Pony bottle question

[doctormike]

To my limited experience, if the arrival dive shop reinstalls the valve for you then there is a VIP charge. If you just arrive at the shop reassempled tank in hand with a current VIP...

Yeah, I don't know much about this either, and I suppose customs and practices vary from place to place. Some tank fillers will do all sorts of dangerous stuff, like fill non-O2 clean tanks with 100%, etc...

I guess that workaround might work, but from what I have experienced, if you bring a tank in to a reputable shop for a fill, and the tank is completely empty, a VIP is required.

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

A transfill whip is incredibly useful. What if you use your pony bottle or it leaks? Top it off on the boat.
What if you have ridiculously large steel tanks(like me) and often do no-deco dives? Answer: I can whip between tanks and often squeak out 3 dives on one big tank and then get two more dives on the other big tank (by whipping tanks)... I can do 5 dives on two tanks, and if I am solo and carry a pony bottle, I don't need to save a whole lotta gas in the main tank to rescue a buddy. If you are doing multi-day trips the whip is especially useful, but you do normally want to have a gauge on it.

So is your "ridiculously large steel tanks" used like a mobile cascade system and you are only using it to fill other tanks you intend to dive? Never diving with the large tank only use smaller lighter tanks?
I usually take several tanks with me on a shore dive and leave them in the truck - on boat dives it is usually only a two tank dive for me - even if I dive off my boat...
So we must be doing different types of diving - I think. Are you on the water all day long and that is the benefit?

*****
Does it really matter about the gauge on the transwhip? I would think you are diving whatever equalizes into the tank and you are done. You would know what you have when you put your regs on - I am assuming at that point you have a gauge on your regs.

 

[Wookie]

I have never had anyone require a VIP for my pony while traveling with it. I reinstall the valve at the destination and the operator simply fills the cylinder. Of course, it could happen.

For many of the reasons mentioned in the posts above, I think the purchase of a whip is in my future too, not that many things I can think of to buy

When you bring it to me, I'd like to at least look in it if it's empty. Of course, I have ponies of every size here....

 

[Basking Ridge Diver]

I have probably only added to the confusion all in all, sorry for that. N

Nope - these rambling threads are generally the best - you get multiple thoughts in a single thread that are loosely connected but mostly interesting if you stay near topic.

 

[Dave616]

On the ocassion I have taken an aux bottle aboard an aircraft I removed the valve. Installed valve at the destination and filled the tank. I am going to make an ultralight fill whip using the new braided HP hose and then can fill and top myself. I have already begun on it, waiting on swages. It will be three feet long and will not have valves or a guage to minimize weight and size.

If trying to minimize the total package, have you considered a 1st stage/valve combo? It seems like you would save at least a pound.

Our 19 has a Zeagle RaZor on it, but I haven't done any airline travel with it or used it extensively. That 19 has mostly been carried by my wife.

 

[JohnN]

When you bring it to me, I'd like to at least look in it if it's empty. Of course, I have ponies of every size here....

If the pony is Al and not being partial pressure filled, I don't quite understand what a visual will add (as long as the hydro is current).

 

[redacted]

If the pony is Al and not being partial pressure filled, I don't quite understand what a visual will add (as long as the hydro is current).

I suspect the idea is, as long as the tank is empty, why not take a peek inside before filling it. I know I always do before I reinstall the valve and fill it.

 

[whitefang21]

i check as well for corrosion or flash rusting in my steel tanks. Dive shops normally have that policy to VIP a cylinder once you bring it in empty. This is matter of safety. safety for the blender who is filling your tanks, safety for the shop making sure they are covered in the event the diver is not breathing contaminated air or nitrox. Safety for the diver.

john chatteron has blog titled " Send lawyers, guns and money" Very interesting read.

 

[doctormike]

If the pony is Al and not being partial pressure filled, I don't quite understand what a visual will add (as long as the hydro is current).

Even aluminum tanks can get a wet or dirty fill...

 

[uncfnp]

...//... Dive shops normally have that policy to VIP a cylinder once you bring it in empty. This is matter of safety. safety for the blender who is filling your tanks, safety for the shop making sure they are covered in the event the diver is not breathing contaminated air or nitrox. Safety for the diver.
...//...

Interesting. Not related to ponies but the LDS I use in Florida does partial pressure blending. And yet they want the tank empty when you bring it in.