Drysuit dump valve questions?

[Snash]

D'oh -  for first "air" read arm  

[Dr Stevil]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Dominic @ Jan. 19 2004,13:54)]Holy War!

Burn the Heretic!

And let's not even start on the "put an autodump on the cuff" mutants

What don't you like about the auto, Steve?

Look,  I  only said "This bit of Halibut is good enough for Jehovah..."

OK Reasons to dislike Autodump, part III (Ian dury, RIP &nbsp (i) the 'press to dump' hardly ever seems to work on mine, or most other people I buddy with, (ii) I so very rarely close the dump so that function seems pretty pointless, plus,(iii) whilst finning along I find it more natural to lift my arm to dump air rather than having to re-orient my whole body.

I don't dislike it enought to change it right now, but if I was going to buy a new suit I wouldn't pay extra for the autodump function.
Guess it's a bit of a 'horses for courses' issue

[torbaydiver]

The press to dump doesn't seem to work on mine either!
I started with a apex low profile auto which leaked when fully open (apparently common).  Exchanged it for the apex high-profile which doesn't leak, but I am unable to leave it fully open as it vents all air when trying to equalise the suit!
My procedure is fully open when ascending or descending, closing when descending and kept fully closed at the bottom.

[daz]

Press to dump???

Almost forgot it was there,  haven't pressed to dump for a long time.

As for reorientating the body I leave mine fully open and it seems to vent with minimal body rolling as I ascend (as long as I ascend reasonably slowly).  

My only gripe is that sometimes it seems to vent too slowly and a slight tilt does help.  However my mate has just switched from a Apeks low profile dump to a Sitech and swears it is the mutts nuts by comparison.

When my new suit arrives with Sitech valves I'll let you know what I think.

Remember not all auto dumps are created equal  

Daz

[Dominic]

I have to use the press to dump on mine more and more - it's an Apeks low profile, and it's been going steadily downhill.

Got a Sitech on order, looking forward to trying it..

[DivingInScotland]

Just spoken to O'Three on the very issue of Apeks LP valves not being up to much.

They said that Apeks have released a new version of the LP valve that fixes the problems that people have been having.

Anybody know if the new ones work ?

[Janos]

When I first got my suit from Otter a few weeks ago, I had a bit of a mysterious leak. Sent it back to Otter. The guys there fitted a si-tek autodump instead of the low profile Apeks. No more leaks, and it dumps SO much quicker. Before I had to think very carefully about ascending and dumping air, now it is really just a matter of setting and forgetting.

Laters,
   Janos

[Janos]

It's catching!

For "weeks" in the above read "years"

Laters,
   Janos

[Mdemon]

Pressing mine does b*gger all - complete b*llocks.

Just taken the plunge a few hours ago and moved my hi-profile Si-tech to a more useful position on the suit.  Never cut a hole in a dry suit before...  Bit of a bottle test in itself!

Photos to follow...

[Woz]

<font color='#000080'>Well there we go. Thanks for the posts which have been, I think you'll agree, somewhat inconclusive apart from the fact the Apeks LP auto dump is a pile of pants.

I'll stick to my cuff dump, I think. Now the only problem is getting into my sodding drysuit after a couple of years and a somewhat expanding gut. Pass the blubber knife, someone... unless anyone has a drysuit to fit someone verging on spherical.