New Submatix user

[ianfirmin]

Hi Les, I am using an mCCR (closed circuit) submatix. Not an SCR. I used nitrox 45 instead of air in the diluent bottle. The oxygen bottle had oxygen in it. It's not necessary but it gives an extra safety margin for shallow water diving. If you use air as a diluent and things go wrong with the O2 supply you can become hypoxic. It has happened with people using RB's in a pool.

Do you use an SCR Sub or a closed circuit Sub?

Cheers
Ian

[sexydivebuddy]

hi ian,
thanks for the explanation! i've never used my subby (mCCR) in a pool so this might explain why i've not heard / been taught this practice.
makes sense though as you were "having a play" for the first time

do let us know how you get on with your subby and if you have any subby queries, i'm sure we'll all try our best to help you!

by the way, what colour is your subby?

les

[ianfirmin]

Originally Posted by sexydivebuddy

hi ian,
thanks for the explanation! i've never used my subby (mCCR) in a pool so this might explain why i've not heard / been taught this practice.
makes sense though as you were "having a play" for the first time

do let us know how you get on with your subby and if you have any subby queries, i'm sure we'll all try our best to help you!

by the way, what colour is your subby?

les

Hi Les, when I try a second hand RB for the very first time you never know if anything is going to work properly. Using a nitrox diluent in a 3m pool gives you an extra margin of safety if, for instance, the O2 supply did not work correctly. I BELIEVE that it is normal to use the Submatix with only an air diluent but for gawd sake don't do anything I say, check with someone who knows first.

First impressions (in the pool) were very positive. I think some hose weights would be useful though, do any of you guys use them?

It's a dark grey colour with fine gold metalflake. Hmmmm, could be improved. I'm a fan of hi-viz myself. I might paint it white, or perhaps pink (?). Shame I can't paint it yellow.....

ATB
Ian

[sexydivebuddy]

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

Using a nitrox diluent in a 3m pool gives you an extra margin of safety if, for instance, the O2 supply did not work correctly.

i understand now.

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

I BELIEVE that it is normal to use the Submatix with only an air diluent

yes, air dil.

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

First impressions (in the pool) were very positive. I think some hose weights would be useful though, do any of you guys use them?

i use them and they've made a great difference!

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

mine's a dark grey colour with fine gold metalflake. Hmmmm, could be improved. I'm a fan of hi-viz myself. I might paint it white, or perhaps pink (?). Shame I can't paint it yellow.....
Ian

apparently they can be repainted by those specialist car paint people and a local business to me can paint any picture on the back too (so yd MERMAN told me!) some subbys have really nice pictures, eg. mermaids, turtles and a scene from "pirates of the carribean"! submatix will paint anything we want but probs would be cheaper done locally. unit needs to be stripped out though obviously!
mine's that grey silvery colour.

YELLOW? ..... don't go there .... (mustn't upset the natives ...) !!

[ianfirmin]

Hmmm, a nice shocking pink is beginning to find favour....

Where do you get the hose weights?

[sexydivebuddy]

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

Hmmm, a nice shocking pink is beginning to find favour....

nothing like being "original" i guess! at least have the pink paint with metallic silvery flakes in it! matt pink is a bit drab!
i had a fantasy about having "JAWS" painted on the back of mine but husband said it might be more trouble than it was worth when doing low-vis or night dives ...

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

Where do you get the hose weights?

internet order from AP valves.

[ianfirmin]

Thanks Les, I've contacted AP Valves and they can supply me with Inspro hose weights. Do you use one either side or two (or more)?

[sexydivebuddy]

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

Thanks Les, I've contacted AP Valves and they can supply me with Inspro hose weights. Do you use one either side or two (or more)?

the inspo hose weights easily fit our loops but you'll need to be carefull dismantling the mouthpiece and the other bit that holds the mouthpiece to the loop, in case you break any bits or get them the wrong way round when reconnecting everything together! have the manual handy!
they require a bit of fiddly manoevering but that's all. i have only one each side and about 6ins from the mouthpiece, which is ok for me.

next, think about hose covers as these are the "submatix-must-haves" for discerning subby divers. available to personal order with any wording or in any colour .... the unit colour can dictate the colour of your hose words, eg. your name in pink! we had the info from nick originally contact e-mail is AQUAANT03@aol.com >>> hose man's address and NOT nick's!

are you doing a DIY subby course and learning from the manual? just curious, but i get the impression you're experienced in rebreathers anyway.

[Nick Kay]

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

I used a 45% nitrox dil (plus the O2 of course).

How/why 45%dil on mCCR?

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

Didn't have a chance then to try things out any more but keeping the loop volume lower should sort out the WoB.

Low volume loop does help WOB, biggest difference I've found is getting the head-weight correct and overall weight correct
I'm now at 2x2Kg in the head of the unit and 2x1Kg on my belt (freshwater) / 2x2kg on my belt (seawater)
Going to swap to 2x3kg in the head and only weight on my belt in the sea
(with 2x2kg in the head still weights about the same fully loaded as a 15Kg plus BCD...)

Originally Posted by ianfirmin

It's got the electrics to attach one of the sensors to a VR3 which I dont have and dont really want to buy. I'm going to fit three sensors and keep the two Oxyscans plus fit a Shearwater to all three sensors. But that's a little way in the future.

I currently run:
- twin Oxys
- VR3 (when its anything other than <1hr, training, etc)
Looking at the URM, havent told swmbo how much (cough)

[ianfirmin]

Originally Posted by sexydivebuddy

are you doing a DIY subby course and learning from the manual? just curious, but i get the impression you're experienced in rebreathers anyway.

Hi Les, I've been using a converted Drager Dolphin KISS type mCCR however I'm arranging a couple of dives with Danny Wright next month when he's up in this neck of the woods.

Your name came up in the conversation and he was very complimentary!

Cheers
Ian