European Tanks

I recently noticed a French tank on eBay for sale... It's rated in bars and
probably doesn't have a DOT stamp -- probably whatever the European
equivalent might be... It's also likely that it has metric threads, so I
might be hard pressed to get a manifold for it without ordering it from
overseas... From the dimensions that were given (8" diameter by 29" high)
and it being 230 bar, I'm thinking that it might be a 130 cu-ft tank... It's
a USD-Spiro tank...

Would there be a problem with getting a current hydro, VIS, and air fills on
it over here?

In article <lMpzd.50688$XZ7.33461@fe05.lga>,
Grumman-581 <grumman581-YYYY-MM@charter.net> wrote:
>
>
>I recently noticed a French tank on eBay for sale... It's rated in bars and
>probably doesn't have a DOT stamp -- probably whatever the European
>equivalent might be... It's also likely that it has metric threads, so I
>might be hard pressed to get a manifold for it without ordering it from
>overseas... From the dimensions that were given (8" diameter by 29" high)
>and it being 230 bar, I'm thinking that it might be a 130 cu-ft tank... It's
>a USD-Spiro tank...
>
>Would there be a problem with getting a current hydro, VIS, and air fills on
>it over here?

No DOT stamp, no hydro....

--
--
Karl Denninger (karl@denninger.net) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights Activist
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Grumman-581 wrote:

> Would there be a problem with getting a current hydro, VIS, and air fills on
> it over here?

How many dive shops are listed in your local phone book? How long would it take to
conduct a poll to get a rough idea of the percentage of places that wouldn't have a
problem setting you up?


--
Steve

The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable
belief that it was intended as a statement of fact.

If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address.

"Steve" wrote ...
> How many dive shops are listed in your local phone
> book? How long would it take to conduct a poll to
> get a rough idea of the percentage of places that
> wouldn't have a problem setting you up?

In case you didn't noticed, the question was asked on 12/25... The only
place open was rec.scuba... Well, a couple of Chinese restaurants and
daiquari shops also, but definitely no dive shops...

In article <5Gqzd.10253$jn.7047@lakeread06>,
karl@FS.Denninger.Net (Karl Denninger) wrote:

> In article <lMpzd.50688$XZ7.33461@fe05.lga>,
> Grumman-581 <grumman581-YYYY-MM@charter.net> wrote:
> >
[snip]
> >Would there be a problem with getting a current hydro, VIS, and air fills on
> >it over here?
>
> No DOT stamp, no hydro....
>

Not always.

"Dan Nafe" <dan@scuba-training.net> wrote in message
news:dan-001774.09310426122004@comcast.dca.giganews.com...

> Not always.

Correct.

There are a few dive shops around that have knowledgeable people working in
them, that would gladly fill a European tank.

Going to the ones that don't, and listening to the experts lecture on why
your European tank is dangerous, would negate any warm and fuzzies.

Grumman-581 wrote:
> I recently noticed a French tank on eBay for sale... It's rated in bars and
> probably doesn't have a DOT stamp -- probably whatever the European
> equivalent might be... It's also likely that it has metric threads, so I
> might be hard pressed to get a manifold for it without ordering it from
> overseas... From the dimensions that were given (8" diameter by 29" high)
> and it being 230 bar, I'm thinking that it might be a 130 cu-ft tank... It's
> a USD-Spiro tank...
>
> Would there be a problem with getting a current hydro, VIS, and air fills on
> it over here?
>
>


There is nothing at all wrong with those tanks. Except,
that they can't legally be transported across any highways
regulated by the DOT in the US. Additionally, no registered
hydro station can legally give them a DOT hydro. Most dive
shops are insured by companies that do not allow filling
tanks that do not carry DOT certifications.

It is possible, to send the cylinder to the original
manufacturer and get it re-certified to DOT standards, but I
have only heard of one guy in the last 20 years going to
that trouble.

That said, I know of several divers that have "foreign"
tanks and just maintain and fill them at home.

Just my $.02

--

Ray Contreras
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Webmonkey for:
http://www.ossystems.com
http://www.bobs-garage.com
http://www.rayzplace.com

Thus spake "Grumman-581" <grumman581-YYYY-MM@charter.net> :

>"Steve" wrote ...
>> How many dive shops are listed in your local phone
>> book? How long would it take to conduct a poll to
>> get a rough idea of the percentage of places that
>> wouldn't have a problem setting you up?
>
>In case you didn't noticed, the question was asked on 12/25... The only
>place open was rec.scuba... Well, a couple of Chinese restaurants and
>daiquari shops also, but definitely no dive shops...
>
What kind of crappy sevice is that? How are we supposed to get fills
for the new tanks?

Ooops, forgot, you just go out back and fire up the compressor.

--
dillon

"When the French are against it, you know we can't
be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman

"Dillon Pyron" wrote ...
> What kind of crappy sevice is that? How are we supposed to get fills
> for the new tanks?

Yeah, damned inconvenient of them not to be open on the 25th or on Sunday
where I could ask them the question... I spoke with the seller on the phone
today and she said that she would sell me 2 of the tanks for $75 plus actual
shipping costs (or I could pick them up in Miami), assuming that I win the
bid... She sent me the stampings on the tank neck and from what I can
decode, they're 15 liter tanks which should make them 120 cu-ft tanks...
Well, I did win the auction and now I'll have 240 cu-ft for a total of
$115... For that price, I figured it was worth the gamble... Here's the tank
markings:

M25x200 SPIROTECHNIQUE P4AA29860 cal5o230BAR PE345BAR 3/94 V15 1L M20 4K9
AIR

> Ooops, forgot, you just go out back and fire up the compressor.

Don't have one yet... Well, a shop one, but 150 psi isn't going to help much
for a SCUBA tank...

"Dillon Pyron" wrote

>>In case you didn't noticed, the question was asked on 12/25... The only
>>place open was rec.scuba... Well, a couple of Chinese restaurants and
>>daiquari shops also, but definitely no dive shops...
>>
> What kind of crappy sevice is that? How are we supposed to get fills
> for the new tanks?

There are 10 tanks in my home. All of them are full. New tanks are
supposed to come pre-filled.

Lee