View Full Version : Breathing Air Compressors
Dive Tramp
05-06-07, 12:34
Lets see, how do we start this one?
Which of the many types of BA Compressors would you recommend for
Club use
Portables
Or would you just use Shop Fills?
I wouldn't like to own one myself because of the noise and lack of financial efficiency (prefer to buy my air JIT ;) ).
Sometimes it can be nice for a club to own a compressor - I remember Dumfries SSAC branch had one in a shed near the local pool - very convenient in such a small town and if you were able to be at the shed at the right time. I guess it depends on whether or not the club has a place to put it and someone willing to look after it ...
I wouldn't like to own one myself because of the noise and lack of financial efficiency (prefer to buy my air JIT ;) ).
Sometimes it can be nice for a club to own a compressor - I remember Dumfries SSAC branch had one in a shed near the local pool - very convenient in such a small town and if you were able to be at the shed at the right time. I guess it depends on whether or not the club has a place to put it and someone willing to look after it ...
Bo'ness Scotsac have one located at the pool, cant remember which type it is though, very handy for their members.
Bo'ness Scotsac have one located at the pool, cant remember which type it is though, very handy for their members.
i believe they have a 'Bauer' which is what i would recomend to anyone.
on average, from a shop i would spend £30 a month, so will let you do the maths on that one as to whether or not what would be more practical.
TheMacallan
05-06-07, 19:22
Coltrisub.
£30 a month is not bad....
....but or me it is just the hassle of getting gas when I need it.
During April we were doing some weekday deepish dives. One of the regs leaked trimix out of a stage bottle. We filled this overnight no problem.
Without this option a pretty special dive would have been severely compromised.
We have 3 dunlop compressors in various stages of repair. Very hard to get spares.
Cost of repairs and running costs mean there is no real push from members to have it repaired. Would be advantageous to have a working one just for the practicality of getting air fills around fife.
Mad Major
Coltrisub.
£30 a month is not bad....
....but or me it is just the hassle of getting gas when I need it.
During April we were doing some weekday deepish dives. One of the regs leaked trimix out of a stage bottle. We filled this overnight no problem.
Without this option a pretty special dive would have been severely compromised.
the £30 is just for the 21% mix;)
gas is extra.
probably the best tool to have if your doing gas is a compressor.
works out far cheaper by far & you wont have to buy a silly M26 converter. :)
I had an old Bristol, great for 'out of the way' diving weekends where no air is available. It was scrapped a couple of years ago as it was beyond economical repair.
snorkel123
06-06-07, 07:55
I bought a coltrisub compressor in january, think its terrific, also find the convienence of filling your own cylinders when you wish out your back door worthwhile.
Bought it with the intension of home use and to use on on long diving weekends on my boat.
I change the oil and activated charcoal filters every 30 hrs running time (keep a notebook of running time)
Fills a 12l cylinder in 20mins, 15l in 25mins from empty
Pretty economical on fuel too
Brian
Dive Tramp
06-06-07, 11:11
I bought a Coltrisub last year
Our club has a compressor & we certainly get plenty of use out of it. It's very handy to be able to have air on demand & to ensure that you get genuine 230 bar fills when you want them.
On a slightly different tack, is it possible to upgrade a normal air compressor to "double-filter" specification so that you can use it without compromising cylinders' O2 clean status?
Lizardland
06-06-07, 11:58
Various manufacturers make an additional filter stack which can be bolted on. Dependant on what your use is, you can buy a personal filter which attaches on to the fill whip between the outlet and your bottle. If there isn't much call for it then this might be the best option. SAP do one.
In reality, the contamination without it is minimal, especially if you're maintaining O2 clean annually. I remember seeing calcs done by a chemist as to how much oil contamination would be required to cause an explosion and it was a lot more than a normal compressor kicks out.
Cheers,
Stuart
Cheers for the info, Stuart.