FX100LPDVB Faber Cylinder

[Scotttyd]

Anybody familiar with these tanks? It looks like their buoyancy characteristics are odd, 7 lbs positive empty for a steel thank? They only weight 26 lbs??

[RoyN]

This is what Piranha dive store listed as:

This cylinder holds 80 cu ft of air @ 2640 psi.. This is a special cylinder and is very lightweight for carrying or diving with. No more aluminum 80's that weigh almost 36Lbs! Try one of these!
3442 PSI
Nitrox ready up to 40%
Self draining tank boot included
This pricing is WITH a Blue Steel's Pro Valve!
Hot Spray Zinc Galvanized base
White epoxy based coating
Clear Polyurethane sealant finish Creates a Durable corrosion resistant finish
Phosphatized internal treatment
Durable corrosion resistant finish
DIAMETER: 7.24 inches
LENGTH: 24.80 insches
WEIGHT EMPTY: 24.9 lbs.
BUOYANCY FULL: +1.65 lbs.
BUOYANCY EMPTY: +7.65 lbs.

I would rather just get a true HP100 rather then one of the same size but is a steel 80 tank in hidding.

[TN Traveler]

The buoyancy numbers are wrong on the site (I think it is a typo). Per Faber tank is
BUOYANCY EMPTY: -1.65 lbs.
BUOYANCY FULL: -7.65 lbs

Yes, it is an 80 cuft tank at 2640#.

Most shops fill it to 3000# - so you get about 90 cuft - just a little extra air but a nice way to take 5-6 # off your weight belt.

[Scotttyd]

Originally Posted by TN Traveler

The buoyancy numbers are wrong on the site (I think it is a typo). Per Faber tank is
BUOYANCY EMPTY: -1.65 lbs.
BUOYANCY FULL: -7.65 lbs

Yes, it is an 80 cuft tank at 2640#.

Most shops fill it to 3000# - so you get about 90 cuft - just a little extra air but a nice way to take 5-6 # off your weight belt.

well, why will they not fill it to 3442? if that is what makes it a 100 tank?

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by Scotttyd

Anybody familiar with these tanks? It looks like their buoyancy characteristics are odd, 7 lbs positive empty for a steel thank? They only weight 26 lbs??

I've got the Faber FX100's. They are a good tank for the price if you can get them on sale. note that Faber has lots of "last years hydro" manufacturered tanks and a lot of the ones sold new aren't made this year. (I think they've got too much inventory on hand).

you can routinely buy these at Divers Direct for $249 to $259. They just were on sale earlier this month.

Note they are 7 pounds negative, not positive (when full).


Now.... if you had to choose between these and Worthington (XSScuba) HP100's. which to buy? (this will prob be your next question.)


If you can get the FX100's for $250 or so, then I'd buy those, but if you have to pay "full price" of about $349, then buy the Worthington tanks hands down.

the Worthington tanks come with a better finish and a better valve. They will have the tripple hot dipped galvanized finish and either a Thermo Pro Valve or the XS Scuba Pro/International valve. the valves are both good. The XS Scuba valve is the same as the Pro Valve except for the crush bonnet and the number of turns to close it, and hex dip tube (which is easier to install).

So to me this is a no brainer if the tanks are simliar in price.

Note, if you get either tank, have them Visual'd by someone you trust, not some mail order dive shop like Divers Direct. If you're going to partial-pressure-nitrox fill them, have them cleaned. Don't believe either manufacturer when they say they are already clean. I have seen them dis-prove this on numerous occassions.

Originally Posted by Scotttyd

well, why will they not fill it to 3442? if that is what makes it a 100 tank?

There are a lot of shops out there that won't fill a HP tank. Often because they've got a wimpy compressor system. so they only fill it to 3000psi instead of 3442psi.

If this is your case and you want to keep using your shop for fills, consider the LP tanks and them give them an overfill to something above 2400+10%. (maybe up to 2800psi or so for example).

[ScaredSilly]

Originally Posted by Scotttyd

well, why will they not fill it to 3442? if that is what makes it a 100 tank?

Because it ain't. Same size different materials.

[mike_s]

oh... I thought he was asking about shops not filling a HP tank to 3442. (not a LP tank).

Some shops will fill a LP tank to up towards 3000psi. some even more.
(I saw someone that had LP tanks filled to 4k at the quarry a couple weeks ago.... (or that's what he said)).

[Scotttyd]

why does the company advertise it as a 100 (see title) but the working pressure allows it to only be a 80? That would be like having a LP 95 tanks, but calling it a 130 if you fill it to 3442, but we only rate it to 2400 and at that pressure it is a 95. Seems like misleading advertising to me, may be that is why they are for sale for only $150

[mike_s]

maybe I'm missing something here.....

but the HP100 tanks (Faber FX100) are 100cf at 3442psi
and the LP95 tanks are 95cf at rated pressure of 2400psi + 10% = 2640psi.

some folks sill overfill those LP95's (or other LP tanks) to 2800, 3000psi, etc, or even more)


Faber also makes an older HP100 tank that is heavy as crap and is rated at 100cf at 3180psi + 10% = 3500psi (not to be confused with the newer FX100 tanks)

[in_cavediver]

Originally Posted by mike_s

oh... I thought he was asking about shops not filling a HP tank to 3442. (not a LP tank).

Some shops will fill a LP tank to up towards 3000psi. some even more.
(I saw someone that had LP tanks filled to 4k at the quarry a couple weeks ago.... (or that's what he said)).

I've had 4000 in my LP tanks (PST 104's - made them 158's or just over 300cft in doubles). That said, I tend to prefer keeping in the 3600-3800 range. Its easier on the burst disks that way. I also only do this when the dives call for the gas. These tanks have a 2001 original hydro and passed the first hydro no problems. (not sure if it plus rated but see above for why I don't care)

This is a very common practice in cave country and known as cave fills. With the advent of HP tanks, its starting to drop in frequency but just last month, I got several fills in the 3600-3800 range. Now, with newer tanks, its a 3442 tank filled to 3600-3800.

Now - this WILL cause tank damage and it will definitely shorten the tanks life. Essentially, you are doing a near hydro with each fill. Since the tanks are far more likely to outlive me and the number of fills I'll likely get in them, I am not worried about it and will take the greater available gas. By the way, the burst pressure is in the 12-15,000 psi range for my PST tanks. They just lose the elasticity they once had and then that causes them to fail hydro. There is 20-30 years of field testing done in North Florida and not one case of failure due to cave fills.

If you are buying new tanks - get the HP over the LP for the 'same' tank. IE, get the HP119 over the LP95 or the HP130 over the LP104. Only look to LP tanks if the price is right or there isn't an HP equivalent.