Fills dry or in water bath?

[tomfcrist]

Fill slow and you don't need a wetfill setup.

 

[Wookie]

My fill set up. Constant water flow enter at the bottom at water hose connection and overflows at the top. Impossible for valve or whip to be submerged.

View attachment 428429

I like that....

 

[Flycaster]

If I saw a shop wet filling, I would go to another dive shop.

I believe wet filling is the way to go.

 

[Wookie]

I believe wet filling is the way to go.

Let me know when you've been a dive industry professional for 20 years, had 6000 dives, and numerous cylinders need expensive maintenance due to mishandling. I think you should wet fill too.

 

[BRT]

Fill slow and you don't need a wetfill setup.

I don't think anybody fills much slower than I do (over 3 hours). I still get a fair amount of pressure drop after they cool. I have my compressor shut down at 3800 LB and the tanks drop to 35-3600. I generally don't wet fill but when I do it makes a difference.

 

[swimlikethefish]

Why not go right to the source? Psi. Or Professional Scuba Inspectors, they certify individuals to inspect, clean, fill, and just about everything else involving tanks. I'll save you the time and provide the link. Then tell me if you still think the same way about wet filling your tanks. At the end of the day it is the person filling them that risks the most.

PSI-PCI - Filling Cylinders In Water - Time to Review

 

[swimlikethefish]

Just to note, not saying it will happen, but if it did.

Water does not compress. So if a tank in water were to explode, I'd imagine it would be a rather large shape charge, that I wouldn't want to be anywhere near.
(shape charge, I. E. Rpg, claymore mine just to name a few examples you would understand)
Chances are probably better getting hit by lightning. But why risk it? Just so you can fill your tank faster? Risk doesn't equal the reward in my eyes.

 

[RayfromTX]

Fill slow and you don't need a wetfill setup.

That would be really really slow. I take 30 or 40 minutes to fill an hp 100. That still builds enough heat in the steel to lose around 300 psi after the tanks cool, which I later top off. Way easier to me than a tank bath but I have the convenience of 4 whips and a cascade.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Let me know when you've been a dive industry professional for 20 years, had 6000 dives, and numerous cylinders need expensive maintenance due to mishandling. I think you should wet fill too.

My LDS has been filling tanks in water for over 65 years. I first filled a tank there in the 80s. I have yet to have any issues with my tanks from any fills there.

 

[Flycaster]

Let me know when you've been a dive industry professional for 20 years, had 6000 dives, and numerous cylinders need expensive maintenance due to mishandling. I think you should wet fill too.

Mishandling is the key word here.
Tank monkeys cause the problem not the wet fill process.