what sort of compressor do you need to fill your own tanks

[scubabo]

If anyone wants a compressor in Minnesota or will drive to southern MN. I know where there is one for sale. Don't know the details right now, let me know.

 

[oldmossback]

I have been weighing the options for a long time and finally decided to take the plunge and buy a compressor. It really is not about price for the casual diver, it is about availability. I wanted to dive over the weekend a little while back but couldn't because my tanks were empty. I realize I will never get my money out of a compressor but then I'll never get any financial return from my other dive equipment. I buy it to use. Eventually most of it wears out and then you buy it again.
Why treat a compressor any different?

Exactly!.......I have collected over the years 10 tanks, and having to fill them all would run me a hundred dollars each time, not to mention the drudgery of hauliing all to a LDS and back. Secondly, here in the states, if one does not use these for anything other than personal use, one can do ones on VIP and "if one dares and has not abused ones tanks" skip the hydro.......saves a bunch of money...........

I keep one or two hydroed for boat trips etc.......but the rest I pass, since they are for personal use only..........

But, as stated above, the convience of filling them myself when I chose to do this, out weighs the cost, maintence etc...............

I paid $1500 for a used one.............best investment I made concerning dive equipment.

Oldmossback

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

I would think the big problem with skipping hydro would be the legal liability. Anything goes wrong even remotely connected to your tanks and the insurance companies would claim negligence on your part and deny coverage. Anyone else gets hurt and you have a target on your back.

With the VIP, you can claim it is a industry standard, not a legal requirement. You can also claim you visually inspected the tank yourself. These don't apply to the hydro.

Still, a compressor would be nice.

 

[willembad]

If I'm wrong I'm sure to be corrected but I believe hydro's are a DOT regulation that applies to "compressed gas cylinders used for interstate commerce" or something to that effect. If so, that hardly applies to your average privately owned scuba tank being filled by a privately owned compressor.

I still don't think it's worth saving the $15 dollars every five years in my case. Doing them also completely eliminates the hassle when I do want my tanks filled away from home. I do my own O2 cleaning, valve rebuilds and slap on my own vis sticker marking the tank as such. I bet I do a better job of that than most lds's anyway. For those of you needing vis stickers, I get them from The Bumper Sticker . I bet they will run you some without the set-up charge if you use my design.

View attachment TANK STICKER.pdf

Willem

 

[captain]

I would think the big problem with skipping hydro would be the legal liability. Anything goes wrong even remotely connected to your tanks and the insurance companies would claim negligence on your part and deny coverage. Anyone else gets hurt and you have a target on your back.

With the VIP, you can claim it is a industry standard, not a legal requirement. You can also claim you visually inspected the tank yourself. These don't apply to the hydro.

Still, a compressor would be nice.

The regulations state,

"No cylinder may be filled with a hazardous material and offered for transportation in commerce unless that cylinder has been successfully requalified and marked in accordance with this subpart.
A cylinder may be requalified at any time during or before the month and year that the requalification is due. However, a cylinder filled before the requalification becomes due may remain in service until it is emptied".

Whos to say it was refilled after the hydro expired, even 10 years later. And what is the definition of empty, is it 0 psi. What if it is 500 psi is that empty.

 

[Mike Boswell]

Shelden Sporting Goods Inc. - High Pressure Air Compressors

I bought a compressor a few months ago from Shelden Sporting Goods.

I bought it mainly for the convenience and so far have been very pleased with my decision.

It is nice to walk out to the garage to fill my tanks instead of going to the LDS and spending in excess of an 1.5 hrs.

I am able to fill my H/P 100 or H/P 130 in about 25 min's for each.

Jim Shelden is retired from the Aero-Space industry and does excellent work, he has been building compressors for a long time.

Take a look at his website and see what you think.


Ron Henderson

Hi Ron, Thanks for the link. I checked out the website and liked what I saw. Can you tell me what other items are needed, and what the maintenance and filter replacement costs are? Also, do you repack your own filters?

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

The regulations state,

"No cylinder may be filled with a hazardous material and offered for transportation in commerce unless that cylinder has been successfully requalified and marked in accordance with this subpart.
A cylinder may be requalified at any time during or before the month and year that the requalification is due. However, a cylinder filled before the requalification becomes due may remain in service until it is emptied".

Whos to say it was refilled after the hydro expired, even 10 years later. And what is the definition of empty, is it 0 psi. What if it is 500 psi is that empty.

You missed my point. It is not that the scuba police will track you down for filling your tanks out of hydro. As a private party, no one really cares what you do with your own tanks until someone gets hurt, suffer a loss or you have to file an insurance claim on your homeowners policy.

The lawyers for the insurance company or injured party will be more than happy to hang you with a charge of negligence. They will paint you as a renegade flaunting the law / industry standards / common practice.

If you think you can weasel your way out past a room full of law dogs, go for it.

 

[captain]

You missed my point. It is not that the scuba police will track you down for filling your tanks out of hydro. As a private party, no one really cares what you do with your own tanks until someone gets hurt, suffer a loss or you have to file an insurance claim on your homeowners policy.

The lawyers for the insurance company or injured party will be more than happy to hang you with a charge of negligence. They will paint you as a renegade flaunting the law / industry standards / common practice.

If you think you can weasel your way out past a room full of law dogs, go for it.

If I had to live my life worring about what if, remote possibilities and lawyers I would have locked myself in a closet full of rattle snakes long ago.

 

[vicmac]

thanks for all your replies, I think Ill stick to trips to the shop for now.