inflating from a scuba tank

[paulpost]

Not too long ago in one of the posts but I cannot say which, I remember someone saying that they inflate thayer boats from thayer scuba tanks.
Can anyone confirm?

 

[jamesdeanj]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

I guess that would depend on if you were doing a complete fill or just topping it off out on the water. Although tanks have a lot of pressure, they don't have a lot of volume. It would be an expensive way to do it.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

yes you can from any tank that can take alot of pressure, I have used a empty gas bottle (gas that a stove works with, not fuel) and filled it with my compressor, work well ....

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

3000 PSI tank.....3 PSI boat


BOOM

 

[gobigkahuna]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

3000 PSI tank.....3 PSI boat


BOOM

Hah, yeah, that's the risk. Liferafts are essentially inflatable boats that are filled with a high pressure tank. The difference is that they have built in over-pressure dump valves to prevent the raft from exceeding the designed pressure and going boom. I suppose if you were really careful to only use the tank to fill the raft part way, then top it off with a hand pump, it would work, but I personally would go with a low pressure, high volume electric pump instead.

 

[j_martin]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

With a regulator, pressure is no problem.

I use a 288 cu ft dry nitrogen tank with a reg on it and a spray nozzle to blow the dust out of computers. Haven't had any flying CPU's yet.

Whatever the capacity rating on the tank is, (lets say 50) it is in free air volume, that is at 1 atmosphere pressure, or what we call 0 psi. (it's relative, you know) So a 50 cubic foot scuba tank would fill a 50 cubic foot raft or something. If you own tanks, and the high pressure compressor to fill them, it sounds like a good way to go.

The local rescue guys have a high pressure back pack tank rigged with a 200 psi regulator. They drive a zip gun with a sheet metal ripper in it. They can open up an automobile like a bean can in about a minute to extract the victim. The high pressure tank makes it very portable and flexible.

To answer the first question:

YES

hope it clears it up.

 

[paulpost]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

Thank for all the replays.
My question on the main post was referring on how to inflate from a scuba tank, what kind of gadgets you need to do it.
Thanks again
Paul

 

[erikgreen]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

Just a first stage regulator, which converts 3000 PSI to 100 or so. The hose from that is inserted into a foot pump type hose with a nozzle that fits the valves on the tubes. The hoses are basically duct taped together.

We don't fill the tubes from empty with the tanks, as someone pointed out that's a lot of air. It's not expensive for us since we have our own scuba compressor (fills for free) but I digress.

For topping off tubes or a quick firming we use the scuba tank... very fast, very easy, and most importantly possible when in a wavy environment.

If you want to duplicate our setup, get yourself an old first stage regulator (the part that clamps to the tank) and plug all the hose outlets except for one low pressure outlet. Attach a low pressure hose with at least a few inches of good hose to that outlet, cut off the other end, and tape on a filler hose that fits your inflatable. Turn the tank valve on and off to start and stop air.

For fills from empty, use the foot pump or an electric compressor or pump.

Erik

PS: I was the guy that originally posted about us filling with scuba tanks, I just don't read this board section that often.

 

[perthcatboy]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

I have been using my scuba tank to inflate my inflatable thundercat (and 4wd tyres/SUV Tires) for several years, largely because I always have a scuba tank handy. Obviously its not 'idiot proof' but it is very fast and easy. Especially if you have a half pressurized tank that you wouldnt dive with anyway...
I have also used it to inflate my kite surfing kite...

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

Hey mate, I kitesurf too .... happy times ....

 

[erikgreen]

Re: inflating from a scuba tank

Yeah, we help run a sail board and kite race annually on lake Mille Lacs... this year we thought we should offer a fill service for kites... much faster than foot pumping, and we have over a hundred tanks we could use, so no running out of air.....

We use the RIB boats as safety and rescue launches. My 21 foot glass boat was watching the turnaround point this year.

I still think they should run a race on Lake Superior... love to see the kiters in 5-6 foot waves and thick wetsuits