Argon bottle

[Captain Deco]

I am just about to take the step into OC Trimix divng, and am getting some tof the essentials together - a Argon bottle set up being one of them. I have the OPV and te 1st stage (On order from Nik of Naks) but just want some opinions (well actually I want a great big YD row with everyone getting really grumpy about thir ow choice ) on what size of Argon bottle, and where best to mount it.

My choices are in the 1L area, mounted on the cylinders. Anyone have this setup? Anyone think of a reason why this wouldn't be as good as any other set up - or bette for that matter.

All advice greatfully received.

[Digger]

I'd go for a 1.5. 1 litre I found would get me through a big dive or a couple of smaller ones, but that was about it. I don't like to have to refill the thing between 2 trimix dives over a weekend, it's just a pain in the arse. Plus the 1.5 is the same diameter as the 1, just a bit longer.

Plus you'll find more 1.5s up for sale as there's a lot more of them out there.

I have a 2litre which is a bit bigger diameter but about the same length for sale. Not got round to posting it because I'm not convinced I won't need it in the future, and they don't make them any more. Hmm.

Digs.

[Mal Bridgeman]

Originally Posted by scubajay

I am just about to take the step into OC Trimix divng, and am getting some tof the essentials together - a Argon bottle set up being one of them. I have the OPV and te 1st stage (On order from Nik of Naks) but just want some opinions (well actually I want a great big YD row with everyone getting really grumpy about thir ow choice ) on what size of Argon bottle, and where best to mount it.

My choices are in the 1L area, mounted on the cylinders. Anyone have this setup? Anyone think of a reason why this wouldn't be as good as any other set up - or bette for that matter.

All advice greatfully received.

I used to have a 1.5l ali one mounted on my cylinders but it was a bit of a PITA trying to find the optimum point of not interfering with the wing, being reachable and not having the bands interfere with the plate mounting. It was doable but always involved a certain amount of pfaff.

I now have a 1l steel cylinder mounted to my backplate which I find a really great solution ..... perfect for ocean diving where you only need to inflate to take off the squeeze on the way down.

A discussion I had last week got me thinking about the Argon cylinder and I think I will try what was recommended ....essentially only have the cylinder open 1/4 of a turn so if you get a freeflow you have the minimum of work to do to turn it off. Made sense to me.

HTH
Mal

[Captain Deco]

Thanks Mal.....that gave me some tips I didn't consider.

WHats the deal with testing these bottles? As rigorous as the other gear? I only intend to fill it wth air......

[Digger]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I used to have a 1.5l ali one mounted on my cylinders but it was a bit of a PITA trying to find the optimum point of not interfering with the wing, being reachable and not having the bands interfere with the plate mounting. It was doable but always involved a certain amount of pfaff.

I now have a 1l steel cylinder mounted to my backplate which I find a really great solution ..... perfect for ocean diving where you only need to inflate to take off the squeeze on the way down.

A discussion I had last week got me thinking about the Argon cylinder and I think I will try what was recommended ....essentially only have the cylinder open 1/4 of a turn so if you get a freeflow you have the minimum of work to do to turn it off. Made sense to me.

HTH
Mal

Oh dear. Have you been listening to chimps again? What happens when you get deep on a reg that's only on a quarter turn? Breathing gets hard. What happens when you get deep on an argon bottle only open a quarter turn? You get sqeeze from the button not working. Keep dropping and then the squeeze really kicks in and you can't reach the valve any more. I know, because with a decent squeeze on I couldn't move my arm to turn the bugger

If it freeflows you pull the quick disconnect. Problem solved. No turning of anything. If the first stage has failed then your OPV goes, if the valve has failed you have disconnected it. Magic.

Digs.

[Digger]

Plus the valves on those one litre tins aren't exactly precision made from my recollection

[nigelH]

I use a 2L and it does a weekend's diving.

[G man]

Mildog bought a nice steel suit inflate bottle nice and narrow about 1L form Underwater Explorers, it was 232 bar so it would hold a load of gas.

Ive got a 1.5l ally and have it on Agir straps on the back plate and sometimes it annoys me as its too big.

Regards Grant.

[Digger]

Jen had one, and it was neat. I used it for a weekend but didn't find a big benefit over a 1.5 on the backplate.

I would go for backplate mounting over mounting it on the backgas tanks for anything up to 1.5 litre. More than that and it's proabably a bit big and could get in the way. I like to keep my tanks as clean as I can at the back, you never know when something is going to get caught up or drop on you, and it could be the argon bottle that gets caught

Digs.

[G man]

Originally Posted by scubajay

Thanks Mal.....that gave me some tips I didn't consider.

WHats the deal with testing these bottles? As rigorous as the other gear? I only intend to fill it wth air......

They still go bang when they corrode, so same test shedule 2.5 years.