Wanted: 300 BAR SCUBA TANK (4350PSI)
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KOMPRESSOR
Contributor
When I got my license in 94, 300 bar was not very common on the market here. Single 15 litre steel 200 bar was the rule, with a few exceptions. This has changed a lot since then, and 300 bar tanks are seen everywhere in Scandinavia. Most often as single 10 Litres (=70?), which gives you just a little less diving time than the 15 litres 200 bar.
Lately (=past 5 years?) other sizes too have become regulars in the market. For instance the longer 12 Litres 200 or 232 bar tanks. I use single 12 litres 300 bar myself, and this is the perfect tank for a tall cold water diver like myself.
Your security conserns for the 300 bars in the US, as I read here in this thread, are pretty far out from the real world I would say. Any 300 bar tank is of course made for its purpose, with thicker walls and necks.
Any MODERN compressor on the market can most likely be made into a 300 bar compressor by changing the security valve, filling valve + then some. All modern compressors available on the market can be ordered as 300 bar compressor, and these can of course just as well fill up to "only" 200 bar.
300 bar filling pressure has some drawbacks compared to 200 bar, and also compared to the more up to date 232 bar standard. This is the compressability factor, which means you will not get full use of the extra airpressure inside as breathing time. Not so much of a consern if you also want a heavy tank (= less lead).
10L x 300 bar = 3000 L. But = 2.750 L "effective"
15L x 200 bar = 3000 L "effective".
Also, there's a theoretical higher chance of valve freeze in cold waters due to higher pressure drop in the 1. stage. This is in my opinion more likely to be a result of lousy "mediteranean" valve sets + user flaws.
If you do your dives in warm waters with a wet suit, my opinion is that 300 bar tanks are not suitable for you.
If you spend your dives in a dry suit, the 300 bar would be an excellent choice if the rest of the deciding factors were in place (filling, current national laws etc).
Lately (=past 5 years?) other sizes too have become regulars in the market. For instance the longer 12 Litres 200 or 232 bar tanks. I use single 12 litres 300 bar myself, and this is the perfect tank for a tall cold water diver like myself.
Your security conserns for the 300 bars in the US, as I read here in this thread, are pretty far out from the real world I would say. Any 300 bar tank is of course made for its purpose, with thicker walls and necks.
Any MODERN compressor on the market can most likely be made into a 300 bar compressor by changing the security valve, filling valve + then some. All modern compressors available on the market can be ordered as 300 bar compressor, and these can of course just as well fill up to "only" 200 bar.
300 bar filling pressure has some drawbacks compared to 200 bar, and also compared to the more up to date 232 bar standard. This is the compressability factor, which means you will not get full use of the extra airpressure inside as breathing time. Not so much of a consern if you also want a heavy tank (= less lead).
10L x 300 bar = 3000 L. But = 2.750 L "effective"
15L x 200 bar = 3000 L "effective".
Also, there's a theoretical higher chance of valve freeze in cold waters due to higher pressure drop in the 1. stage. This is in my opinion more likely to be a result of lousy "mediteranean" valve sets + user flaws.
If you do your dives in warm waters with a wet suit, my opinion is that 300 bar tanks are not suitable for you.
If you spend your dives in a dry suit, the 300 bar would be an excellent choice if the rest of the deciding factors were in place (filling, current national laws etc).
AlainD
Registered
Interesting - 12 years later and still no 300bar tanks in the US. The only ones I found online where Luxer 106cf special which is standard 80cf alu wrapped in fiber - at $500(!) with no benefit over my trusty Worthington X7100 230bar (same weight, 5lbs less bouyant, and require 3 year hydro) and CARBONDIVE 300 out of Austria... Why haven't 30 years old (?) 230bar HP steel tank evolve during those years ????
Get you some LP 108s and just fill em' to 4K PSI and call it close enough 
problem solved lol.
If you really want 300bar tanks find some used EU tanks that are in hydro and have them shipped snail freight. Not sure if you'd be able to get them filled or certified once over here but if that's the rated pressure then I don't see the problem. As far as longevity I wouldn't store them full, that kind of a static load must have some kind of an effect.
problem solved lol. If you really want 300bar tanks find some used EU tanks that are in hydro and have them shipped snail freight. Not sure if you'd be able to get them filled or certified once over here but if that's the rated pressure then I don't see the problem. As far as longevity I wouldn't store them full, that kind of a static load must have some kind of an effect.
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