Response from AF on Hydrotesting…
I spoke with AF today and they said the following:
* Tank does NOT require visual inspection every year.
* Tank DOES require hydro every 5 years.
* Tank valve needs to be removed counterclockwise.
* Tank valve thread is M18/1.5 and can be tested by Paintball and some SCUBA depending on their adapters.
* AF does NOT hydro their own tanks.
Wok, you’ve got a lot of experience with the tanks… is the thread and removal information correct?
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synopsys,
I’ve been thinking of starting a thread titled “Ab exercises with a HPA pump” or “Upper body workout for the HPA airgunner” or in your case how about “Overcoming back pain with proper pump technique” 🙄
In my case it was “Overcoming Hypertension (moderate high blood pressure) with a HPA Pump” 😳
Yep, the stress goes directly into the mid and lower back. 👿
Ah, hydro underwater and filled with water too. 😉
Will they make you remove the bottle cover? 😕 I cut one off but would like to preserve my others… I don’t have a compressor though. 🙁
I’d say us pump guys don’t stress our tanks as much as you scuba re-fillers do.
It’s probably the rapid changes in pressure that do the most damage. Pumping is SLOW 👿
We all probably have had or will have a tank dump sometime. Undersized, lose fitting pellets can flip sideways and cause a tank dump. That happened once to me. Then there was the time I wanted to empty the tank…Using the tank adapter with a coin or two could be a problem if you’re hard of hearing like me and open the valve a little to far, it took me several seconds and a lot of strength to finally back off the adapter. Once that air flow started, it was like trying to loosen the valve with pressure in the tank. You’ve got a lot of force to overcome and the tank may have to drain down a ways before you can regain control.
Also the tests are done with water which is less stressful than air.
I would imagine Catalina built additional tolerance to allow for hydro testing and normal duty.
SCUBA tanks that are used every day are required to be hydro’d every year instead of 5 years. I think some Euro zone countries require 3 years for specific cylinder materials.
So then wouldn’t hydro testing be a harder cycle than normal and thus over stressing the tank? 😕
That’s right but only to see how elastic the metal is before returning to normal expansion and contraction.
in truth, the hydro test is a lot harder on the tank than what we use them for. 😉
Test away brother. 😀
PPS. it’s not overfilling or damage BUT regular filling and emptying that damages the metal. Because we’re AG users we don’t need annual visual inspection… our tanks have an easy time compared to SCUBA… it’s likely we’ll pass many hydro tests without fault because of our application.
BUT, as we all know, we have 1.5tons per square inch against our cheeks… I’d like to know our tanks are safe and have no pits in the aluminum.
Wok, metal fatigue is an inescapable fact of filling a tank and using a tank. Think of the AL or ST as a balloon that expands and contracts. This process, like bending a nail, will eventually cause it to fail.
The hydro test checks the elasticity of the AF tank… if it’s within tolerance then it passes and can be used for another 5 years. It’s the cheapest way to keep your investment useful.
I will continue my search for hydro’s online and post responses here.
PS. This due diligence is born from SCUBA diving certification and the requirements placed on that industry… It’s better safe than sorry.
Is there a specific reason you need to have it hydro tested? Has it been overfilled, scratched, dinged or damaged in any way?
If the tank is in undamaged condition and not being filled by a professional then you really do not have to have it hydrotested.
If the tank were regularly overfilled or damaged then I would have it tested.
Done and I will check with my dive shop on my next refill and see if there’s a specific part they need to order. I’ll pass on everything I discover on this thread.
They are correct.
Contact a hydro tester and see what they say.
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Testing underwater with the tank filled with water is no less stressful on the tank and with air. It is just a lot safer if it fails….
Using my FX pump, if I change my style of pumping, I can do a pretty good ab and tricep workout.
Abs = lock arms and basically bend over 🙂
Triceps / biceps = lock upper body and just use arms.
DVe