especually if being filled with boat compressors.

if he is having to pay for VIP's then there is no sense in having one vip run out 2 months before hydro, it makes sense, wait until you need to get it done then do it.

FWIW the annual VIP is an industry thing, not a DOT/legal thing like hydro is, and even on hydro if the hydro date is Feb but you won't be diving until June, you can wait until May to get your hydro done. Oh, and neat little trick, but if you are diving with boots on your tanks, have them put the vip sticker on the bottom, it is less likely to get rubbed off during use

 

[kwinter]

Hyrdos expire at the END of the month stamped so your 02#19 hydro date will require a re-qualification in March 2019.

Hydros are stamped with the month and year they are done, not when they expire. If there is a tank stamped 02#19, that would be some trick.


iPhone. iTypo. iApologize.

 

[tbone1004]

mine don't get full vip's more than once a year, but if I suspect there's been any water blown into them, i.e. boat fills, the valve will come off and if there's any rust they have a date with the tumbler, if they look like they did when I vip'd them the valve goes back on, but that's the advantage of being able to vip your own tanks....

 

[Kharon]

I have to start remembering not to get my tanks filled after my last dive of the season. Then I can get a VIP over winter. I usually forget and have to get it done after my first dives on the next season which is a PITA.