Hi, thought I would share my fill station with you guys - thanks for those who have already posted. This one is located in Canberra, Australia. If you are a Canberra based scubaboard member, feel free to say hi!
A general shot of the fill room. The room is insualted on walls and ceiling with 75mm polystyrene. Makes for good thermal insulation, and also makes it almost sound proof. Keeps the neighbours happy! The room is pretty small, about 3.6*2.0 metres, but manages to fit all the things I need.
The primary compressor is an electric driven bauer K14. I converted this from a 10HP three phase to a 4 HP single phase, and dropped the speed to about 700 RPM. This puts out about 6CFM up to 350 bar. Attached to the intake is an oxyhacker style nitrox stick. Filtration at the compressor through a single PAS9 filter (short stack). The grey panel in front of the compressor slides across to allow clear intake to the compressor - this is basically a hole in the wall, with a sliding cover to stop the rain. An extraction fan is located at head height behind the shelving to encorage air flow.
Gas storage is provided by 6 banks, divided up as follows:
Bank 1: 68L, 280 bar, filled with EAN40 (approx 700 cf)
Bank 2: 68L, 280 bar, filled with EAN40 (approx 700 cf)
Bank 3: 50L, 414 bar (350 bar filled) with EAN 40 (approx 650 CF)
Bank 4: 68L, 280 bar, filled with air (approx 700 CF)
Bank 5: 50L, 414 bar (350 filled) with air (approx 650 CF)
Bank 6: 42L, 350 bar, filled with air (540 CF).
Total storage approx 2050 CF of EAN40, approx 1900 CF of air.
Note that there is usually a set of restraining straps around the banks, and that two hoses are missing. This is because I was re-arranging bits when taking these photos.
The fill panel, or nerve centre. Set up to regulate fills to 250 bar, with three fill whips. Two whips are standard, one runs through an additional two short stacks to provide air, or EAN40 for PP mixing. Only PP mix deco mixes, anything else is done with "dirty nitrox", mixing air and 40% as needed. Yes, I choose to fill in a water bath, and yes, it makes a significant difference for me. The fill panel has independant controls for each bank.
I also have a smaller petrol powered compressor, a Bauer Utilis (U1) with a 5.5 hp honda engine. It spends most of its time as a support for other dive gear. It does get used for some remote trips though. The mixing stick is also visible in this photo - made from PVC piping.
Dive cylinders - not much to say here, except that I never dive manifolds, and when diving in environments requiring redundancy, either dive independant doubles or side-mounts. Lets not get distracted with DIR flame wars please!
Miscelaneous dive spares, stages, compressor spares and camping gear. No wet gear comes into the compressor cave - all that is on racks on the room outside. Prefer to keep my babies away from salty water!
That pretty much sums up my fill station. It's been a work in progress, and has evolved over a number of years. However, at this stage, I can't see me adding or changing much more to the system.
. (but a very good point you raise for me to remember if I ever get a home compressor).
