Help me fill my carbon fiber tanks.

[EliteUAS]

So I'm new to using a compressor. I want to know a couple things before I try to fill and I've tried Google to no avail.. first off do I empty my tank completely before hooking it up to the compressor? Secondly do I open the valve on the tank before filling while its connected  or after I start my compressor up? Using an air hog tank... and the yong heng compressor. These might seem like simple questions or even dumb questions, but I'm just trying to cover my basis.
Regards
Felipe

[E30_S50]

No...keep all the air in the tank that you can...otherwise the pump will need to replace it! Don't waste tank pressure for no reason.

Hook the tank up to the pump but keep the tanks valve closed.  With the bleeder screws on the pump OPEN, turn on the pump...then close the screws once it is running.... you will see the pressure on the tank and pump gauges start to rise.

Then you can slowly open the tank valve to let pressure begin entering the tank. Before starting, I like to take note of the tank pressure... then when the pump gets running, open the valve once the pump pressure gets to about that point.

Once up to pressure...I quickly close the tank valve and open the pump bleeder screws. Then turn off pump with the screws open.

[E30_S50]

Also remember if this I'd your first time using the pump...change the oil OFTEN. The first time I used mine I think I changed it twice when filling my first tank. You will see it get discolored quickly.

[EliteUAS]

Thank you. I appreciate the explanation more then you know. 
Regards
Felipe

[WiseGuy]

Felipe,

This is how I do it.

1.  Hook up your tank to your compressor. Check the tank pressure before you turn on the compressor.
2.  Open the bleed screws on your compressor and turn on the compressor. I let it run for about 15 seconds before closing the bleeders
     on the compressor.  Watch the pressure on the compressor gauge start to rise.
3.  When the pressure on the compressor reaches the tank pressure open the tank valve and the compressor will begin to put air into
     your tank.
4.  When you reach your desired fill pressure on your tank, close the valve on your tank and quickly open the bleeder screws on your
     compressor for a few seconds and then turn off your pump.

What I also like to do is open the bleeder on the high side of the compressor to relive moisture every 3-4 minutes for a quick second or two while the compressor is putting air into my tank.

[triggertreat]

Just a tip, If you add a Foster fitting with a check valve you don't have to wait for the compressor to reach the tank pressure before opening the tank valve.  Once the pressure from the pump reaches the tank pressure the check valve will open and let air into the tank.  Makes filling much simpler and prevents possible burst disc failures.  I use a Stickman fill assembly which comes with one, but you can add one to your fill assembly.  Just make sure it is after the bleed screw.


I got this tip from Tracker1955 who first reported this on the forums.

[EliteUAS]

Thanks guys! Much appreciated!
Regards
Felipe

[Bigragu]

No...keep all the air in the tank that you can...otherwise the pump will need to replace it! Don't waste tank pressure for no reason.

Hook the tank up to the pump but keep the tanks valve closed.  With the bleeder screws on the pump OPEN, turn on the pump...then close the screws once it is running.... you will see the pressure on the tank and pump gauges start to rise.

Then you can slowly open the tank valve to let pressure begin entering the tank. Before starting, I like to take note of the tank pressure... then when the pump gets running, open the valve once the pump pressure gets to about that point.

Once up to pressure...I quickly close the tank valve and open the pump bleeder screws. Then turn off pump with the screws open.

Hey, Matt. Good to see you on here. As far as your advice to the OP, your advice and Wiseguys make perfect sense to me, as that is the procedure I follow with my lightning compressor. My question is why is it when I shut off the compressors bleed screw, and pressure starts to rise(as shown on the compressors gage) why does the gage on my Airhog tank start to rise also(the air hogs valve is still shut off at this point). Seems most of the instructions given are to wait till the pressure in the compressor equalizes with the tanks pressure BEFORE opening up the tanks valve.

Is the pressure showing on my tanks gage the pressure accumulating in the fill hose to the tank? Is that why the gage on the tank is rising in pressure with the valve still shut?