Guess what Janos is wearing now...

[JamesW]

A sheep and a gimp mask!!!!

[Janos]

Sadly I couldn't do the full test last night, as a) my rechargeable batteries weren't charged up, and b) I had to go and drink champagne.

Anyway, my batteries are charged and I've recovered enough from last night, and I'm now sitting here in my heated waistcoat feeling quite toasty.

I've also taken some photos. The first is of me sucking in my post-Christmas stomach, wearing the waistcoat. I'm waering a size L which is clearly too small for me but it's the biggest they have. I haven't submitted you to the 'pleasure' of me wearing it undone, but that is far more comfortable and how I will try it underwater.

The second is of one of the two battery packs. Each battery pack takes three AA batteries. I'm using three 1800mAh NiMh batteries that I've had for a few years and have been charged badly and unevenly.

The two battery packs fit inside little pockets inside the waistcoat. They are connected by something that looks like a mobile phone charger connection. (See second photo). There is also a small switch which is next to useless for diving purposes. There are heating pads all the way up the front of the waistcoat, but nothing on the back. The waistcoat material is cheap polyester which is perfect for a diving application.

The heating effect at the moment is not too bad. It's like leaning against a slightly hot radiator. Not so hot that it makes you go "oooh oooh oooh" but hot enough so that if you press against it you go "yes that's hot". If the waistcoat is away from my skin then I can't really feel it.

Burntime so fat is 1 hour 10 minutes, and still going strong.

I'll let you know when it runs out.

Janos

[Juz]

I need an answer from someone that actually knows about this stuff as I have no clue whatsoever.

In reality would a suit flood cause problems? Batteries and salt water, does that equal a very uncomfortable time?

Juz

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Juz

I need an answer from someone that actually knows about this stuff as I have no clue whatsoever.

In reality would a suit flood cause problems? Batteries and salt water, does that equal a very uncomfortable time?

Juz

There is a report on SWM that implied that things got very uncomfortable during a suit flood with one of these things.

[Janos]

Originally Posted by Juz

I need an answer from someone that actually knows about this stuff as I have no clue whatsoever.

In reality would a suit flood cause problems? Batteries and salt water, does that equal a very uncomfortable time?

I really don't know.

I think there are three risks:

1) Waistcoat gets too hot due to pressure increases
2) Suit floods and batteries react / leak (or leak on their own)
3) Oxygen fire due to a spark.

I am not worried about (1) at all. It's electric so shouldn't be affected by pressure and it's something I can trial

(2) Worries me a little, but I plan to put the batteries in plastic bags to contain any nasties. But I can't see it causing a problem really.

(3) I'm not too worried about. This only has two 3.6V batteries (3 x AA cells in each). I *think* the Typhoon wasitbelt has a 14V battery in it, and that's designed for underwater use.

I will do some testing. The waistcoat itself is washable (with the batteries disconnected).

Janos

[Juz]

Originally Posted by Juz

I need an answer from someone that actually knows about this stuff as I have no clue whatsoever.

In reality would a suit flood cause problems? Batteries and salt water, does that equal a very uncomfortable time?

Juz

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

There is a report on SWM that implied that things got very uncomfortable during a suit flood with one of these things.

Ouch!

Juz

[Juz]

Originally Posted by Janos

I really don't know.

I think there are three risks:

1) Waistcoat gets too hot due to pressure increases
2) Suit floods and batteries react / leak (or leak on their own)
3) Oxygen fire due to a spark.

I am not worried about (1) at all. It's electric so shouldn't be affected by pressure and it's something I can trial

(2) Worries me a little, but I plan to put the batteries in plastic bags to contain any nasties. But I can't see it causing a problem really.

(3) I'm not too worried about. This only has two 3.6V batteries (3 x AA cells in each). I *think* the Typhoon wasitbelt has a 14V battery in it, and that's designed for underwater use.

I will do some testing. The waistcoat itself is washable (with the batteries disconnected).

Janos

No.2 for me as well, but also No. 4 - Salt water leading to electrical (rather than acid leakage) burn.

Juz

[Buoyant Babe]

[Eeyore]

Originally Posted by frosty the snowman

I just KNOW it's one of these...

OMG I feel my lunch returning................green incoming.....literally

[Janos]

Just to say that the batteries are now flat.

Burntime was around 2 hours 40 minutes.

Janos