Gauges

[MadJack]

This may seem minor to a lot of people, but something I've been noticing lately. I am a store/field owner and lately I've noticed that I can't get 3k gauges from National, CenterFlag, Dye, Smart Parts or PMI. ???? I've been told that they are now putting 5k gauges on every tank whether its 3k or 4.5k Not sure how they are saving money doing this, but if a customer of mine comes in and needs a new 3k gauge on his tank I really should replace it with a 3k gauge.
Why?? Putting a 4.5k gauge on a 3k tank may lead somebody to filling the tank on a busy day and accidentally putting 4.5 in the tank. In all my years I've done it only once, but what about the hundreds of stores & fields that may not pay attention. This could be end up being dangerous and hurting somebody in the long run. This is a practice that should be stopped immediately.
If anyone knows where I can get 3k mini gauges please let me know. Remember, there are stilll a lot of 3k tanks out there.

[Dunamis]

No, it won't lead to overfilling the tank if the person is properly trained. NEVER trust the gauge on the customer's tank, assume they are always wrong. On your scuba system (or cascade system or your compressor) it will have a gauge on it, use that gauge to see the ammount of pressure in the tank, this way no matter what you know exactly how much pressure is in the tank.

[MadJack]

Yes, "If the person filling your tank is properly trained" In a perfect paintball world that would be fine.
I've played a long time and played at a lot of places and I've seen a lot of people do stupid & careless things when filling N2 tanks or filling Co2 tanks without scales. I agree, we also have a big liquid filled gauge that we use when filling, but there is still no point in putting a 6k gauge on 3k tank. Why increase the chance of an accident even 1%, especially with a lot of fields with the self serv fill stations.
I just want to know why I can't purchase 3k gauges anymore.

[Dunamis]

*Shrug* Why make 2 when you can make 1? All about profits....

[Paintball Wilderness]

Why would you trust a $15 gauage over your high quality gauge on your fill station anyways?

[MadJack]

I guess I didn't explain myself very well in the initial thread.

I'm saying me.... I have huge liquid filled gauge that we fill off of. What I'm saying is when people see a 5k or 6k gauge on a tank they sometimes assume that its a 4.5k tank.
I've been to fields where the owners don't even know where the hydro test date is or even ask if its a 4.5k.

[Bob McGuire (APL)]

Point well taken, Madjack. You appear to know what you are doing at your fill station, and I understand your concern about the gauges. There are presently no ASTM standards for valve colorations, fill nipples, or gauges to distinguish working pressures of the cylinders or systems. There have been many instances of untrained (or even trained) fill station operators filling cylinders to excessive pressures. Limiting the range of the gauge would be a useful indicator if the fill station operator happens to notice it.

Unfortunately, as everyone in this thread seems to realize, the only gauge that counts is the fill station master gauge, so many operators do not even look at the bottle gauge during the fill process. However, complete bottle inspections are required in the DOT fill procedure, and DOT Hazmat training will soon be required by the major paintball insurance programs, so there will be more people looking at gauges, hydro dates, and bottle condition as the insurance requirements spread across the industry.

[Dunamis]

Yeah, if it's any tank other than one I checked that day (even if they are a regular) I'll ask them to take the tank cover off for a sec, show me the hydrodate and the tank rating. It's just a mandatory procedure for me.

[bdaniel08]

My crossfire has a 4.5k guage on it and it's a 3k. However, they also redline it past the 3k.

Most people that fill it up themselves have a scuba and those usually go up to only 3k. I seriously doubt a newb will be working on a 5k compressor. For, they're to expensive and really only located at proshops, scubashops, and factories.

[MadJack]

There are many fields that now offer self filling stations.

You guys all act like we live in a perfect world and everybody knows the rules and follows them. Its not like that.

I just don't want to see anyone get hurt.

[Dunamis]

Agreed, but addressing the gauges won't change that, addressing the training and the DOT procedures in filling such cylinders will change that. If a field cannot/refuses to follow DOT standards and codes then they simply cannot fill the tanks. If you know of such a field, tell them to mend their ways or report them to the DOT, because for 1 it's not just stupid, it's in violation of the law (at least to the best of my knowledge.)

[bdaniel08]

Originally posted by MadJack
There are many fields that now offer self filling stations.

You guys all act like we live in a perfect world and everybody knows the rules and follows them. Its not like that.

I just don't want to see anyone get hurt.

And the safety valve would bust on the reg... Pretty much perfect.

[MadJack]

I've seen over filled tanks blow the burst disc and spin in the air .

I guess I'm surprised that everyone is trying to prove my view point wrong. I just want our sport to remain safe.

Its not logical to put a 5k gauge on something that is supposed to hold no more than 3k. Prove the logic to me without cost being a factor.

There are a lot of dumb people out there. LOTS!!

I also welcome the day that they do make it required to be DOT certified to fill tanks.

[otb]

hah, i got the awnser for you MadJack, say you wanted a 45 tank, you could just put that reg ont he 45 and bam!!!, now it has a purpose :)