Typhoon Heated Waist Belt - spare battery

[Rob Dobson]

I really struggle to stay warm on dives this time of year (thanks a lack of bioprene), so much so that even with 3 undersuits and dry gloves I am still struggling around the 30 min mark in 6C water.

To counter this I bought a Typhoon Heated Waist belt from the Stoney shop on Friday thanks to Bardo's recommendation (at the bargain price of £99 - cheaper than online). I used it this Sunday and it makes a hell of a difference. I was noticeable warmer on Sunday than I was on Friday - but the 2hr burntime on the battery is a restricting factor if you want to do two or more dives in a day.

Having spoken to 4 different Typhoon dealers in an attempt to buy a 2nd battery for it I ended up going straight to E-X-O2 and it appears that their Stormrider battery pack is the same as the one used on the belt and be bought from here: StormRider Heated Clothing Products - EXO² Heated Clothing and Heated Motorcycle Clothing UK

If you are suffering from the cold but adding more layers will restrict your movement then the Typhoon belt is worth considering and a second battery will enable most people to do 2 big dives in a day.

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

I really struggle to stay warm on dives this time of year (thanks a lack of bioprene), so much so that even with 3 undersuits and dry gloves I am still struggling around the 30 min mark in 6C water.

To counter this I bought a Typhoon Heated Waist belt from the Stoney shop on Friday thanks to Bardo's recommendation (at the bargain price of £99 - cheaper than online). I used it this Sunday and it makes a hell of a difference. I was noticeable warmer on Sunday than I was on Friday - but the 2hr burntime on the battery is a restricting factor if you want to do two or more dives in a day.

Having spoken to 4 different Typhoon dealers in an attempt to buy a 2nd battery for it I ended up going straight to E-X-O2 and it appears that their Stormrider battery pack is the same as the one used on the belt and be bought from here: StormRider Heated Clothing Products - EXO² Heated Clothing and Heated Motorcycle Clothing UK

If you are suffering from the cold but adding more layers will restrict your movement then the Typhoon belt is worth considering and a second battery will enable most people to do 2 big dives in a day.

Hehe. Thought you'd be pleasantly surprised, Rob - glad to hear it kept you all warm 'n' toasty on Sunday! Of course the other benefit that you perhaps didn't notice is that because it keeps your kidneys nice 'n' warm, it reduces that 'need to pee' that develops very quickly when old farts like myself are immersed in cold water...

BTW - Nice tip re: the spare battery. Think I'll be buying one of those myself...

[freshwaterdiver]

Originally Posted by Bardo

Hehe. Thought you'd be pleasantly surprised, Rob - glad to hear it kept you all warm 'n' toasty on Sunday! Of course the other benefit that you perhaps didn't notice is that because it keeps your kidneys nice 'n' warm, it reduces that 'need to pee' that develops very quickly when old farts like myself are immersed in cold water...

BTW - Nice tip re: the spare battery. Think I'll be buying one of those myself...

Well ! I've just learnt something new here about keeping those kidneys warm - just goes to show that you CAN teach an old fart new tricks so i'll just have to give you a green for this one. Cheers Bud

[puddlediver]

On a similar note....... thermacare do chemically activated back wraps which give out heat for over 8 hours. I have bought a job lot I am so impressed. I believe the parent company is Proctor and Gamble.

Cheers

Lyv

[Okeanos]

My battery packs last well over 4 hours! I switched it on a 2pm as we left the quay, had to take it off at 6pm as I was about to eat and was feeling quite flushed. I still haven't worked out how long it will last in total.

Bloody good piece of kit.

[Dr T]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

(at the bargain price of £99 - cheaper than online)

You sure ??

Once quick search in google and i got £94.50 and that is without digging any deeper ??

eBay.co.uk: Typhoon Heated Waistbelt, Scuba, Fishing, Cycling (item 260089523349 end time 28-Feb-07 19:15:46 GMT)

ash

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by Dr T

You sure ??

Once quick search in google and i got £94.50 and that is without digging any deeper ??

eBay.co.uk: Typhoon Heated Waistbelt, Scuba, Fishing, Cycling (item 260089523349 end time 28-Feb-07 19:15:46 GMT)

ash

I didn't check eBay, but it was cheaper than the online Scuba retailers that I checked (Simply Scuba were £129, Aberdeen Watersports were £119 etc).

eBay is such a lottery I tend to leave it alone whenever possible.

[tom]

I've been tempted by one of these. One major worry: what happens to the battery if the suit floods?

Similarly with the chemically activated things - is it 'safe' using them in an elevated O2 environment (e.g. a drysuit full of nitrox)?

[Luddite]

Originally Posted by tom

I've been tempted by one of these. One major worry: what happens to the battery if the suit floods?

Similarly with the chemically activated things - is it 'safe' using them in an elevated O2 environment (e.g. a drysuit full of nitrox)?

From what I remember reading on these belts a flood wouldn't harm you are the belt and battery.


The chemical ones I have concerns about in a nitrox environment. I don't know the reaction that is producing the heat but if it's an oxidation reaction then enriched air could speed it up to the point where it would burn the skin or in an extreme case catch fire or explode.

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by tom

I've been tempted by one of these. One major worry: what happens to the battery if the suit floods?

Similarly with the chemically activated things - is it 'safe' using them in an elevated O2 environment (e.g. a drysuit full of nitrox)?

Personally I'd be more worried about the battery cell reacting with the methane in my drysuit...