Kaboom! Burst Disk Blows - Scuba Tech Tips: S14E18

Every scuba tank valve has a burst disk to prevent tanks from being overfilled but what does it look like when a burst disk fails? Alec intentionally damaged a burst disk to show what happens when it blows.
WARNING - Do Not Try This Unless You Are A Very Old Dive Pro.
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[@msw5224]

WOW...Just Wow...Never would have expected that much force out of two small holes...

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Three holes actually. It was a surprise to me too. A

[@tomc.7520]

LOL I've been diving a lot of years and have never actually seen a disk blow. Thank you Alec for that show. I have to admit I jumped a little even knowing what was supposed to happen, and then I laughed.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Me too! I have never seen one blow before. In all my years, never had a burst disk fail while diving. A

[@timgosling6189]

It's rare enough in UK to get close to a nominal max fill. As the cylinders are certified to another 50% on top of that we take our chances and do without these disks, which the more Hogarthian of our community probably think of as an extra unnecessary failure point rather than a safety feature. And I see someone has already commented that you can't fill a 232 cylinder from a 300Bar whip. Interesting demo though, and nice to see the adiabatic ice formation.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you like it Tim. Sure surprised me even with a small pony bottle. A

[@jacquespoirier9071]

that happened to me on a freshly inspected tank, it is a very appreciated safety device, I by far be faced to an empty tank instead of an exploded tank very good video.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you Jacques. It was fun for me too. A

[@davedonati206]

Hi Alec, thanks for sharing that test. Very interesting!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

A fun for me. My first blown burst disk in 60 years. A

[@davedonati206]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter & my first time in 50!

[@josephdracula7487]

👍😎🤿🇵🇭Thanks for the demonstration!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Any time! A

[@feynthefallen]

I once witnessed a burst disc letting go when somebody filled a 3000psi paintball tank (which is essentially just a miniature scuba tank) from a 4500psi compressor and didn't pay attention. It was bloody impressive. I've never actually witnessed a tank blowing up, it happens occasionally in paintball when a player takes a very unfortunate fall. But I have seen pictures, both of the tank and of the players' bodies after the tank blew up right next to their cheeks. It's rarely fatal, but seeing the aftermath puts anyone off their dinner, believe me.

[@fujifame1]

There are pictures that show scuba tanks when they have blown that have took out buildings! I can’t imagine one, even small, beside my face!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Handling any pressurized cylinder has risks. I'm glad scuba has burst disks. It was very loud and surprisingly forceful even with a 19 cu/ft pony bottle as demo. A

[@feynthefallen]

A Pony bottle is actually not a bad comparison to a paintball tank, they come in .8 and 1.1 Liter sizes.

[@feynthefallen]

@@fujifame1 There's all kinds of safety features built into the system, the marker frames are designed to buckle long before the bottle lets go, the air system adapters have spots where they are supposed to come off, and the connection between the actual bottle and the built-in regulator (What would be the first stage in scuba) is also designed to break off. Mostly it works, but sometimes it's not enough. Most of the cases I've seen a crack formed in the threaded neck and worked its way down, blowing a divot out of the neck of the bottle.

[@sammoyers905]

It is really fun when a burst disk goes on the fill bank. Everyone in the shop closing tank valves as fast as they can.... good times...😂

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Oh yes. Had the owner of Dive Source Scuba and his service tech watching. Everyone jumped when it popped. What you don't see is it blew bags of parts off the wall behind Kevin. Now we know better. A

[@13panda13]

I havent watched for a while. This episode was the best one yet. Allen, good on ya👍🏻🥽💛from🐟🐙🐠🐬🦈🐳🐋The GBR, Rockhampton, Australia

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it. Should be more crazy stuff to laugh at. A

[@robadex8043]

Our European valves do not have burst discs. Maybe because we don't have so many different tank pressures. Most shops only fill 200bar or 300bar and you can't fill a 200bar tank (200bar valve) with a 300bar fill whip.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

That seems very strange as I know all convertible tank valves (yoke with DIN inserts), have burst disk assemblies. A

[@Sine1040]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter Never seen them on EU tanks. Both my tanks don't have them. And the valves on these are the convertible DIN kind.

[@Robert_H_Diver]

The only reason we have them on ours in the US is because in the early 1900’s some boiler tanks exploded and the government over reacted and made all valves on pressurized tanks have burst disks.

[@lupusdeum3894]

Never wondered, but now I know!👍

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad to add to your knowledge of all things scuba. A

[@albertamato7620]

That was crazy scary. If that happened to me while diving and wearing a wetsuit…..😮 Thank you again for another educational video Alec.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you enjoyed it. It was a new experience for me too to intentionally blow a burst disk. A

[@owenmougenot712]

Hi Alec, That did look fun, but destructive testing is always a valuable tool if you have the equipment to measure it precisely. I remember one place I worked had a pull testing machine for evaluating the strength of the parts we made. I took a piece of low grade #10-24 threaded rod (the ones you hang planter hooks with) and tested it. I was shocked that it took 900 pounds to break it, those are some heavy plants! Btw what was the pressure the disk failed at? Take care Owen m

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Hi Owen. I purposely scored the burst disks outside so it would fail before filling the pony wi 3000 psi. I think it failed at over 2000 psi (which is what I wanted). Still it was loud and forceful even on a small tank. A

[@SummerDawn]

Omg I love this.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Can't go wrong when something goes Boom! A

[@blondie-1112]

I saw this happen in a dive shop whilst doing my AOW. Scared the living daylights out of me. The fill room turned into a water gyzer and I thought a tank exploded 😅!. Everyone was running around closing doors and getting their ear protection. I was informed it was a burst disk and a tank explosion would sound like a gun fire.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

A failed burst disk can be a butt tightening event but not generally fatal thanks to the air divert in the assembly. Thanks for sharing your story. A

[@meisterlau]

Thanks for sharing Alec! BTW you keep saying ‘one of my favorite dive stores’; then which one store is your most favorite? ~Steven

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

The one I'm standing in is my favourite. I love them all . A

[@mikecrockett3669]

Awesome!

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you think so! A

[@hearsejr]

Wow!!! Just wondering, does it damage the valve when they burst? If I don't know if the burst disc was changed during the hydro, can i just take my tank in when i get it VIP'ed, and get them to change it then or is that something that has to be done by hydro guy? Do they change the whole assembly or just the washer and disc itself? I some how don't think any of mine were changed. Just from the looks i see some build from the dust and stuff in the air, that looks as if it has been there awhile.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Usually burst disks, or today burst disk assemblies (disk + washer + screw in unit) are changed at hydro due to the excess pressure of the hydro test. You can ask for it to be changed at anytime, they are not expensive units or take long to change. The tank we used was old so may have storage dust on it. It was fun to see it go. A

[@hearsejr]

@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter kewl thanks. I got 2 tanks.. birth date is 2017 and 2018.. that is in need of their first hydro. I got them from a guy that bought them new and found out he and his wife did not like diving at all. So they still 1000 psi of the original air from the first fill in them. I figured for $50 each I could not go too wrong. Lol. I had a year now and have not even took them out of my bed room closet since I got them I want to see if the hydro guy will give the me the copper disc for my what not shelf of useless things. Lol.

[@Will-ol9lp]

I always wonder what that would sound like and how much the tank wold move do to the force of the air coming out. Thanks

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

The small pony used for the demo was still forceful and a surprise. In 60+ years of diving I never saw a burst disk fail in front of me. Now we know. A

[@paulholm4827]

Ok I am curious to know where the piece of the burst that got blown out went somewhere. Potentially dangerous I guess.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I found it inside the burst disk assembly after taking it apart. It changed from a flat disk into what looked like scrambled eggs. The housing captured almost all of the disk but not everything. A

[@Skunkiboi]

I've seen it on paintball regulators because they are made in Murrica, but never in Europe.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

I like the protection a burst disk gives for little cost. A

[@michaelandersen1801]

Thats how its done :-)

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Except for me jumping when it blow. A

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

will vintage scuba tank burst as well with 230bar air in it ? as far as I know old scuba tanks can accept 160-180bar

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

The burst disk assemblies are rated for the tanks working pressure so even old low pressure vintage tanks will release long before reaching the tanks max pressure. A great safety device and cheap too. A

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

Vintage double hose is shut down? Where can I get service parts from? (DA Aquamaster) Thanks in advance

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Suggest visiting Rob's website as he may be taking over VDH's operation. Check out: www.thescubamuseum.com. Leave a message if you don't see what you're looking for. A

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

Grateful for information 👍

[@Robert_H_Diver]

Burst disks are supposed to have the burst pressure on them, not the tank pressure, right?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Burst disks generally have the burst pressure, which is 5/3 working pressured, printed on them. Not always so check. A

[@thunderball6664]

just a question how long can you leave air in a scuba diving tank i just had a hip operation and cant dive for 8 months and the tank has been cleaned and pressure tested

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Scuba air will last a very long time so 8 months is not a problem. Remember once you empty these tanks after returning to diving. Your next annual visual inspection may be due. Wish you a speedy return to diving and thanks for watching. A

[@thunderball6664]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter thanks Alec have a good day

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

I get mine changed every other year

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Very good for the piece of mind and how little it costs. A

[@divemasterzach34705]

Oh Mr. Peirce add a 0 to that buck and that's how much they cost

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Dive store prices are pretty low for such an important item. Some use compete assemblies, others just the burst disk and washer. Either way a good deal for a safety device. A

[@HhhHhhh-pe8qt]

✌️

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Thank you again. A

[@PROSTO4Tabal]

[@vpraczynski9013]

I'd hate to hear that bang-swoosh.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

The tank was not at 3000 psi when it let go. Surprised me! A

[@vpraczynski9013]

@@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter did Kevin jump?

[@NockVrEasterEggs]

Will you be my grandpa?

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Sorry but I enough energy only for my own. Take care. A

[@kirkthejerkthe1st]

You scammed us Alec!!! I was wondering how 3000 psi coul

[@kirkthejerkthe1st]

Woops! how 3000 psi could burst a 5250 psi disc, then I read that you sabotaged it!! Our local dive store had one burst while filling at a high pressure and it blew all the suspended ceiling tiles upwards.

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

It was almost filled to 3000 when it blew out. Lots of force for a very short time. A

[@chrisd-gd6no]

very good demo, thanks !

[@AlecPeirceScuba_SeaHunter]

Glad you liked it! A