@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter is streets ja j54i2w5jz8media.tenor.com/qkufOOBJelIAAAAM/boring-no.gif media.tenor.com/_0cv0UNf6TYAAAAM/bill-hader-watching.gif media.tenor.com/ollgUnqnyMsAAAAM/keeping-up-appearances-oh-nice.gif
My dad has one of those pumps for filling up the tanks on pellet rifles, and I can say that 20 minutes for that tank is very optimistic, even without exhaustion kicking in
I have the smaco as a bailout rig, and have hand inflated it with the hand pump; IT IS BRUTAL WORK. I bought a small compressor to fill it. One thing that I will say is the smaco tank is soo much fun when I'm just hanging out at the pool for the day. I have probably had more use out of it by far than my actual 80cu tank
Hey Alec, what do you think about apeks rk3 fins? I’m doing my dive instructors course, and find the Avanti quattros a bit stiff, and love the feel of the seawing novas, but they seem a bit too floppy for things like frog kicking. I’m also afraid of the hinge breaking when standing on my fin tips at the bottom of the pool. I’m not sure if the gorilla version make frog kicking etc any easier. Any tips? Thanks
Fins are like beautiful women, great to look at but once they are with you day after day, you will know whether to keep them forever or keep looking. Best to try several fins and repeat a series of skills/maneuvers to see which is best overall or you like more. It's ok to have several fins for different dive profiles (rec, tech, teaching). Keep your feet warm and comfortable and any dive will be good. Thanks for the comment Cam.
I read in the air gun digest that a king in England (17/1800s I forget his name) had an air rifle that he hunted stag with. He could get up to one dozen shots with one fill but he had a servant that took over 1200 strokes of the pump to fill it. AHA if I were only a king!!! Fun video Alec you've got a new subscriber.
One thing you didnt mention, is that it gets harder to pump with rising pressure in the tank. Depending on your weight (and strength, but mainly weight), you wont even be able to get the tank to 3000psi. That goes for tanks of all sizes.
Being a certified Master scuba diver and an assistant instructor I would have to say after listening to this TH-cam the guy is correct. it's not wise because the filter is not the right one to scrub the air. It can be said that a four-stage hand pump can be used to fill a SCUBA tank in the event someone does not want to dive deep. The parts per million of noxious gases all depend on the atmospheric pressure. The deeper one goes the more dangerous even a small amount of noxious gas becomes. What is breathable at 20 ft can be deadly at 80 ft. It all depends on how one approaches it. It's not recommended and too risky.
The science is right but still dealing with humans. Same once driving on bald tires, eating tide pods and so many other dumn stuff not being used properly. A
I guess the real research has to be done to really determine if its safe or not. Frankly I guess a lot of work and research was put in it and the small size would be an indication of not made for very deep dives. One can free dive eith a lung full of air ( atmospheric) to 100 feet. Spear fishermen have been doing that for years. It's however a good observation you made, but we got to do our part on scientifically testing before the thumbs down.
We do vehicle recovery And do a lot of under water recovery Usually no more then 4-10 feet in ditches and canals Usually under for less then 1 minutes to hook up a sling threw a rim/tire Any concerns of why a system like this would not be ideal?
If good safety precautions were taken, like a rope tie off, a buddy, etc. Filling the tank is not a problem its using it where you could become trapped under a vehicle. A
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter currently we just wetsuit and hold breath And being caught on the car has been a concern So using a small tank like this will allows us not to rush and give us a little longer if we get hung up on a damaged bumper or something As yes we always have someone on standby
I built my own 3 stage compressor years ago using an old military 3 stage cornelius air force bomber compressor, hooked to a 120 volt motor and pulleys and I could fill my dive tank in about 15 minutes. I ran it through a carbon dive filter and ran it on compressor oil a friend gave me from his fishing boat dive compressor. It worked (and still works) extremely well. I have done many dives with no issues. If you dont have a knack for building things, I believe you can buy a "shoebox" style filler, but I think those run slow and its kind of an all night fill.
Oh Jake you have to visit my Vintage Scuba also where I talk about the great Cornelius compressors, home made regulators from airplanes and hand make lead weights from tire weights. Lots to entertain you my friend.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter iv been whatching your channel for a few years now, best dive channel out there ! I really appreciate all i have learned. I will definitely whatch more vintage stuff, were so lucky to have the modern equipment we do. Makes you appreciate how they did things back then. Cheers from vancouver british columbia !
There are generally 2 types of filters, barrier (for particulates) and air quality (e.g. activated carbon). Hand pumps can have both or one but if you want the best breathing air, fill it from a properly filled scuba tank. Fast and perfect breathing air. If you need a cardio workout, use the pump.
Hey alec, I'm a newer diver and am looking to get a bcd. I've been heavily considering a backplate and wing set up but am wondering if it is worth investing in at a newer level. My main reasons for backplate and wing is as follows, good trim, customizability, more future proof, can use twin tank set up. Is it worth investing in the backplate set up or should I save a few hundred bucks buy buying a regular wing bcd? If I ever get to the tech diving level of scuba it would be well into the future. By the way the only gear that I'm missing is a bcd and a tank (easy to rent). If it affects your answer I am in Florida and dive in springs and ocean environments, typically in warm water.
Thinking ahead in gear buying is always a challenge, just like car buying. Get a bigger van now or wait till the kids come? Try diving both types before buying as you may have a preference right away. A backplate can go into tech or be a great recreational setup saving buying 2 rigs. Next, watch my videos on backplates: S09E21 and jacket vs wings S04E13 for ideas. See if your local dive shop rents wings and has an expert who gives demo dives. Saves investing a lot and lets you experience it before buying. I don't offer specifics in gear buying as there are many factors not mentioned that could have minor impact on your pick so please accept these ideas as a starting plan. Also check out www.scubaboard.com to meet others who have ideas (sometimes almost rabid ideas), to share and help. Good luck John.
I have one of these pumps for a PCP type airgun or pellet gun and to fill the REALLY SMALL tank on the gun it takes A HECK OF A LOT of pumps and if you've got a bad back like myself this method is not something you'd want to do very often, but it works good if you don't have a scuba tank to fill with.
I know what a bad back is! I'm not telling anyone to do this BUT, they should have some facts before accepting these vendors sales pitches. Remember: young and strong changes over the years to old and smart!
Hello i have 2L smaco tank and smaco compressor, does that set needs open valve for refuil? I appreciate your time reading my comment and hope for the answer, João from portugal
YES! The hose should be connected to your tank, the purge should be closed & then the tank valve opened & the compressor started. When the tank is full, shut off the compressor, close the tank valve, purge the hose, disconnect the tank. Alec
If it was me, about a day to fill it. I mention in the video the approximate time but don't remember it now. Watch again to get an idea of fill time. Much better to fill from a full scuba tank, only takes 2 minutes. Thanks for watching Ismail.
Hi there ! I am thinking about buying this air tank for my trip to bali. Is there any type of electric air compressor that can fill this thing up that would also fit in my suitcase?
Can the pump fill a big diving cylinder or are the fittings different.I think it is a good idea for if you are sailing on a yact long distance where there is no space for dive compressors and you want to look under the boat😊👍
It "could" fill a standard 80 cu/ft tank if the Hulk was pumping. Better option is the mini-compressor tank filling setup will fill a 2L tank easily. A.
How. How does it connect? I've been pumping for 30min....zero pressure. Please show how they connect properly. Are there I rings that could have fallen out. What does the yoke do...because it does not hook up to the pump.
I can't explain why but if your pumping and don't feel any resistance, check the connection and that the tank mouthpiece is on snug (no air leaks). Check the products web site or support if you suspect something is broken. To test if it holds air, fill it from a scuba tank using an adapter and see if it holds pressure for a few days.
Alec why is diving at 10 feet so dangerous to embolism? I must have forgotten something from my diving instruction. I spend a lot of dives at 7/10 feet metal detecting, Except for boat props I thought it was pretty safe, please excuse my ignorance ! Thanks
From the Open Water class you learn the greatest change in pressure is from the surface down to 33ft /10m, the water pressure doubles. So on ascent, the greatest change in pressure (reduction) is from 33ft / 10m up to the surface. Imaging your lungs full at 33ft then go up holding your breath to the surface. Your lungs would expand 2x and likely burst. That is why shallow water diving can be dangerous to those not trained or equipped. A.
Hello Alec. Do I need a C-Card to get a Spare Air Filled? Reason I ask is, I Help at my Gyms Pool. Sometimes they ask me to Retrieve stuff from the Deep(7 Ft) End. Or do some Cleaning. Fins and Snorkel Great for Retrieval, Not so much for Cleaning. I can Breath Hold the Length of the Pool (75 ft) along the Floor. Up to 132 Times in a day. Thank you
You don't need a C-card for spare air as its not considered suitable for true diving. Think of it as more a paint ball size canister and anyone can fill them. Even at 7', you need to be aware of breathing air at depth so hope your a diver, or should become one and just stay down in the pool all day. Take care Chris. A.
With all do respect for a person that weighs 115 pounds and is 5"10 my pump slides smooth and I can fill my 4500 psi tank in around 40 minutes my pump does heat up because of the pressure giving it a 10 minute break in between every time it heats up but if your wanting to save a little money on refilling your small tanks especially if you use them frequently it's a very good option
It's good to be young and strong so i congratulate you to be able to fill a tank by pumping. Us old guys with a few more years, accidents and falls, its not something I would do. Thanks for sharing Cody. A.
Hi sir how are you please sir i have a smaco tank i keep it in my boat to use it some times. do i have to fill it when i wanna use it or i can fill it in air and store it on the boat which way is the right please Thank you sir
May be best to have if filled ready for use. Should not leak air but check in every few months. This way if you need it for a boat emergency, its ready. A
Next question. I’m on a sail boat. I have a sun panel. 1 by 1 meter. What is the smallest electric pump I need to fill a tank the size you mention. And second. Do I need a battery to have a functional system.
The smallest pump that I'm aware of is a 12 volt, 300 watt compressor. There are many available. Look on Amazon. To provide the power necessary to run that pump you will need a 12 volt, automotive-type battery. You cannot run it off the solar panel alone. The solar panel will keep the battery charged. If you have an inverter attached to the battery, you will be able to use 120 volt appliances as well.
For those of us that dive with steel cylidners, you don't want to use a handpump for any sized cylinder! This is because high pressure is required in order to "squeeze" the water vapour out of the air, as the water vapour is effectively uncompressable. This means, the more you compress air, the drier it gets, ie for any water content in the intake air at 1bar abs, more water gets squeezed out and caught in the filters/water traps the higher the pressure. This is why commercial compressors include a fixed pressure maintaining (residual pressure) valve downstream of the pumping system and the filters/water trap. In effect, even when you connect a cylinder at 0 bar, the pump is still pumping against around 150 bar that the residual pressure valve is generating, so that the air actually filling your cylinder has the least water content possible. This is wasteful of energy, because the energy required to compress the air to 150 bar, which is then allowed to expand into the cylinder to less than that 150 bar, is mostly lost. It's therefore critical that dive stores and compressor owners filling steel tanks that can (and do!) rust internally ensure there compressors residual pressure valve is properly adjusted, and certainly not bypassed in an effort to reduce the cost and time to fill a tank. And it means that using a basic hand pump where the output pressure is only that of the tank at any particualr point in the filling cycle is a no-no as well!
I just watched your video. My son who will be 12 soon, wants to start up scuba diving. Last summer his friend came to visit with his grandpa(retired scuba instructor), he took the boys to my pool(max 9ft) to dive with all the works. He told me my son was a natural and my son fell in love. Now my son wants us to get licensed, but before I invest a lot of money into a passion of a 11 year old, I was thinking of getting the set you just showed in the video for x-mas to see how dedicated he really is or if this is just a passing craze. I would hate to spend tons of money on scuba gear that he might only use for 1 summer. But I also don't want to spend 100's on junk either. So, if he were to only use this kit to practice in my pool.. is this safe, legal? Also, is this the route you recommend I take, or do you have a better idea you can give me? Thank you for your time & please help!
Very good to know the lad is interested and smart to go slow before he really commits to it. For practice in a pool it will be fine but he should be told to never hold your breath underwater, we know why but just tell him. Most dive shops have a 'Discover Scuba' night a local pool or in-store pool. Take him to one of these so he has all the gear on and can feel the underwater world. If he still loves it, take a weekend course and rent his O/W gear. If he passes this and still wants more, then buy his basic items; mask, fins, snorkel. A good used set of regs will be fine for several years and rent his wetsuit as he outgrows it every other year until his late teens. You have the right approach, see how he responds to all the gear and O/W training. Hope you have a new buddy to dive with soon.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter THANK YOU SO MUCH! You gave a lot of great advice, I will definitely look into a scuba night. I didn't see one on the local dive shops website but I'll go in to ask. I never even thought about the wetsuit and rentals with kids, great point, they grow like weeds! I've actually never dived my self, but I've been a pool lifeguard for years and I'm very comfortable around the water, and so is he. So this will be an adventure my son and I will start up together. So thanks for all your advice!!!! p.s. My son and I are starting to watch all your videos so we can learn more about the craft. So as well, thanks for all the insightful videos!!!!!
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter The personal compressors I'm familiar with have no trouble filling to 4,500 psi. Ha. I'm getting too old to be hand pumping it.
Yeah, if you wanna drop another $400-500. Between that and the tank your out 6-700 bucks and left scratching your head wondering why you spent all that money on a miniature tank and compressor when you could've purchased a full sized cylinder and a BC vest for around the same price?
I have one, and yea, not ideal lol. But, that said, apparently they do sell compressors for like $500+ USD last time I looked. They're relatively small and you can do it right in your backyard. Personally I don't dive enough to warrant that. But as far as those little tanks go. I've used them in like 20 foot depth to go spear fishing. They worked great honestly, just for like a super quick dive when you wanna go down and check something out real quick in a situation where you probably couldn't hold your breath quite long enough.
This is the first video of yours that I've watched, and its very informative. I have yet to scuba dive, but I did buy the exact tank and pump that you talk about in this video to use it in my in-ground 8' deep pool. Everything you say is spot-on: it is time consuming to pump up the tank, and takes a great deal of energy. I usually only pump for 5 or 6 minutes, and then get about 4 minutes swimming around underwater (to clean the bottom of pool, or experience sensory deprivation, or play underwater scrabble with my daughter, etc). My question is this: For my current use of the tank, is it possible to use an electic air compressor? And if not, why is that? I'm aware that the company that I bought the tank from sells specially made air compressors to fill it, but I don't have the background in the field to know why I couldn't just find an adaptor for my electric air compressor, and then attach it to the filter on the hand pump. Is it a pressure issue, or a particle issue?
First, thanks for the feedback Steve, much appreciate a actual owners experiences. Second, compressors are not cheap (good ones), easy and are noisy. Best to get a basic aluminum 80 cu/ft scuba tank and fill off it as it only takes a few minutes. Filling from a scuba tank has no hassles, cost maybe $12 a fill and you breath certified scuba air (filtered, dried and tested). With a compressor, there is maintenance, testing to certify its good (don't want bad air even in 8' of water). With a scuba tank the kids will probably get tired before the tank runs so low. When my grandkids visit and they want to play with my vintage gear in my 4.5 ft deep pool, I have a 65 cu/ft and 35 cu/ft tank they can play with till low (teaching them never to go below 200 psi). Hope this suggestion works for you and have fun.
Actually, it's both. These tanks are 3000psi. If your compressor will pump that high you should be able to use it. Of course, you do have to ensure the air is clean & pure as well. Alec
Hey Alec, can you do a show on how the heck to get the freaking tank strap tight and have it tight when you return to where you are going to remove all your gear so you can rinse off??? I got 6 BCs and they all have webbing on them and I have to share them with Sherri, who has her own tank and our tanks are a very small size difference so we have to resize the straps Everytime we use the bc. None of the bcs get used weekly (yet), and my old stuff had a metal strap, on one and the webbing on the other but it was used every day. Now it seems I got right when I get in but they seem to get lose.. very lose when I'm in the water for an hour. Lol
Look for video S05E08 Threading a Scuba Tank Band. Tips on how to thread and how to tighten. Several times divers said the strap stayed loose but found it not threaded right for maximum holding. May help with this problem.
OKay, so i know nothing about nothing when it comes to diving and yes i will actually do a course before i get one of these thanks but..... can't you fill a scuba cylinder with an air bed pump?
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunterthank you for explaining that to me. It was just something I was wondering and definitely will not try. I have a shop nearby so I would always have them fill up… but i was just really curious. Thanks!! 🙏🏻
Air embolisms can occur in 10ft of water if you hold your breath. I Dont think these little tanks are bad as I do own one because they are nice to have for shallow water dives. The issue appears when someone who is un educated holds their breath and dies from these. I think these are a great product if you know what your doing and on a budget
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter their targeted market suggests that they are for untrained divers. They wouldn’t be getting a yearly visual inspection, and I can see someone using a paint sprayer / air tool compressor to fill them.
Someone should redesign the Hand pump into a form of foot pump that is like a stair master exercise machine of sorts.. I bet it would not be near as bad or tiring to fill these tanks
I would probably get an embolism just trying to pump up a cylinder. Maybe hook the pump handle to a wheel of your car and drive around the block a few times?
Or better still, drive to your local dive shop, get them to fill it, go home and be seen pumping it just as your dive buddy shows up saying: That was a quick hour fill up!
The adapter is intended for a scuba tank to fill the small tank up. Any tank filling station can connect to fill it up from a cascade system, or just pump it.
The greatest percentage of pressure change is the first 15' / 3m of a dive. Breathing in and holding breath from 15' and surfacing without exhaling, can burst a lung. It's what all new divers learn about depth, volume and air density. A
Hey this is a bit of a confusing subject to me as someone who hasn't dealt with very much pressurized gases. So I just read that PSI is the force exerted on the vessel the gas is in, does that mean the gas in the 6 cubic foot tank is more compressed than the gas in the 80 since there is less surface area in the tank or does it work the exact opposite way around where since there is more surface area it needs to exert more force in order to cover the entire surface area in there? Or is it neither and 3000psi is 3000psi?
Any gas can be 'more compressed' if at higher pressure. To keep it simple, to force air into any tank of any size, the pressure has to be greater is all. A 80 cu/ft can be filled to 3000 psi if a 3100 psi pressure is applied BUT it will take a long time to hit 3000 due to the minimal pressure difference when near full. Thanks whey we top up the last 1000 psi from fill tanks with 4000 or 5000 psi as they fill fast. Watch my video on cascade filling to get a better understanding, S11E08 How a Cascade Tank filling system works. A
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thanks dude it's just a very interesting subject I never studied and I want to understand the principles and misconceptions.
And the larger the cylinder the force needed get exponentially harder. It is harder to fill a 10l tank to 100bar than it is to fill a 1liter to 300bar.
pumping for filling any air tank is a great appreciation of how weak we are, the humans. A hefty human is just able to produce the work a 1/4 HP motor produces so when you consider that the smallest dive compressor has a 2HP motor, is is easy to figure that this small pump can fill a tank as long you have the energy and the perseverance to complete the job. pneumatics is so useful in automation but, it is the worst enregy conversion mode, a good example is that a 1 HP pneumatic motor needs 25 CFM at 100 PSI to perform to its rating. To produce that volume of compressed air at 100 PSi, you need 6 HP of electric motor on a 2 stage compressor so an efficiency of 16%.
Agree, my dive stores had a fantastic compressor and cascade system to fill 50 tanks a day. It was expensive but my customers needed fast fills. Don't know any store that would sell a hand pump when they have a certified fill station out back.
Real question is how fast will it fill my truck tire when I'm late for work lol I wonder if a young hang electric air pump would work but you would need a air purifier for it but there only 150$ more than that hand pump 😉🤔👍👌✌️💯🍻
My solution is simple, ask my wife to pump up the flat tire while I video her! There are lots of portable tire pumps but for breathing air, you really need pure / filtered air to be safe. A
Hand pumping is a slow option but i did a video on the minidive tank filling system for 2L tanks S12E22 and the SMACO mini system S11E11. Pick up some ideas from these. A
Four hours to fill an S80 .... awe c'mon Alex it will only be three hours as they should have 50 bar left from the first dive .. ha ha ha. I'll stick to a proper compressor thanks. Love your sense of humour BTW.
If you think of these type of devices as a replacement snorkel, short and shallow dives, you get the idea. Being a certified diver teaches you more of the physics and physiology of diving which is helpful but not mandatory. Read the product manual to know its limitations.
I understand that doing physical exercise after a dive is a formula for DCS. So the likelihood is that the student would be doing his/her second dive already bent - not a good idea!
Even a shallow water diver can get DCS and excessive exercise is not recommended by DAN. Filling a very small tank, maybe, a 80 cu/ft tank, ha ha never.
Wow Alec, I had to laugh all the way through your video! I reckon you could dive much deeper than the mini tank advertises if you hooked up that Dacor Pacer reg hanging behind the samples on your bench! Next time I go skydiving I'm going to ask the guys to give me the latest mini parachute which is just about the same size as Mary Poppins umbrella.
Ha ha yes I do laugh at some products saying smaller is better (not always). Would a mini parachute only be good for low 1,000 ft jumps? I'll pass on the umbrella. A
When I first saw this, couldn't believe what I was seeing. I like to target shoot air rifles as a hobby. Some serious air rifle folks shoot what is known as "PCP" rifles, which are charged by pumping air (up to 3500psi) into a reservoir screwed into or built into the rifle to power the pellets. To me, you were holding up a PCP rifle pump. Alec, the hand pump supplied to you is exactly the same (except for paint - the only change) as a model available on-line designed for charging air guns. To charge an air rifle tank (much smaller than the air tanks you showed) takes well over an hour, w/much perspiration. Guess the folks in China saw another revenue stream they could squeeze from an existing product. Shame they had to pick such a dangerous route - folks should be required to have an air card to purchase these things.
Thanks for sharing this new info. May be right that the pump is just re-purposed for these mini-tanks. What else has it been used for: pumping bike tires = No, air rifles = Yes, scuba = Yes!!! Appreciate the feedback sir.
Dive shops should refill these for us and give a small amount of guidance for use. Or do a cheap course specially for the small tanks. Instead of not filling them. Or making us become certified diver. I free dive and snorkel already and are well aware of the dangers. Like you say, a knife, gun, hammer, axe is far more dangerous Another great video from a very wise man. 👏 thank you
If one was to do that an take chances. May as well go for one of the Chinese electric pumps. Run breathing air compressor oil on it and 2-3 3stage filters for moisture/oil/smell. An have the intake pull air through 15/20 feet of desiccant to prefilter any moisture as possible before the compression. An buy a carbon monoxide detector. And release some tanked air onto it an least make sure if something is there it’s not enough to set it off. I don’t recommend doing it. But if it had to be done would be the way I would do it over a hand pump. And would keep it to surface almost snorkel use.
Or visit your local dive store where a certified fill station is waiting for your. While the tank is filling with lovely clean diving air, shop for new shinny scuba toys.
If these tanks are manufactured by reputable manufacturers could you change the second stage for a low pressure inflator hose and use it for a drysuit inflator system? I'd just fill the tank myself with my compressor rather than hand pump it.
The tanks themselves are safe as they must pass the same certification as tanks made in the USA. These can be used for drysuit inflator systems with the right valve and hoses so give it try, just don't hand pump it.
I'm sure they can make bigger more efficient pumps those pumps were made for those tiny little tanks and I mean more efficient hand pumps with bigger size cylinders
There is a filter on the tank to remove contaminants but not water vapour. The tank will need regular inspections to be safe to use. It is not a scuba tank but more a reserve tank.
All that’s missing from this video is the song pump it up by Joe Budden 😂 I enjoy the quiet humor on this channel lol Just dive with a garden hose in your mouth next time 🤷♂️ haha I’m kidding.
Been using that kind of handpump Not for diving but for my pcp airgun And i think using it to refill a scuba tank is very exausting.. Prefer to support local diveshops haha
I got to this video by looking at the same technology used to fill pcp style air rifles, they sell pretty much that exact pump for filling the mini cylinders on rifles I currently own a divers scuba tank for filling my rifle with at the moment, but when the air has ran out of it, and its out of date and out of shape and gets cut in half, i dont think ill be buying another just to fill my rifle So im thinking about buying and using one of those hand pumps, i cant say how much the cylinder on the rifle holds, but its about 12 inches long and an inch diameter I dont run rhe air completely out of the rifle, the lowest it goes is 110 bar, then gets pumped back up to 190 bar, so theres an 80 bar difference Interesting video though 👍
But is it safe? The guy at the dive shop said if the air is not properly filter it could kill me! Guess I’ll have to find out the hard way but i will be asking for a refund if it that happens!
Hand pumping is for these show off young kids with muscles and time. There are so many hand pumps for tanks but after filling one, many just buy an electric compressor or fill off a full scuba tank. Being older means thinking smarter so do it the easy and safe way. A
I dive Nitrox so I’ll just keep supporting my dive shop. Even if I did use Nitrox I would still bring it to the dive shop. Forget that pumping junk stuff. Suppose someone is pumping there scuba tank and there is a car or truck running near by??? I would only pump if I lived on a island all to myself and there was no dive shop around lol
Agree Will but I do want to show divers that these devices exist, the pros and cons and to be an educated, informed diver. Don't fall for gadgets and fads as you must be safe at all times. However, more people are killed by taking dangerous selfies than shark attacks but there is no "Stupid Selfie Week" on TV so not everyone is smart. Take care Will.
The more I watch Alec, the more he reminds me of Bob Ross!
Thank you Kate.
Never clicked on a video faster. One of these days you gotta show us how to make a DIY compressor, using only a bike pump and lawn mower engine.
Ha I'm not quite like McGiver but close. Appreciate the comments Fathom.
I was exactly thinking about that ... If you would replace the hand pump by a motor and use that line with filter ?
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HPA hand pumps are perfect! you save on your air fills, you save on your gym membership and you get a nice long surface interval
Totally agree but only if i can watch Kevin pump up my tank!
Exactly what I wanted to find out. Thank you!
Glad I could help!
My dad has one of those pumps for filling up the tanks on pellet rifles, and I can say that 20 minutes for that tank is very optimistic, even without exhaustion kicking in
Oh it is tiring but for some folks in the middle of no where, it could be a solution. A tiring one unless your into long workouts.
A
Looking forward to my next season with a mini tank still learning the basics so thankful I got an electric pump
Go electric or bring a full size tank to top off from.
A
I have the smaco as a bailout rig, and have hand inflated it with the hand pump; IT IS BRUTAL WORK. I bought a small compressor to fill it.
One thing that I will say is the smaco tank is soo much fun when I'm just hanging out at the pool for the day. I have probably had more use out of it by far than my actual 80cu tank
They are fun in a pool (supervised of course), and shallow open water dives. Think of it as a long snorkel.
Love your work. need to cover more ways to build your own equipment. try DIY surface supplied air unit
Look back in my videos for the hookah setup. It's very popular.
I've also read that the closer to full you get the more the resistance you will have as the pumping gets harder and harder as the pressure builds
True. The closer to full the harder it is to get that last psi up. I borrowed the Hulk to pump my tank full.
Hey Alec, what do you think about apeks rk3 fins? I’m doing my dive instructors course, and find the Avanti quattros a bit stiff, and love the feel of the seawing novas, but they seem a bit too floppy for things like frog kicking. I’m also afraid of the hinge breaking when standing on my fin tips at the bottom of the pool. I’m not sure if the gorilla version make frog kicking etc any easier. Any tips? Thanks
Fins are like beautiful women, great to look at but once they are with you day after day, you will know whether to keep them forever or keep looking. Best to try several fins and repeat a series of skills/maneuvers to see which is best overall or you like more. It's ok to have several fins for different dive profiles (rec, tech, teaching). Keep your feet warm and comfortable and any dive will be good. Thanks for the comment Cam.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter thanks for the reply mate, I ended up going with the seawing novas. They are just so comfortable!
I'm glad I found your channel. I'm in Niagara falls and you seem like the coolest guy
So cool but it's still winter so.... Thanks for watching.
Have you ever considered doing a livestream? I think that would be really cool and would watch if you did one.
That's and idea but Kevin has to often edit out some of my favourite works due to kids being around. Thanks for the idea Theodor.
I read in the air gun digest that a king in England (17/1800s I forget his name) had an air rifle that he hunted stag with. He could get up to one dozen shots with one fill but he had a servant that took over 1200 strokes of the pump to fill it. AHA if I were only a king!!! Fun video Alec you've got a new subscriber.
Thanks for the story Max and joining my channel. Give my Vintage Scuba playlist a look for how diving was back in the stone age.
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One thing you didnt mention, is that it gets harder to pump with rising pressure in the tank. Depending on your weight (and strength, but mainly weight), you wont even be able to get the tank to 3000psi. That goes for tanks of all sizes.
The closer to full the harder it gets so I'll get Kevin to put the last air in.
Being a certified Master scuba diver and an assistant instructor I would have to say after listening to this TH-cam the guy is correct. it's not wise because the filter is not the right one to scrub the air. It can be said that a four-stage hand pump can be used to fill a SCUBA tank in the event someone does not want to dive deep. The parts per million of noxious gases all depend on the atmospheric pressure. The deeper one goes the more dangerous even a small amount of noxious gas becomes. What is breathable at 20 ft can be deadly at 80 ft. It all depends on how one approaches it. It's not recommended and too risky.
The science is right but still dealing with humans. Same once driving on bald tires, eating tide pods and so many other dumn stuff not being used properly.
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I guess the real research has to be done to really determine if its safe or not. Frankly I guess a lot of work and research was put in it and the small size would be an indication of not made for very deep dives. One can free dive eith a lung full of air ( atmospheric) to 100 feet. Spear fishermen have been doing that for years. It's however a good observation you made, but we got to do our part on scientifically testing before the thumbs down.
The Bob Ross of Scuba !
Bob was a fun guy, just like me.
We do vehicle recovery
And do a lot of under water recovery
Usually no more then 4-10 feet in ditches and canals
Usually under for less then 1 minutes to hook up a sling threw a rim/tire
Any concerns of why a system like this would not be ideal?
If good safety precautions were taken, like a rope tie off, a buddy, etc. Filling the tank is not a problem its using it where you could become trapped under a vehicle.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter currently we just wetsuit and hold breath
And being caught on the car has been a concern
So using a small tank like this will allows us not to rush and give us a little longer if we get hung up on a damaged bumper or something
As yes we always have someone on standby
Interesting, thanks for sharing 🙋🏻🙋🏻
Thanks for watching!
I built my own 3 stage compressor years ago using an old military 3 stage cornelius air force bomber compressor, hooked to a 120 volt motor and pulleys and I could fill my dive tank in about 15 minutes. I ran it through a carbon dive filter and ran it on compressor oil a friend gave me from his fishing boat dive compressor. It worked (and still works) extremely well. I have done many dives with no issues. If you dont have a knack for building things, I believe you can buy a "shoebox" style filler, but I think those run slow and its kind of an all night fill.
Oh Jake you have to visit my Vintage Scuba also where I talk about the great Cornelius compressors, home made regulators from airplanes and hand make lead weights from tire weights. Lots to entertain you my friend.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter iv been whatching your channel for a few years now, best dive channel out there ! I really appreciate all i have learned. I will definitely whatch more vintage stuff, were so lucky to have the modern equipment we do. Makes you appreciate how they did things back then. Cheers from vancouver british columbia !
Thanks for all the great videos!
My pleasure!
4 hours so stretch it out to 3 or perhaps 4 days off and on hand pumping so you don't overheat your pump.
Think of it as a perpetual pumping machine.
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I use a hand pump to fill my pcp airgun, with an air volume of only 112 ccs it still takes about 5 minutes to get even that small volume to 3k psi.
For that purpose it works great. No worry about air quality/filtration. As for diving, not so much.
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Curious, How Much does the ( Filters ) on the exist Hand Pump ( Cost ) & how long, before you have to ( Replace ) Them......?
There are generally 2 types of filters, barrier (for particulates) and air quality (e.g. activated carbon). Hand pumps can have both or one but if you want the best breathing air, fill it from a properly filled scuba tank. Fast and perfect breathing air. If you need a cardio workout, use the pump.
Hey alec, I'm a newer diver and am looking to get a bcd. I've been heavily considering a backplate and wing set up but am wondering if it is worth investing in at a newer level. My main reasons for backplate and wing is as follows, good trim, customizability, more future proof, can use twin tank set up. Is it worth investing in the backplate set up or should I save a few hundred bucks buy buying a regular wing bcd? If I ever get to the tech diving level of scuba it would be well into the future.
By the way the only gear that I'm missing is a bcd and a tank (easy to rent).
If it affects your answer I am in Florida and dive in springs and ocean environments, typically in warm water.
Thinking ahead in gear buying is always a challenge, just like car buying. Get a bigger van now or wait till the kids come? Try diving both types before buying as you may have a preference right away. A backplate can go into tech or be a great recreational setup saving buying 2 rigs. Next, watch my videos on backplates: S09E21 and jacket vs wings S04E13 for ideas. See if your local dive shop rents wings and has an expert who gives demo dives. Saves investing a lot and lets you experience it before buying. I don't offer specifics in gear buying as there are many factors not mentioned that could have minor impact on your pick so please accept these ideas as a starting plan. Also check out www.scubaboard.com to meet others who have ideas (sometimes almost rabid ideas), to share and help. Good luck John.
I have one of these pumps for a PCP type airgun or pellet gun and to fill the REALLY SMALL tank on the gun it takes A HECK OF A LOT of pumps and if you've got a bad back like myself this method is not something you'd want to do very often, but it works good if you don't have a scuba tank to fill with.
I know what a bad back is! I'm not telling anyone to do this BUT, they should have some facts before accepting these vendors sales pitches. Remember: young and strong changes over the years to old and smart!
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter I should have worded that differently. I love your video's as they are super informative and helpful.
Hello i have 2L smaco tank and smaco compressor, does that set needs open valve for refuil? I appreciate your time reading my comment and hope for the answer, João from portugal
YES! The hose should be connected to your tank, the purge should be closed & then the tank valve opened & the compressor started.
When the tank is full, shut off the compressor, close the tank valve, purge the hose, disconnect the tank.
Alec
Had a good laugh but as always thanks for your videos !!
Glad you enjoyed it
1 more question, if i can use manuel air pump how much time after 1 lt scuba tank 0 - 200 bar how long does it take to fill
If it was me, about a day to fill it. I mention in the video the approximate time but don't remember it now. Watch again to get an idea of fill time. Much better to fill from a full scuba tank, only takes 2 minutes. Thanks for watching Ismail.
What about the cheap eletric pumps?
Look for my video on small portable compressors. Remember cheap is cheap, not good or proper for diving so do your research first.
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Hi there ! I am thinking about buying this air tank for my trip to bali. Is there any type of electric air compressor that can fill this thing up that would also fit in my suitcase?
Look for my video S12E22 MiniDive tank filling system. Give you an idea of what a compact compressor is like (up to 2L tanks only).
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every day 20 minutes on a 12l bottle. make you capable of doing a weekly small swimming pool dive :). and staying in shape😂
Thats good for you kids, for me it a proper fill or watch Kevin hand pump!!
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I used to free dive off ft Lauderdale beach with a snorkel at thirty feet
That sounds like fun, for the younger crowd.
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Can the pump fill a big diving cylinder or are the fittings different.I think it is a good idea for if you are sailing on a yact long distance where there is no space for dive compressors and you want to look under the boat😊👍
It "could" fill a standard 80 cu/ft tank if the Hulk was pumping. Better option is the mini-compressor tank filling setup will fill a 2L tank easily.
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How. How does it connect? I've been pumping for 30min....zero pressure. Please show how they connect properly. Are there I rings that could have fallen out. What does the yoke do...because it does not hook up to the pump.
I can't explain why but if your pumping and don't feel any resistance, check the connection and that the tank mouthpiece is on snug (no air leaks). Check the products web site or support if you suspect something is broken. To test if it holds air, fill it from a scuba tank using an adapter and see if it holds pressure for a few days.
Alec why is diving at 10 feet so dangerous to embolism? I must have forgotten something from my diving instruction. I spend a lot of dives at 7/10 feet metal detecting, Except for boat props I thought it was pretty safe, please excuse my ignorance ! Thanks
From the Open Water class you learn the greatest change in pressure is from the surface down to 33ft /10m, the water pressure doubles. So on ascent, the greatest change in pressure (reduction) is from 33ft / 10m up to the surface. Imaging your lungs full at 33ft then go up holding your breath to the surface. Your lungs would expand 2x and likely burst. That is why shallow water diving can be dangerous to those not trained or equipped.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thanks for the reply Alec
Hello Alec. Do I need a C-Card to get a Spare Air Filled? Reason I ask is, I Help at my Gyms Pool. Sometimes they ask me to Retrieve stuff from the Deep(7 Ft) End. Or do some Cleaning. Fins and Snorkel Great for Retrieval, Not so much for Cleaning. I can Breath Hold the Length of the Pool (75 ft) along the Floor. Up to 132 Times in a day. Thank you
You don't need a C-card for spare air as its not considered suitable for true diving. Think of it as more a paint ball size canister and anyone can fill them. Even at 7', you need to be aware of breathing air at depth so hope your a diver, or should become one and just stay down in the pool all day. Take care Chris.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thank you Alec.
With all do respect for a person that weighs 115 pounds and is 5"10 my pump slides smooth and I can fill my 4500 psi tank in around 40 minutes my pump does heat up because of the pressure giving it a 10 minute break in between every time it heats up but if your wanting to save a little money on refilling your small tanks especially if you use them frequently it's a very good option
It's good to be young and strong so i congratulate you to be able to fill a tank by pumping. Us old guys with a few more years, accidents and falls, its not something I would do. Thanks for sharing Cody.
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how much would a dive shop charge you to fill up a 1L cylinder? $2? $3?
Hi sir how are you
please sir i have a smaco tank i keep it in my boat to use it some times. do i have to fill it when i wanna use it or i can fill it in air and store it on the boat which way is the right please
Thank you sir
May be best to have if filled ready for use. Should not leak air but check in every few months. This way if you need it for a boat emergency, its ready.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thank you for responding mr Alec you are the best
How many fills can you get from a regular 80cf to the 1L pony bottle?
About 10 fills before both tanks equalize pressure. Its gets slower and slower each fill.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter good info - thanks!
i guess a manual pump could do ok with a spare air 300 which is like half a liter? if you free dive and need a few breaths.
This unit is made for filling 2L and smaller tanks. Does an OK job too.
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I have a 160psi shop air compressor at work can i use it to fill the tank?
It needs to be filtered air for breathing. Would you breath from a shop compressor underwater?
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Next question. I’m on a sail boat. I have a sun panel. 1 by 1 meter. What is the smallest electric pump I need to fill a tank the size you mention. And second. Do I need a battery to have a functional system.
The smallest pump that I'm aware of is a 12 volt, 300 watt compressor. There are many available. Look on Amazon. To provide the power necessary to run that pump you will need a 12 volt, automotive-type battery. You cannot run it off the solar panel alone. The solar panel will keep the battery charged. If you have an inverter attached to the battery, you will be able to use 120 volt appliances as well.
For those of us that dive with steel cylidners, you don't want to use a handpump for any sized cylinder! This is because high pressure is required in order to "squeeze" the water vapour out of the air, as the water vapour is effectively uncompressable. This means, the more you compress air, the drier it gets, ie for any water content in the intake air at 1bar abs, more water gets squeezed out and caught in the filters/water traps the higher the pressure. This is why commercial compressors include a fixed pressure maintaining (residual pressure) valve downstream of the pumping system and the filters/water trap. In effect, even when you connect a cylinder at 0 bar, the pump is still pumping against around 150 bar that the residual pressure valve is generating, so that the air actually filling your cylinder has the least water content possible. This is wasteful of energy, because the energy required to compress the air to 150 bar, which is then allowed to expand into the cylinder to less than that 150 bar, is mostly lost. It's therefore critical that dive stores and compressor owners filling steel tanks that can (and do!) rust internally ensure there compressors residual pressure valve is properly adjusted, and certainly not bypassed in an effort to reduce the cost and time to fill a tank. And it means that using a basic hand pump where the output pressure is only that of the tank at any particualr point in the filling cycle is a no-no as well!
Thanks for sharing these facts with others Max. Appreciate the feedback.
Thank you 😊.
You're welcome 😊
I just watched your video. My son who will be 12 soon, wants to start up scuba diving. Last summer his friend came to visit with his grandpa(retired scuba instructor), he took the boys to my pool(max 9ft) to dive with all the works. He told me my son was a natural and my son fell in love. Now my son wants us to get licensed, but before I invest a lot of money into a passion of a 11 year old, I was thinking of getting the set you just showed in the video for x-mas to see how dedicated he really is or if this is just a passing craze. I would hate to spend tons of money on scuba gear that he might only use for 1 summer. But I also don't want to spend 100's on junk either. So, if he were to only use this kit to practice in my pool.. is this safe, legal? Also, is this the route you recommend I take, or do you have a better idea you can give me? Thank you for your time & please help!
Very good to know the lad is interested and smart to go slow before he really commits to it. For practice in a pool it will be fine but he should be told to never hold your breath underwater, we know why but just tell him. Most dive shops have a 'Discover Scuba' night a local pool or in-store pool. Take him to one of these so he has all the gear on and can feel the underwater world. If he still loves it, take a weekend course and rent his O/W gear. If he passes this and still wants more, then buy his basic items; mask, fins, snorkel. A good used set of regs will be fine for several years and rent his wetsuit as he outgrows it every other year until his late teens. You have the right approach, see how he responds to all the gear and O/W training. Hope you have a new buddy to dive with soon.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter THANK YOU SO MUCH! You gave a lot of great advice, I will definitely look into a scuba night. I didn't see one on the local dive shops website but I'll go in to ask. I never even thought about the wetsuit and rentals with kids, great point, they grow like weeds! I've actually never dived my self, but I've been a pool lifeguard for years and I'm very comfortable around the water, and so is he. So this will be an adventure my son and I will start up together. So thanks for all your advice!!!!
p.s. My son and I are starting to watch all your videos so we can learn more about the craft. So as well, thanks for all the insightful videos!!!!!
@@catmcgrath9217 any updates? Did you gets get certified?
You did answer some questions.
Yes you can, but No, its not practical to do so.
Thank you for making this video and posting.
Welcome.
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How deep can you dive with that tank safely.
It is recommended only for shallow, snorkel depth dives. It's not intended to be a scuba diving tank, too small.
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thanks pops, good thing i heard 1st before buying from amazon hhahaha didnt really think that its dangerours
Happy to help.
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Happy to help. Fine for paintball but for really safe, clean air get it filled from a local dive shop.
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You can buy an air compressor that'll charge from your car battery and save some sweat. PCP air gun enthusiasts use them almost as a necessity.
For this purpose it may need higher filling pressure and volumes. Still know of several who hand pump little tanks.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter The personal compressors I'm familiar with have no trouble filling to 4,500 psi. Ha. I'm getting too old to be hand pumping it.
Yeah, if you wanna drop another $400-500. Between that and the tank your out 6-700 bucks and left scratching your head wondering why you spent all that money on a miniature tank and compressor when you could've purchased a full sized cylinder and a BC vest for around the same price?
I have one, and yea, not ideal lol. But, that said, apparently they do sell compressors for like $500+ USD last time I looked. They're relatively small and you can do it right in your backyard. Personally I don't dive enough to warrant that. But as far as those little tanks go. I've used them in like 20 foot depth to go spear fishing. They worked great honestly, just for like a super quick dive when you wanna go down and check something out real quick in a situation where you probably couldn't hold your breath quite long enough.
I did a video on mini-dive compressors (up to 2L tanks). Take a look for it to see if it is something to fill your mini tank.
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Nothing but great advice.
Thanks Paul, more videos on their way to make you even smarter.
This is the first video of yours that I've watched, and its very informative. I have yet to scuba dive, but I did buy the exact tank and pump that you talk about in this video to use it in my in-ground 8' deep pool. Everything you say is spot-on: it is time consuming to pump up the tank, and takes a great deal of energy. I usually only pump for 5 or 6 minutes, and then get about 4 minutes swimming around underwater (to clean the bottom of pool, or experience sensory deprivation, or play underwater scrabble with my daughter, etc). My question is this: For my current use of the tank, is it possible to use an electic air compressor? And if not, why is that? I'm aware that the company that I bought the tank from sells specially made air compressors to fill it, but I don't have the background in the field to know why I couldn't just find an adaptor for my electric air compressor, and then attach it to the filter on the hand pump. Is it a pressure issue, or a particle issue?
First, thanks for the feedback Steve, much appreciate a actual owners experiences. Second, compressors are not cheap (good ones), easy and are noisy. Best to get a basic aluminum 80 cu/ft scuba tank and fill off it as it only takes a few minutes. Filling from a scuba tank has no hassles, cost maybe $12 a fill and you breath certified scuba air (filtered, dried and tested). With a compressor, there is maintenance, testing to certify its good (don't want bad air even in 8' of water). With a scuba tank the kids will probably get tired before the tank runs so low. When my grandkids visit and they want to play with my vintage gear in my 4.5 ft deep pool, I have a 65 cu/ft and 35 cu/ft tank they can play with till low (teaching them never to go below 200 psi). Hope this suggestion works for you and have fun.
Actually, it's both. These tanks are 3000psi. If your compressor will pump that high you should be able to use it. Of course, you do have to ensure the air is clean & pure as well.
Alec
Hey Alec, can you do a show on how the heck to get the freaking tank strap tight and have it tight when you return to where you are going to remove all your gear so you can rinse off??? I got 6 BCs and they all have webbing on them and I have to share them with Sherri, who has her own tank and our tanks are a very small size difference so we have to resize the straps Everytime we use the bc. None of the bcs get used weekly (yet), and my old stuff had a metal strap, on one and the webbing on the other but it was used every day. Now it seems I got right when I get in but they seem to get lose.. very lose when I'm in the water for an hour. Lol
Look for video S05E08 Threading a Scuba Tank Band. Tips on how to thread and how to tighten. Several times divers said the strap stayed loose but found it not threaded right for maximum holding. May help with this problem.
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter thanks. I will look for that vid later tonight. Much appreciated.
cool good info as usual !
Glad you liked it!
OKay, so i know nothing about nothing when it comes to diving and yes i will actually do a course before i get one of these thanks but..... can't you fill a scuba cylinder with an air bed pump?
No air bed is filled to 3,000 psi, maybe 50 to 85 psi, second is air quality is absolutely not safe for diving.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunterthank you for explaining that to me. It was just something I was wondering and definitely will not try. I have a shop nearby so I would always have them fill up… but i was just really curious. Thanks!! 🙏🏻
Love the video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
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Air embolisms can occur in 10ft of water if you hold your breath. I Dont think these little tanks are bad as I do own one because they are nice to have for shallow water dives. The issue appears when someone who is un educated holds their breath and dies from these. I think these are a great product if you know what your doing and on a budget
Moral of the story dont ever hold your breath, surface from the water slowly, and be properly educated so these issues dont happen to you
True. They are either useful or dangerous, depend on who read the manual!
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter their targeted market suggests that they are for untrained divers. They wouldn’t be getting a yearly visual inspection, and I can see someone using a paint sprayer / air tool compressor to fill them.
Reminds me of Red from that 70s show.
Thanks, Red is a cool old dude.
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The problem after 100bar it's a very hard do used pump.
For me it was hard after 5 pumps just for this video.
Excellent!
Many thanks!
Someone should redesign the Hand pump into a form of foot pump that is like a stair master exercise machine of sorts.. I bet it would not be near as bad or tiring to fill these tanks
I have an easy fill system, I get Kevin to fill it up! HA
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I pump my 15L tank since yesterday (just joking). Buying a dinner for 5 and spend many hours. Better thake this 5 to get air fill in 5mins?
For sure. But there are divers who may think this is a great way to save a $10 fill. Nope!!!
I would probably get an embolism just trying to pump up a cylinder.
Maybe hook the pump handle to a wheel of your car and drive around the block a few times?
Or better still, drive to your local dive shop, get them to fill it, go home and be seen pumping it just as your dive buddy shows up saying: That was a quick hour fill up!
Can you put the adapter on a compressor or is it permanently attached to the pump it comes with?
The adapter is intended for a scuba tank to fill the small tank up. Any tank filling station can connect to fill it up from a cascade system, or just pump it.
why are you most likely to have an embolism in 10feet of water?
The greatest percentage of pressure change is the first 15' / 3m of a dive. Breathing in and holding breath from 15' and surfacing without exhaling, can burst a lung. It's what all new divers learn about depth, volume and air density.
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Hey this is a bit of a confusing subject to me as someone who hasn't dealt with very much pressurized gases.
So I just read that PSI is the force exerted on the vessel the gas is in, does that mean the gas in the 6 cubic foot tank is more compressed than the gas in the 80 since there is less surface area in the tank or does it work the exact opposite way around where since there is more surface area it needs to exert more force in order to cover the entire surface area in there? Or is it neither and 3000psi is 3000psi?
Any gas can be 'more compressed' if at higher pressure. To keep it simple, to force air into any tank of any size, the pressure has to be greater is all. A 80 cu/ft can be filled to 3000 psi if a 3100 psi pressure is applied BUT it will take a long time to hit 3000 due to the minimal pressure difference when near full. Thanks whey we top up the last 1000 psi from fill tanks with 4000 or 5000 psi as they fill fast. Watch my video on cascade filling to get a better understanding, S11E08 How a Cascade Tank filling system works.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Thanks dude it's just a very interesting subject I never studied and I want to understand the principles and misconceptions.
And the larger the cylinder the force needed get exponentially harder. It is harder to fill a 10l tank to 100bar than it is to fill a 1liter to 300bar.
Not for me, I just yell out "Kevin, pump harder".
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pumping for filling any air tank is a great appreciation of how weak we are, the humans. A hefty human is just able to produce the work a 1/4 HP motor produces so when you consider that the smallest dive compressor has a 2HP motor, is is easy to figure that this small pump can fill a tank as long you have the energy and the perseverance to complete the job.
pneumatics is so useful in automation but, it is the worst enregy conversion mode, a good example is that a 1 HP pneumatic motor needs 25 CFM at 100 PSI to perform to its rating. To produce that volume of compressed air at 100 PSi, you need 6 HP of electric motor on a 2 stage compressor so an efficiency of 16%.
Agree, my dive stores had a fantastic compressor and cascade system to fill 50 tanks a day. It was expensive but my customers needed fast fills. Don't know any store that would sell a hand pump when they have a certified fill station out back.
Real question is how fast will it fill my truck tire when I'm late for work lol I wonder if a young hang electric air pump would work but you would need a air purifier for it but there only 150$ more than that hand pump 😉🤔👍👌✌️💯🍻
My solution is simple, ask my wife to pump up the flat tire while I video her! There are lots of portable tire pumps but for breathing air, you really need pure / filtered air to be safe.
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How to fill 2liter tank?
Hand pumping is a slow option but i did a video on the minidive tank filling system for 2L tanks S12E22 and the SMACO mini system S11E11. Pick up some ideas from these.
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@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter for someone who like to exercise maybe is a good option?
Four hours to fill an S80 .... awe c'mon Alex it will only be three hours as they should have 50 bar left from the first dive .. ha ha ha.
I'll stick to a proper compressor thanks.
Love your sense of humour BTW.
Thanks Gordon, not everyone thinks like you, for example, my wife.
Do you need to know how to scuba dive to use this ?
If you think of these type of devices as a replacement snorkel, short and shallow dives, you get the idea. Being a certified diver teaches you more of the physics and physiology of diving which is helpful but not mandatory. Read the product manual to know its limitations.
I’ll Probly leave the pump around the house maybe 10 minutes a day dive a couple times a week, no dive store can’t afford compressor, gonna get a 1L
Have fun with it.
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I understand that doing physical exercise after a dive is a formula for DCS. So the likelihood is that the student would be doing his/her second dive already bent - not a good idea!
Even a shallow water diver can get DCS and excessive exercise is not recommended by DAN. Filling a very small tank, maybe, a 80 cu/ft tank, ha ha never.
Wow Alec, I had to laugh all the way through your video! I reckon you could dive much deeper than the mini tank advertises if you hooked up that Dacor Pacer reg hanging behind the samples on your bench! Next time I go skydiving I'm going to ask the guys to give me the latest mini parachute which is just about the same size as Mary Poppins umbrella.
Ha ha yes I do laugh at some products saying smaller is better (not always). Would a mini parachute only be good for low 1,000 ft jumps? I'll pass on the umbrella.
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When I first saw this, couldn't believe what I was seeing. I like to target shoot air rifles as a hobby. Some serious air rifle folks shoot what is known as "PCP" rifles, which are charged by pumping air (up to 3500psi) into a reservoir screwed into or built into the rifle to power the pellets. To me, you were holding up a PCP rifle pump. Alec, the hand pump supplied to you is exactly the same (except for paint - the only change) as a model available on-line designed for charging air guns. To charge an air rifle tank (much smaller than the air tanks you showed) takes well over an hour, w/much perspiration. Guess the folks in China saw another revenue stream they could squeeze from an existing product. Shame they had to pick such a dangerous route - folks should be required to have an air card to purchase these things.
Thanks for sharing this new info. May be right that the pump is just re-purposed for these mini-tanks. What else has it been used for: pumping bike tires = No, air rifles = Yes, scuba = Yes!!! Appreciate the feedback sir.
Dive shops should refill these for us and give a small amount of guidance for use. Or do a cheap course specially for the small tanks.
Instead of not filling them. Or making us become certified diver.
I free dive and snorkel already and are well aware of the dangers.
Like you say, a knife, gun, hammer, axe is far more dangerous
Another great video from a very wise man. 👏 thank you
Glad you liked it.
Now I just dive with a 100cft tank. 😂
If one was to do that an take chances. May as well go for one of the Chinese electric pumps.
Run breathing air compressor oil on it and 2-3 3stage filters for moisture/oil/smell. An have the intake pull air through 15/20 feet of desiccant to prefilter any moisture as possible before the compression.
An buy a carbon monoxide detector. And release some tanked air onto it an least make sure if something is there it’s not enough to set it off.
I don’t recommend doing it. But if it had to be done would be the way I would do it over a hand pump. And would keep it to surface almost snorkel use.
Or visit your local dive store where a certified fill station is waiting for your. While the tank is filling with lovely clean diving air, shop for new shinny scuba toys.
Sir nice review ❤️
Thanks Anthony. Lots more to learn.
Can you go to 9 in a half feet with this
There is no actual limit to depth, just how smart you are with very limited air supply.
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Someone should make a stationary bike SCUBA pump... "The Peloton Pump"...
Ha thats a good idea, exercise then dive.
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If these tanks are manufactured by reputable manufacturers could you change the second stage for a low pressure inflator hose and use it for a drysuit inflator system? I'd just fill the tank myself with my compressor rather than hand pump it.
The tanks themselves are safe as they must pass the same certification as tanks made in the USA. These can be used for drysuit inflator systems with the right valve and hoses so give it try, just don't hand pump it.
I'm sure they can make bigger more efficient pumps those pumps were made for those tiny little tanks and I mean more efficient hand pumps with bigger size cylinders
I would hire a young kid to fill up my tank. Older and smarter!
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cAN YOU USE A SHOP COMPRESSOR???
As the yoke in the video, YES! Gets the bottle to some 8 bar. Scuba is working around 200.
Most divers have access to dive shop compressors, but in some remote places, or as an emergency backup, these type of devices fit a notch.
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A scuba tank is considered empty at 50 bars. A shop compressor does 8 as Timtim says.
What about moist air getting into your tank and ruining it? But yes it can be done.
There is a filter on the tank to remove contaminants but not water vapour. The tank will need regular inspections to be safe to use. It is not a scuba tank but more a reserve tank.
All that’s missing from this video is the song pump it up by Joe Budden 😂
I enjoy the quiet humor on this channel lol
Just dive with a garden hose in your mouth next time 🤷♂️ haha I’m kidding.
Next time! We thought of using music but the good ones are copyrighted.
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My experience is these pumps aren't practical, 20min to hand pump is no good, but tranfering air from a larger scuba tank works well...
I think so too.
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Been using that kind of handpump
Not for diving but for my pcp airgun
And i think using it to refill a scuba tank is very exausting.. Prefer to support local diveshops haha
If you have the muscles, go for it. I'm to old and smart to pump when it can be filled off a scuba tank in a minute.
Thats why I just bought one off Amazon. But now I need the fitting
You're funny, and don't sweat and fart around when you pump cause it's going to go in the tank and taste weird the next dive. 😉
It's nice on a dive to breath in the refreshing taste of Taco Bell air!
I got to this video by looking at the same technology used to fill pcp style air rifles, they sell pretty much that exact pump for filling the mini cylinders on rifles
I currently own a divers scuba tank for filling my rifle with at the moment, but when the air has ran out of it, and its out of date and out of shape and gets cut in half, i dont think ill be buying another just to fill my rifle
So im thinking about buying and using one of those hand pumps, i cant say how much the cylinder on the rifle holds, but its about 12 inches long and an inch diameter
I dont run rhe air completely out of the rifle, the lowest it goes is 110 bar, then gets pumped back up to 190 bar, so theres an 80 bar difference
Interesting video though 👍
Trying to get divers to think before buying something based only on a cool TH-cam video. Thanks Russell.
But is it safe? The guy at the dive shop said if the air is not properly filter it could kill me! Guess I’ll have to find out the hard way but i will be asking for a refund if it that happens!
Remember it is not a scuba system but a fancy snorkel. Max depth 15' in short dips, then a long surface to pump up and repeat.
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Hallo from Afghanistan. Can you please tell me what you talking about?? I andrestand nathing??😂😂 thanks
Hello. If you watch the video and don't understand it, watch it again. I'm not repeating or explaining the video in text.
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They also sell a kit with 1.9 l tank with electric compressor...which seems best option..hand pumping more than .6 l seems like a bad idea.
Hand pumping is for these show off young kids with muscles and time. There are so many hand pumps for tanks but after filling one, many just buy an electric compressor or fill off a full scuba tank. Being older means thinking smarter so do it the easy and safe way.
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Apart from the advise not to exercise in between dives to avoid the bends!
The only exercise I do between dives is pumping aluminum can of pop! Take care.
Thanks
Welcome Richard.
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I dive Nitrox so I’ll just keep supporting my dive shop. Even if I did use Nitrox I would still bring it to the dive shop. Forget that pumping junk stuff. Suppose someone is pumping there scuba tank and there is a car or truck running near by??? I would only pump if I lived on a island all to myself and there was no dive shop around lol
Agree Will but I do want to show divers that these devices exist, the pros and cons and to be an educated, informed diver. Don't fall for gadgets and fads as you must be safe at all times. However, more people are killed by taking dangerous selfies than shark attacks but there is no "Stupid Selfie Week" on TV so not everyone is smart. Take care Will.
from Alec to Lou Ferrigno to refill a tank?
The original Hulk!! Thanks Alesio.
Wow. Hard to believe
It is but it does exist, someone will try it so educating divers before they spend money on junk ideas.
Pump plus both cylinders dual cylinders neoprene
Not something a smart person really wants to do right?
@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter My imaginary girl said wrap up the tanks.😉. She’s weird.
imagine pumping your car tire with that pump? well, the tire is only 30psi, this bottle is 3000psi. no chance anyone does it in 20 minutes
I can get the Hulk to do it. Kevin is too slow.
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