Friday I went to top off one of my 88 cu ft tanks from the typical 3000 to 4500 psi. Connected the Alkin to it, pressure rose at standard speed and when it hit 200 bar I start opening the tanks valve. Usually at this point, as you all know, the gage needle comes to a halt, then it takes the 5 minutes to slowly fill to 4500.
But this time the needle just kept moving along with no stop whatsoever, and when it hit 4000 psi I checked the SCBA’s (firefighter tank) and see the needle still at the 3200 psi mark.
So the tank wasn’t getting topped off. I turned the compresdor off, disconnected the full whip, and opened up the tanks valve. Air shooting out like normal. I let the tank pressure go down to 2500 psi, reconnect and turned the Alkin back on. Same scenario. Fill hose gage up to 4000 psi, tank gage reads 2500.
Thinking I may have a problem with the alkin(I have to say, in my head I was saying BRING IT, lol), I connected to another 88 cu ft SCBA that was also down to 3000, and the mighty Alkin topped it off no oroblem, like normal.
So I drained the first tank completely empty and removed the valve. I didn’t open any parts to it except turned the knob fully open to fully closed a few times. Reconnected the valve, and reconnected the Alkin for a full fill from empty. It took about 5 minutes to get to 100 bar and it hung there for about 20 seconds at a stand still, then I heard a faint pop and then the needle on the fill whips gage start moving along. I was able to fill it to 4500. I let it cool off a couple hours, pressure had dropped To 4000, and then I topped it back off to 4500.
So, after all the details given, have any of you had a valve get stuck closed? What causes that? I’ve never ever had an SCBA tank valve get stuck, ever.
If there is a maintenance type of procedure to do to SCBA fire fighters valves please do tell
But this time the needle just kept moving along with no stop whatsoever, and when it hit 4000 psi I checked the SCBA’s (firefighter tank) and see the needle still at the 3200 psi mark.
So the tank wasn’t getting topped off. I turned the compresdor off, disconnected the full whip, and opened up the tanks valve. Air shooting out like normal. I let the tank pressure go down to 2500 psi, reconnect and turned the Alkin back on. Same scenario. Fill hose gage up to 4000 psi, tank gage reads 2500.
Thinking I may have a problem with the alkin(I have to say, in my head I was saying BRING IT, lol), I connected to another 88 cu ft SCBA that was also down to 3000, and the mighty Alkin topped it off no oroblem, like normal.
So I drained the first tank completely empty and removed the valve. I didn’t open any parts to it except turned the knob fully open to fully closed a few times. Reconnected the valve, and reconnected the Alkin for a full fill from empty. It took about 5 minutes to get to 100 bar and it hung there for about 20 seconds at a stand still, then I heard a faint pop and then the needle on the fill whips gage start moving along. I was able to fill it to 4500. I let it cool off a couple hours, pressure had dropped To 4000, and then I topped it back off to 4500.
So, after all the details given, have any of you had a valve get stuck closed? What causes that? I’ve never ever had an SCBA tank valve get stuck, ever.
If there is a maintenance type of procedure to do to SCBA fire fighters valves please do tell
