Hpa Fills...

[deano 177]

I just got into using the Hpa tanks thanks to my vs3. I have noticed that when I get the tanks filled at my local shop, they are having a hard time getting them up to the 45K. This may be their setup so there is nothing that I could do to remedy this situation. The real issue is when the tanks cool down, they lose some pressure. I understand that hotter air will have more volume and that when it cools off it will shrink inside the tank giving you less pressure. I play at a private field and we have no way to fill HPA or co2. So, I guess what I am asking is: is this a normal situation and is there anything that I could do to aid them in getting the tanks fully filled?

[Critical]

You're probably getting a fast fill at the store, which is the most common method. This results in the exact situation you describe. The only way you can overcome the pressure drop is to see if the shop will let you fill the bottle, then wait a couple of minutes, then top off the bottle.

[druid]

flash fills = hot tank...and it will loose anywhere up to 200 psi or so when it cools.

slow fills at a dive shop = FTW

[deano 177]

Ahh. I see. I might have to see what the dive shop will charge me. I am supposed to be getting a scuba tank from one of my friends who doesnt use it any more. I'm sure I'll have to hydro it but then I'll be able to do my own if I need to. The pb shop has $1 fills for co2 and hpa so its hard to beat, even if they don't get it all the way up. Would putting the tanks in a cooler help? Would I run any risks doing that?

By the way what does FTW mean? I have seen it before and I haven't figured it out...

[bigred76]

For The Win.

Just hang out around the shop for a little while until the tank cools down, and ask them to top it off. It's what I do.

[druid]

the dive shop where I get mine done is the same price as the proshop. Yours should not be much different either.

[bigred76]

Didn't see your question about the cooler until I checked out the thread because Druid posted...

Yeah, you can put it in a cooler. Won't do anything for ya, though.

[timbertiger20]

Originally Posted by druid

flash fills = hot tank...and it will loose anywhere up to 200 psi or so when it cools.

slow fills at a dive shop = FTW

I've seen 4500 psi tanks loose up to 700 PSI on hot fills!

[camo_mr1]

my shop could never get the right psi but i figured out that if i empty the tank with the remote so i know its empty and i havent had a problem scence, 3000 psi every time on their gauge and mine

[timbertiger20]

Your guages will be typically 5% +/- where as most real HPA fill stations use high end liquid filled guages! Always go by their's not yours!