Cylinders - Bar and Litres

[MSD]

You can't blow a cylinder with parallel threads to a pressure at which it will actually explode. I'm told that the O-ring between the pillar valve and the cylinder will blow out first. That's why burst disks (as used in the USA) are a load of nonsense. I suppose if the cylinder was in bad condition that might not apply, but that's what the testing regime is supposed to eliminate.

Aluminium cylinders are actually used extensively for cave diving, but not much in the UK because of the damage in transport underground issue. Having recently watched some people diving with multiple aluminium stage tanks I can appreciate the advantages - I was struggling myself to get a good balance and trim with steel stages (aluminium tanks are less negative).

Mark

 

[AMW]

Aluminium cylinders certainly have a place in cave diving (although not so much in the England and Wales !). I use 7li 232 Bar aluminium cylinders as stages and also as a bail out on my rebreather although in sites out side of the UK. As you say they are very easy to trim and easy to move about.



Andrew.