Alpine physco or not???

[Depth-junkie]

I have been asked to post this to see what the masses think, i know i am not the 1st or the only one to run this kind of set up.

But here you go:-

decide if i am right or wrong/ sane or mad???

1st lets assume that everyone knows how to dive a CCR (basic functions of diving the unit). core safety features of my inspo vision unit are 2 x independant oxygen controlers (C1 and C2), 3 02 cells as standard i run 4 cells, Alarm buzzer, HUD display for both C1 and C2. Temp stick (scrubber monitor)

I think people dive CCR but still think like OC divers.

if you dive CCR, dive CCR and dont think oh well i have good old OC as a saftey net. If the truth be told OC is a good bailout for 50-60m dives as you can carry the gas.

But deeper it dont work, if you can trust your unit to dive it to 100m why cant you trust it to finish the dive from start to finish.

If i get a full flood at depth i am dead. So the main thing is too make sure it wont happen. its no different to making sure your bottles are full and not on 50bar you jump in. Elecs fail, regs fail that is why i have got those bases coverd. The only thing i have to make sure is that i have placed the oring and spacer in the scrubber and make sure the thing is water tight/check all connections.........aint hard to make sure those things are done is it?


Dive CCR and not a half way house.


The list of major problems a CCR diver may face are (using a Vision unit):-

1: CO2 hit
2: Electronic Failure of controler 1 (C1)
3: Electronic Failure of controler 2 (C2)
4: Total failure of both controlers together inc HUD.
5: Failure of Handset display
6: Loss of use of inboard 02/electronic SP control
7: Loss of inboard DIL.
8: Complete Flood

(please bear in mind these failures are really what IF's, just as OC freeflow, hose burst, mouthpiece falling off etc etc)

Right then:-

1: CO2 hit Prevention is easy use fresh sofnolime for all deep dives. Assemble the scrubber corectly, which consists of placing the o-ring over the canister. Then fitting the plastic spacer ring on top of the o-ring (when you place the elec head on top this creates a good seal and compress the 2 together, so no by pass can occur.






Every one i know who has CO2 issues have all either over used the sofnolime or forgot to assemble the scrubber properly i.e User error

The other possible cause of a CO2 hit is faulty 1 way valves in the mouhtpiece (this can be and should be checked on unit assembley, a simple blow and suck test confirms if all is good. Takes about 30secs) Just like you take a suck on your reg to make sure it breathes in and out.

I really see CO2 as a non-issue if you do your tests and follow the rules. If i thought it was a real possiblity on a properly prepped unit i would stick to OC.

This is one reason OC bailout is a waste of time IMHO as with a full CO2 hit your RMV is suggested to be around 40-50ltrs per min at surface equivalent . So that ali80 of BT mix will last you about 4 mins at 90m. So its better to make sure your unit has fresh lime and assembled right 1st time, rather than taking a solution that wont work.

2: Electroic failure of C1 Causes battery failure, C1 malfuntions.
Battery failure (not low battery) the unit houses 2 batterys of which both controllers can use so if C1 is good but the battery is faulty it can use power from C2's battery or power from both batteries. If C1 malufunctions C2 will kick in to take over SP controll. C1's job is SP controll, C2's job is to monitor C1. If C1 stops doing its job C2 recognises this and takes over controll. So loss of one controller is not an issue to finshing the dive as i would still have the HUD display lights for the working controler and the handset display showing which controler is doing the SP maintance. Loss of a controller will be displayed on the handset and a buzzing alarm as well as the loss of that controlers HUD lights.

Pic sowing both controlers working and HUD lights for each controler




HUD also shows errors as seem here as low oxygen with red lights signaling check handset. These warnings go for high 02, low battery, temp stick scrubber warning etc etc




controler 1 off, you can see how C2 has taken over



3: loss of C2, exactly as above. I have 2 independant engines to run the unit. 2 elcetronic parachutes so to speak.

4: Loss of both C1 and C2 and the HUD Total electronic failure. I run an independant 4th cell linked to my VR3 (showing PP02). This allows me in the event of a total elec failure to run the unit manuay via the manual 02 add button. Some people say they would never trust one cell to finish the dive on.
WHY?? you trust one cell to analise your gas on the surface with. The only real modafication i have done to the unit. And IMHO a very important one as its a total redundant PO2 monitor and deco computer, un connected to the main elecs.

Pic of VR3 with 4th cell monitoring PO2




5: Failure of handset display this could be caused by a broken wire or display frozen. This would not cause any problems as C1 and C2 are totaly independant of the display (think pc and monitor) and both controlers will still do there preprogramed routines. I can still visualy verify my PO2 via 4th cell VR3 and HUD (green lights)

6: Loss of use of inboard O2 Causes faulty soleniod jamed closed, cure use manual 02 add button.

Soleniod jamed open (think free flow/ this is the onlything that happens fast on CCR) shut 02 valve down (just reach behind a turn vale, just like twinset SD but much quicker and easyer) attach whip to manual inflate button from off board 02 and away you go with a push of a btton.

Pic of maual 02 add with off board whip attached



Total loss of inboard 02 (reg failure HP seat etc, hose burst) cure same as soleniod jamed open drill.

7: Loss of DIL, as above/ attach off board whip to manual inflate button and away you go.

8: Flood just make sure you do a full possitive (inflate lungs, and make sure they hold pressure for 5mins)
And a negative (suck all gas out if the unit and seal it up) whilst crinckling the hoses, again leave for 5mins if the unit does not suck gas in and the hoses remain crushed you can be pretty sure no major leaks are evident.

I run the redundant DIL as 17/50 trimix so in the rare event of a flood starting at max depth, i can run semi closed back to the shot and the 1st deep deco bottle on the line at 60-50m. The 17% gives me a good PO2 for ascent runnig semi closed.

So as you can see a properly prepaired unit should not pose any life threating problems, and i have many options to deal with what may crop up. Alpine aint mad you just need to make sure you dont cut corners and prep the thing properly 1st time.

pic of me and unit set up for all gas diving from 50m to 100m plus. Unit 2x 3ltr off board 02 and Dil and suit inflation bottle. Streamlind and much more possbilitys than OC from deep with 2hrs plus deco ahead



All the above with good pre-dive and dive skills I.E full checks of the unit prior to diving (connections/gas flow/gas switched on), in water checks of all cells (verify reach above SP/trigger high 02 alarm) bubble check etc

Should IMHO make your diving trouble free if any little inconvinance occurs. So come on rebreather divers am i mad or what??????

ATB
Gareth

[Deep Baloo]

The same sort of setup as I am using now,apart from when 80m or shallower I use air in the off board dil and have a reg to it so I can proform air breaks

[Depth-junkie]

The same sort of setup as I am using now,apart from when 80m or shallower I use air in the off board dil and have a reg to it so I can proform air breaks

Yeah toyed with runnig air in the off board DIL bottle, and getting rid of the suit inflation bottle and run the suit of the 3ltr of air.

Decided that i was better with a redundant DIL i can use @ depth. I can hang a bottle of air on the bar @ 6m for airbreaks, but TBH i dont tend to bother with airbreaks up until the 3 and half hour mark.


ATB
Gareth

[Deep Baloo]

As I said I use it 80m or shallower as the little exposure time you have,you can easily take the hot mix and it makes the SC bailout option a lot easier due to higher PPO2

[Phoenix]

Having had a full flood I think you're mad, your choice obviously but not for me thanks.

Ian

[Depth-junkie]

Having had a full flood I think you're mad, your choice obviously but not for me thanks.

Ian

Ahhhh but was your full flood on your old inspo






ATB
Gareth

[Deep Baloo]

You just need to buy the full flood recovery kit Ian yours for only 35,853 quid from the should have put it on originally department of Delta P

[Depth-junkie]

You just need to buy the full flood recovery kit Ian yours for only 35,853 quid from the should have put it on originally department of Delta P

ATB
Gareth

[Odin]

Very good. I use the 3l offboard with air and for suit suit inflate.
But you only seem semi-alpine.
A true alpinist wouldn't have a spare O2/Dil! :-)

[Depth-junkie]

But you only seem semi-alpine.
A true alpinist wouldn't have a spare O2/Dil! :-)

tis is true, true balls out would be no 4th cell and no redundant 02 and DIL.





ATB
Gareth