Moving the counter lungs on the YBOD

[Mark Chase]

So I get the dammed thing tomorrow and its already crossing my mind as to how I could move the counter lungs on the YBOD to the rear. Does any one have any thoughts on this or possibly a link to a site describing how its been done?

ATB

Mark Chase

[beanie]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

So I get the dammed thing tomorrow and its already crossing my mind as to how I could move the counter lungs on the YBOD to the rear. Does any one have any thoughts on this or possibly a link to a site describing how its been done?

ATB

Mark Chase

get some rear mounting counter lungs

you can't do it easily with the standard lungs (not that i've tried)

[Padowan]

Not tried, but I think that the fact that they are joined together might make this a bit of a PITA.

I'm actually getting used to the extra clutter around the front, although I don't like it as much as my nice clean OC setup, I'm coming to terms with it, and the benefits always completely overshadow any little inconveniences...

Personally I'd dive it in the state you get it in for a while, and then have a good think about the most appropriate way to modify it, that's the process I'm going through now, and I'm having some thoughts of my own about exactly what I'm gonna do.

http://www.therebreathersite.nl/twinspiration3.htm this site is a twin loop unit and it had the second set of counterlungs mounted inside the wing, and I think ueing the existing connection holes.... perhaps something to look at.

Why didn't you get a KISS if you wanted an uncluttered front? If you wanted a full ECCR, then you could always fit aftermarket control electronics...

[Padowan]

You've got me thinking now.... one point to consider with rear mounting the lungs is that it makes access to the manual injectors and dump valve more of a challenge.

I'm definitely thinking that taking the bladders out of the lung covers and stuffing them into a Buddy Red-Wing would be the easiest place to start from.

[KISSer]

P'raps you chaps want to read this first...

http://thedecostop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8776 (a few posts from #10 on)

[Drmike]

Yes Ive tried it - it works OK but can be improved by reshaping the lungs.
Just turned the originals around and put them inside an AP wing to keep em together.

As I bought the MK15.5 I didnt continue.
AP is still 'testing' Dave Thompsons ones and they may be available at some stage from the factory - but dont hold your breath.

See if I can find some pics - got some of Daves rear lungs somewhere.

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Padowan

You've got me thinking now.... one point to consider with rear mounting the lungs is that it makes access to the manual injectors and dump valve more of a challenge..

That sounds like a serious re-plumbing job. The current system is so simple. How are you proposing to feed the counterlungs without introducing more dead-space? Minimum loop volume is important. Volume is lead.

Originally Posted by Padowan

I'm definitely thinking that taking the bladders out of the lung covers and stuffing them into a Buddy Red-Wing would be the easiest place to start from.

That sounds fun. So you inflate the other wing and it all squashes up and you can't breath? How are you going to do a big diluent flush if you can't cross you arms and flatten both counterlungs in one grab? This is life expectancy stuff. How is the water trapping going to work if it is uphill to the exhale counterlung? How do you clear water from the bottom of the scrubber? Currently it is roll right, right shoulder down, butt up. How do you drain a counterlung? I've done it (after a rather silly error I'm not proud of).

For crying out loud. You never notice the counterlungs. It's that darn great breathing hose that clutters your front. The 'cluttered front' is a non-problem. It's not like you're clipping off gauges to your waist because the only things you need to see are hanging over your shoulders on cables.
The thing is too wide not too much at the front. I added a pocket on the waist and rate it a gain not clutter. As soon as you hang a couple of stages on it the counterlungs are tiny. Playing 'twinset mindset' isn't going to help because you're solving the wrong problems.

Try asking: Do you want access to the Oxygen? What about Semi-closed mode bailout? How do you connect a whip from a stage into the system? (You sure don't want to breath it OC.) In the event of CO2 build-up the usual report is that you can't afford the time to change to a regulator so what are you going to do? Fiddling with the harness or the counterlungs isn't tackling what the Inspiration problems really are.

Sorry. That turned into a rant.

nigelH

[Padowan]

Originally Posted by nigelH

Sorry. That turned into a rant.

nigelH

Easy tiger, I was only posting some thoughts on the mechanics of the subject, not whether it was a good idea or not.... didn't expect a flaming for trying to offer a point of view.

[Drmike]

Nigel,


You obviously feel strongly about this, not wanting to argue but heres my experience.

Its possible (they are being CE tested by the factory at the moment) to have rear lungs on the YBOD where:-
Theres no added dead space
You can still have a dump on the rear lung at the bottom for clearing and loop flushes
The water traps are the same
Clearing the scrubber is the same
O2 is injected not into the lung but into a adapter on the T
(on mine, dont know about the factory) With a BP and thin spacer you dont crush the lungs when inflating the wings


The only thing that you listed that you cant do so easily is cross arm flush - but theres other ways of doing a flush so not a big deal

Why bother?

Well OTS CL are great for WOB but very dangerous in my experience crawling through wrecks where they are exposed and I find they give a heck of a lot of drag when scootering.

I would post some pics but my computer got thrown across the workshop last week and Ive lost everything. I will see what I have at home. It is a neat conversion. I think you will see it common place within the next 3-4 years.

Cheers
Mike

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by nigelH

That sounds like a serious re-plumbing job. The current system is so simple. How are you proposing to feed the counterlungs without introducing more dead-space? Minimum loop volume is important. Volume is lead.


That sounds fun. So you inflate the other wing and it all squashes up and you can't breath? How are you going to do a big diluent flush if you can't cross you arms and flatten both counterlungs in one grab? This is life expectancy stuff. How is the water trapping going to work if it is uphill to the exhale counterlung? How do you clear water from the bottom of the scrubber? Currently it is roll right, right shoulder down, butt up. How do you drain a counterlung? I've done it (after a rather silly error I'm not proud of).

For crying out loud. You never notice the counterlungs. It's that darn great breathing hose that clutters your front. The 'cluttered front' is a non-problem. It's not like you're clipping off gauges to your waist because the only things you need to see are hanging over your shoulders on cables.
The thing is too wide not too much at the front. I added a pocket on the waist and rate it a gain not clutter. As soon as you hang a couple of stages on it the counterlungs are tiny. Playing 'twinset mindset' isn't going to help because you're solving the wrong problems.

Try asking: Do you want access to the Oxygen? What about Semi-closed mode bailout? How do you connect a whip from a stage into the system? (You sure don't want to breath it OC.) In the event of CO2 build-up the usual report is that you can't afford the time to change to a regulator so what are you going to do? Fiddling with the harness or the counterlungs isn't tackling what the Inspiration problems really are.

Sorry. That turned into a rant.

nigelH

Thanks Nigel that’s given me a lot to think about. Obviously I am almost a total numptie on the unit so I have little or no concept of the associated problems. I have dived it twice and both times found the harness and counter lungs to be very irritating.

I would have preferred to get the KISS for several reasons but I dive as a teem with Andrew and it was important we were both ion the same rig. He couldn’t bring him self to go the KISS rout and obviously my reservations about the YBOD were not as strong.

ATB

Mark Chase