Self Service Fill Station

[wallyc72]

If there was a way to do a "Self Service Fill Station". Who would be up for it? With PROPER TRAINING OF COARSE!

[Grateful Diver]

I'm in ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

[Geek]

Count me in

[ljjames]

Just make sure to have a boom box or two to cover your ass legally. it's up to the clients to use them. (a container with water in it that you fill in to protect everyone in the case of a boom)

[fmerkel]

Boom Box? I think to be effective it'd have to be rebar reinforced concrete about 2 feet thick and 6 feet high (WAG-wild ass guess). The amount of energy in a 'boom' is incredible.

[wallyc72]

Just make sure to have a boom box or two to cover your ass legally. it's up to the clients to use them. (a container with water in it that you fill in to protect everyone in the case of a boom)

Just wanted to know if there was a interest. I don't think my insurance would cover this at all!

[wallyc72]

Boom Box? I think to be effective it'd have to be rebar reinforced concrete about 2 feet thick and 6 feet high (WAG-wild ass guess). The amount of energy in a 'boom' is incredible.

With out a containment box like the fire departments us. A tank exploding would Kill you.

[Bric Martin]

Boom Box? I think to be effective it'd have to be rebar reinforced concrete about 2 feet thick and 6 feet high (WAG-wild ass guess). The amount of energy in a 'boom' is incredible.

With out a containment box like the fire departments us. A tank exploding would Kill you.

It's hard for me not to laugh! There are some photos at a local dive shop. During a partial pressure fill the cylinder valve was opened, the filler didn't realize that a K bottle of O2 was also open. As the valve to the cylinder was opened o2 rushed into the cylinder and the scuba cylinder exploded. The top of the bottle, the neck and valve, went through the ceiling and punched a hole through the roof.

The filler was embarrassed and very lucky. Easily enough force to kill someone.

[DiverBob]

I'm in ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Go figure, Mr. 10 tanks per week the first to respond. LOL! :occasion5:

[kitsapdiver]

I am in love with the idea. At the very minimum it would be awesome to be able to swing by and fill air or a banked 32 at the minimum.

[Scubak]

You know that Tim and I would be all over this...
You are such a tease...
Kirsten

[LCF]

Unfortunately, you're way too far out of the way. But such an arrangement would be VERY attractive.

[Zen Diver]

I LOVE the idea. It's one thing I miss about being affiliated with a shop ( as an instructor I mean, I enjoyed being able fill my own).

Valerie

[dwashbur]

I could get behind such an idea, depending on where it is............

[Dusty2]

Me three as long as I could do nitrox. 32% would work fine. It would be very cool indeed.

[HydroGirl]

This has been done before. I was trying to find a photo of the station we had in Florida about 10 years ago (very cool and high-tech), but haven’t been able to locate it. It was a free standing (portable station). You would buy a barcode sticker to scan your tanks before connecting to the fill station. The information on visual inspections and hydros was stored on the barcode.

The station was set up for air, nitrox, and trimix. The fill rate was controlled by the station and not the diver (via computer).
I don’t know what happened to them but they only lasted one summer. I also know that DOT and OSHA inspectors had been taking pictures of the operation.

[renoun]

One method that might be implemented would be a large locked container for after hours pickup and drop off of tanks. Are there shops doing that around here? One would have to work out payment and paperwork for mixed gasses in advance (perhaps require ownership of an analyzer). I suppose that a video surveillance would be appropriate too.

I have always been intrigued by the idea of a lending library of tanks operating on an exchange basis. Most of the time one could check out 95s/100s but one could get a 130s of 32% for the big dive or more tanks than normal. One wouldn't have to worry about hydros, VIPs, or whether to keep a tank oxygen cleaned.

Somebody on TDS was talking about a Florida fill station that had whips long enough for in vehicle filling. That sounds neat too.

[boydski]

Somebody on TDS was talking about a Florida fill station that had whips long enough for in vehicle filling. That sounds neat too.

The 25' fill whip is my VERY favorite accessory for my boat! No more hauling my doubles into and out of the boat for fills!

I've often thought that it would be very cool to set up a drive through fill station at a convenient location (say in an old gas station).

[ljjames]

Waynes in FL does this (24 hr fills)

invoice/paypal at computer. gear sitting everywhere. its a wonder nothing gets swiped.

http://www.amigosdivecenter.com/

[dieseldude]

I like the idea Wally-you guys are always thinking. Any chance you could come to the northend & ruboff on the owners up here?
I think if theres a chance of you blowing your own tank up, you probabaly dont need to be filling it yourself.
MJ

[wallyc72]

I like the idea Wally-you guys are always thinking. Any chance you could come to the northend & ruboff on the owners up here?
I think if theres a chance of you blowing your own tank up, you probabaly dont need to be filling it yourself.
MJ

If they blow themselves up do they still have to pay? Better have there credit card on file!!

[dieseldude]

If you really want to capitalize, I'd sell an annual self fill card & hope the blow-up early on. You're just mean!

[Sounder]

One method that might be implemented would be a large locked container for after hours pickup and drop off of tanks. Are there shops doing that around here? One would have to work out payment and paperwork for mixed gasses in advance (perhaps require ownership of an analyzer). I suppose that a video surveillance would be appropriate too.

I have always been intrigued by the idea of a lending library of tanks operating on an exchange basis. Most of the time one could check out 95s/100s but one could get a 130s of 32% for the big dive or more tanks than normal. One wouldn't have to worry about hydros, VIPs, or whether to keep a tank oxygen cleaned.

Somebody on TDS was talking about a Florida fill station that had whips long enough for in vehicle filling. That sounds neat too.

I've had the same thoughts several times - a locked place to drop and pick-up tanks after hours would be great. It'd be easy to do key-cards, or unique combinations or whatever.

[vbcoachchris]

One method that might be implemented would be a large locked container for after hours pickup and drop off of tanks. Are there shops doing that around here? One would have to work out payment and paperwork for mixed gasses in advance (perhaps require ownership of an analyzer). I suppose that a video surveillance would be appropriate too.

I have always been intrigued by the idea of a lending library of tanks operating on an exchange basis. Most of the time one could check out 95s/100s but one could get a 130s of 32% for the big dive or more tanks than normal. One wouldn't have to worry about hydros, VIPs, or whether to keep a tank oxygen cleaned.

Somebody on TDS was talking about a Florida fill station that had whips long enough for in vehicle filling. That sounds neat too.

I've had the same thoughts several times - a locked place to drop and pick-up tanks after hours would be great. It'd be easy to do key-cards, or unique combinations or whatever.

You have all of the above already

[Sounder]

One method that might be implemented would be a large locked container for after hours pickup and drop off of tanks. Are there shops doing that around here? One would have to work out payment and paperwork for mixed gasses in advance (perhaps require ownership of an analyzer). I suppose that a video surveillance would be appropriate too.

I have always been intrigued by the idea of a lending library of tanks operating on an exchange basis. Most of the time one could check out 95s/100s but one could get a 130s of 32% for the big dive or more tanks than normal. One wouldn't have to worry about hydros, VIPs, or whether to keep a tank oxygen cleaned.

Somebody on TDS was talking about a Florida fill station that had whips long enough for in vehicle filling. That sounds neat too.

I've had the same thoughts several times - a locked place to drop and pick-up tanks after hours would be great. It'd be easy to do key-cards, or unique combinations or whatever.

You have all of the above already

That's one of the huge draws for me. I think LDS locations could have something similar with minimal cost and I think it'd really boost fill sales. Customers are "approved" on a case-by-case basis to have access so that perk so you know they're the type that will pay, will analyze, will only take THEIR tanks, etc.

Long fill-whips for in-truck filling are a big perk too.