Cold Weather

[gasdiver]

My wife left the garage door open this morning when she went to work at 6:30am. (It was 13 F in at my house this morning.) When I let the dogs out about an hour later I heard a hissing sound in the garage and went to investigate. At first I though it was a broken pipe and water was running somewhere, but as I rounded my truck, in in the garage I could tell it was a scuba tank bleeding gas. So I found the offending tank and turned the valve to shut it off. I guess the cold weather caused the valve seat to contract and break the seal. The valve did turn a small amount, but it was less than 1/8 of a turn. This was the first time I have ever even heard of this happening.

I can't wait for spring!

[PfcAJ]

http://www.leisurepro.com/p-xssssdp/...NB2BoCaibw_wcB

Cheaper than a tank of trimix

[Steve C]

Er.. if you have one of these in and you accidentally open the cylinder valve you are going to load the threads with a lot of force. Assuming say 1/2 square inch area across the inside of the 0-ring that is about 1,500lbs force on the threads. As the plug doesn't appear to have a bleed port, that is a lot of friction between stainless threads on the plug and brass threads on your cylinder valve. Forcing it to turn isn't going to do the softer brass threads much good I suspect.

[MORGAN]

Left Luraville yesterday morning to drive home to VT. I needed some windshield washer fluid but the only stuff I could find was marked "Southern Formula" and "Protects Against Freezing Down To 32 Degrees F!" So I added a 10 oz. bottle of 91% isopropanol, thinking that would keep it from freezing. Didn't work. It was 5 degrees in Fancy Gap, VA, and this morning it's 0 in Carlisle PA where we spent the night. At home it's currently -7 with a wind chill of -22. So when I get home I'll have to thaw it out and put another bottle or two of isopropanol in and top it off with the stuff I usually use, rated to -40. An extra jug of real winter w/w fluid is going on the checklist for the next winter trip to Florida.

[FW]

...I can't wait for spring!

When spring comes, the valve stem will expand, crushing the seat

[PfcAJ]

Er.. if you have one of these in and you accidentally open the cylinder valve you are going to load the threads with a lot of force. Assuming say 1/2 square inch area across the inside of the 0-ring that is about 1,500lbs force on the threads. As the plug doesn't appear to have a bleed port, that is a lot of friction between stainless threads on the plug and brass threads on your cylinder valve. Forcing it to turn isn't going to do the softer brass threads much good I suspect.

Not an issue in practice. It doesn't take much rotation to get it to bleed. They do make brass ones if you're concerned though.

[ARY]

Not an issue in practice. It doesn't take much rotation to get it to bleed. They do make brass ones if you're concerned though.

Agree. I use SS plugs on sump bottles, and to plug port on H valve when not in use. It only takes a half mm turn to loosen pressure on sealing o-ring and gas bleeds out from the dead space. The most important thing though is not to forget to put a wrench into cave pack.

[FW]

...The most important thing though is not to forget to put a wrench into cave pack.

Yes! I have had that happen

[sskasser]

... "Protects Against Freezing Down To 32 Degrees F!" ....

uuuuuhhhhhh???? Doesn't water also do that? LOL

I'm used to wet dive gear. I was not, however, prepared to have to peel the ice out of my mask this morning at Peacock. Brrrrrrrr!!! Pass the mask de-icer!

[vinegarbiscuit]

Left Luraville yesterday morning to drive home to VT. I needed some windshield washer fluid but the only stuff I could find was marked "Southern Formula" and "Protects Against Freezing Down To 32 Degrees F!" So I added a 10 oz. bottle of 91% isopropanol, thinking that would keep it from freezing. Didn't work. It was 5 degrees in Fancy Gap, VA, and this morning it's 0 in Carlisle PA where we spent the night. At home it's currently -7 with a wind chill of -22. So when I get home I'll have to thaw it out and put another bottle or two of isopropanol in and top it off with the stuff I usually use, rated to -40. An extra jug of real winter w/w fluid is going on the checklist for the next winter trip to Florida.

Mike - very sorry that Rog and I missed seeing you and Tracy at the Outpost! We just flew in this morning (2/20). Hope your drive home was/is uneventful!

- Nelly


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