Scuba Tank for On Board air... stupid qestion?

[Honu]

I'd like to bring up this thread and ask that anybody who IS runnign a scuba tank setup if you could please post a picture of how your secured the tank in the bed/cargo area. I have all the gear and filling attachment and am now considering how to secure it in my cargo area (I don't just want to lay it down like I usually do when I go diving).

With more cargo, I have to pack carefully, and obviously it's only used once on the trip doesn't need to be accessible all the time.

check out some online dive tech places you can get some nice D rings and big hose/tank clamps and I bet come up with a solid solution
look up the word " D Ring Taco Bracket " they keep the band flat and the ring can float in it a bit that way
we used to have two bands on our tanks with rings for holding our reels and lights and stuff but they are very solid !!!


the other thought is to use a tank band and some kind of dive chocks the flip up ones held up on the boats I worked on for years without issues

but the flip up tank holders maybe could be a good start to look at for ideas

I used to keep tanks in my car all the time in the islands for the quick lets stop here and dive days and like yourself to tell others they are a lot tougher than one thinks


one thing I had thought in the past was to get some extra tank bands and two horizontal anti roll chocks the bands that lock the tank to the BC ! and secure them to the side of the fender well and then just flip them tight

 

[wanderer-rrorc]

Ive been using one for the last 6 years....I didnt even put a skidplate on it when I was changing the neck when I noticed the THICKNESS of the tank!!!

for years people gave me crap for not having a skidplate...

then mythbusters SHOT one...and it didnt explode....no more crap...:victory:

150/200psi is NOT enough to make these blow...it theres a crack it will just leak out air like a cut tire...no kabooms!:coffeedrink:

 

[luk4mud]

What do you run in the scuba tank, just compressed air? My brother is a certified dive instructor and has many times questioned me as to why I pay for CO2 when he could just give me a couple of scuba tanks and fill them for free at the dive shop.

 

[SWbySWesty]

well, it seems that a CO2 tank will give you more fills per tank, but other than that, it seems the debate is questionable. I'll stick to my scuba tank idea and follow through!

 

[xcmountain80]

I bought a CO2 tank out of desperation, though it is smaller than a AL80 (8 of those in the garage). I enjoy my CO2 tank but you have to be conscious of it when working in the wheel well as CO2 will asphyxiate you, please don't ask how I know. Dive tanks should be able to be setup for less, the CO2 tank have the same inspection schedule so no benefit there.

A

 

[SWbySWesty]

The issue arises from filling the AL80 tanks. If a shop is on top of it, they will NOT fill a tank without a SCUBA certification. just FYI...

That being said, I filled paintball tanks after they signed a waiver stating that the tank was NOT for scuba use. I'm sure you could do the same at any shop.

 

[off-roader]

It's interesting that scuba is being compared to a liquid CO2 tank.

Other than the possible albeit remote danger of CO2 asphyxiation I see no advantage of Scuba over liquid CO2... but then again, I may be mis-reading the thread...

If there are some advantages I'm overlooking then perhaps someone can educate me on that ?:smiley_drive:

 

[SWbySWesty]

you misread The idea is that if you have a scuba tank laying around, it costs less to put together an on-board air system than a powertank. That's all. I already have everythign I needed from scuba diving, so basically my on-board air system cost me $0.

 

[off-roader]

you misread The idea is that if you have a scuba tank laying around, it costs less to put together an on-board air system than a powertank. That's all. I already have everythign I needed from scuba diving, so basically my on-board air system cost me $0.

You're right. I didn't read through the whole thread and obviously missed that. LOL.

It was probably already noted that you'd get far more fills with a CO2 versus a scuba tank right? Also, there are other alternatives at your local commercial beverage shop that are far more cost effective than a PowerTank right? If these haven't been suggested, let me know and I'll give the details.

Otherwise, I'll go back to eating my popcorn and watch what else is suggested.
:victory:

 

[SWbySWesty]

Popcorn time !

What we want now; however, or at least me, are photos of where people have secured their tanks...CO2 or scuba or SCBA

 

[off-roader]

Popcorn time !

What we want now; however, or at least me, are photos of where people have secured their tanks...CO2 or scuba or SCBA

My CO2 is mounted horizontally on my roof rack using a pair of Super Quick Fist straps (https://www.expeditionexchange.com/quickfist/).

FWIW, if the regulator were to break off on mine, the bottle should not become a projectile like what would typically happen with a compressed air vessel. At least that's my understanding.

(sorry for mediocre pic). I can find & post a better one if you'd like.

HTH.
:ylsmoke:

 

[ntsqd]

A compressed gas, no matter what it is, will try to propel it's containing vessel if given the chance. The difference is the pressure in the vessel. CO2 goes liquid at a significantly lower pressure that what N2 or O2 are usually stored at, and once that happens there is little to gain in running the pressure much higher. The latter two don't turn to liquid at their storage pressures, so their storage pressure is run up quite high as a volume offset. I recall reading somewhere that CO2 tanks are at about 300 psi, that sound right? Don't own one, so not sure.
By contrast, my welding Argon and Oxygen bottles come to me at 2500+ psi and the typical N2 bottle is compressed similarly.

 

[1Engine]

I just mount mine in a 9kg fire extingusher bracket.
I have an extingisher on the drivers side, just in case I need it quickly & the scuba tank on the passengers side.

 

[w squared]

I'll offer some basic facts here.

A big part of what I do for a living involves providing compressed breathing air for people in dangerous environments, so I deal with cylinders of high pressure air constantly.

In terms of space taken up, a SCUBA or SCBA tank will not compete with a CO2 tank.

The reason for this is that CO2 goes liquid at about 800psi, meaning that you get more inflation "bang" for your cargo space "buck". Air stays gaseous up past 5000 psi.

Also understand that most places that compress air to that sort of pressure have lawyers on their radar...they won't fill something unless they can see that it's within the hydro-test date, most SCUBA places won't fill a bottle for someone that's not certified, and unless you know someone, a place that has an industrial breathing air compressor won't fill and SCBA cylinder for you at a reasonable price.

In short, if you already know how to get it filled and have cheap (free?) access to a breathing air (SCUBA or SCBA) cylinder, it makes sense.

For my money, CO2 makes more sense. Mostly because I'll get 2 to 3 times as much inflation for the same storage space, because I can get a dirt-simple CO2 regulator for $50 (try to find a good breathing air regulator for that price), and because I'd rather have a tank at 800psi in my rig than one at 4500psi. I'm not all that worried about an SCBA or SCUBA tank rupturing...those are some stoutly built cylinders...but why tempt fate?

Here are some ideas to throw together a workable system

Tank = http://www.beveragefactory.com/draft...anks/co2.shtml
Regulator = http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/co2systems.htm
Mounting bracket = http://www.outbackequipped.com/accessories.asp#bracket

You can get it filled at a beverage supply place or a welding shop.
The downside is that you need to weigh it to figure out how much CO2 is in it at any given time.

By the way...I didn't search out the links myself, I stumbled across them on a Jeep board.

 

[1Engine]

A couple of disadvantages with CO2 is that it has a high rate of expansion when subject to temperature.
Also here in Aus any more than the equivalent of 2lb of Dry Ice / compressed CO2 is classed as dangerous goods & cannot be carried inside a vehicle & must be carried on an open tray. This is due to a leak from the bottle or the gas given off from the dry ice may cause asphyxiation to the occupants