How long to charge a 300bar bottle?

[dttlincs]

I have not had my pcp's long and the bottle will need charging very soon for the first time. I spoke to the nearest place where I can get it charged, the Diving shop in Whittlesea near Peterborough, who said i would need to leave it overnight or all day. The reason for this is apparently a 300bar bottle gets quite hot during charging and will need to be submerged in water during the charge. I know the type of gauge on most bottles should not be submerged so they will have to be told this but surely it shouldn't take this long?

[Mike H]

An hour at most I've found.
Mike.

[Pavel]

It takes a matter of minutes to charge a bottle, any bottle. The guy is either VERY busy or wants you to believe he is. I may be very lucky but the longest I've had to wait is 10 minutes at my dive shop.

All bottles are submerged in water during the charge, it's a saftey requirement. You won't need to take your gauge into the shop either, remove it beforehand. He will have all the required fittings

HTH.

[Mike H]

It takes a matter of minutes to charge a bottle, any bottle. The guy is either VERY busy or wants you to believe he is. I may be very lucky but the longest I've had to wait is 10 minutes at my dive shop.

All bottles are submerged in water during the charge, it's a saftey requirement. You won't need to take your gauge into the shop either, remove it beforehand. He will have all the required fittings

HTH.

I had to wait 20 mins once as the bottle was warm, but not hot. None of the 3 shops I've used place bottles in water. I also leave the guage and hose on to show the shop owner that it's for surface use only.
Mike.

[Sam Vimes]

I do my bottle in about 10-15 minutes from about 180-200 all the way up to 300bar. I then leave it for a short while to cool from warm then top it up to make sure it's as close to 300bar as possible.

chris

[dttlincs]

Not so bad then. I'll see how it goes as the dive shop is only 5 miles from work. Otherwise I am not sure where the nearest place to get a 300 Bar fill is. Maybe another post for that one!

[Mike H]

Take a look HERE
Mike.

[dttlincs]

Thanks Mike H.
The one at Whittlesea that i was talking about is on this site.
Cheers

[delta1]

Took about 10 minutes to do mine, stood it on floor while charging, no sign of water tank etc.

Richard

[CalorGaz]

Take a look HERE
Mike.

Mike, where do you take your bottles for filling? We are pretty local to each other and I was wondering where the best place to take it would be.

Adrian

[billyboyp]

10 min for mine at kellingley. and under water.

[Mike H]

Mike, where do you take your bottles for filling? We are pretty local to each other and I was wondering where the best place to take it would be.

Adrian

I now only use "Dive Buddies" on the A58 in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Luckily it's only a 2 minute drive I have used Fins in Preston, they were good.
Mike.

[GiZZeRR]

Got my first charge from empty today and it took around 15 mins....no water just stood on floor and charged slowly. He siad it would be charged to around 320 bar and once cool would be around 300 bar. Was warm when charged but didn't see the final pressure he put in to it.

[CalorGaz]

Thanks Mike. I'll give Dive Buddies a try, I'm sure I can get all the way over there from Astley I take it they can do bottle tests as well?

Adrian

[Mike H]

Thanks Mike. I'll give Dive Buddies a try, I'm sure I can get all the way over there from Astley I take it they can do bottle tests as well?

Adrian

They don't do tests themselves but could probably arrange it for you. If you come down the A580, turn off at Haydock Island towards Ashton. Right at the lights at the end of the road. Go straight through Ashton, and they're about 1/2 mile on the right near the car wash place. Use the side door.
Mike.