Heated undergarments idea

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

So....send us the report when you've finished

Yep, I might just do that.

$33 postage to the UK.

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by Janos

I'm not so sure about the Lithium ion battery... I think they get nasty if they get wet.

Janos

This is a common misconception about Li-ion packs. People think back to the chemistry lessons at school where a bit of Lithium gets thrown into the bowl of water and explodes. In reality a Li-ion battery getting wet will act the same as any other battery - not good for the battery but *no* bang and *no* fire.

I discussed this at length with Tobin George after someone raised a concern over sticking Li-ion packs in an X-Scooter and Tobin very patiently went through and explained quite why that entire notion of salt water and Li-ion cells being a dangerous combo was utter rubbish.

[Woz]

It's like getting some sodium (burns in water) and some chlorine (that's poisonous gas) and producing sodium chloride.

Which doesn't go bang in water either.

Anyone remember the episode of Yes Minister when they back out of a deal cos something was called metadioxin?

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by ardhill

No, if you really want to be sure, then stick it in a condom and tape the opening to the wire, or use an elastic band tightly round it, that should stop the majority of the water ingress.

Doesn't stop the battery getting damaged from pressure though. Inside of your suit will be at ambient. I'm not a battery expert but there is a potential that pressure more than water may be the big problem. Depending on the size of the battery I suppose you could put it in an Otterbox with a cable gland.

[tom]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

This is a common misconception about Li-ion packs. People think back to the chemistry lessons at school where a bit of Lithium gets thrown into the bowl of water and explodes. In reality a Li-ion battery getting wet will act the same as any other battery - not good for the battery but *no* bang and *no* fire.

I discussed this at length with Tobin George after someone raised a concern over sticking Li-ion packs in an X-Scooter and Tobin very patiently went through and explained quite why that entire notion of salt water and Li-ion cells being a dangerous combo was utter rubbish.

I've heard that kind of thing before - but then I've also read stuff like this:

Originally Posted by richlock in SWM trip report

The only equipment failures were a couple of leaky drysuits which when combined with a heated waist belt results in a diver running round the deck of watcher shouting “im on fire get me out of this drysuit” well word to that effect!! It even left a lovely burn on Paul’s side, and the heated belts battery can now be found in the vicinity of the Egypt on the seabed!

(source RMS Egypt Trip report - South West Mafia , my bold added)

I don't know what kind of battery/belt was being used here, but it worries me enough to put me off buying one.

[Laurie]

I was looking at the maplins site and came accross this
Maplin > Self-Heating Electric Waistcoat
Heated by 6 AA bateries, may or may not be suitable for diving, but for £20 it will keep me warm during a SI at Stoney on a frosty winter morning.
Any opinions on:
Suitability for diving
Battery type to use

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by Laurie

I was looking at the maplins site and came accross this
Maplin > Self-Heating Electric Waistcoat
Heated by 6 AA bateries, may or may not be suitable for diving, but for £20 it will keep me warm during a SI at Stoney on a frosty winter morning.
Any opinions on:
Suitability for diving
Battery type to use

I wouldn't use it underwater...this from the FAQ:

Q) and how long does it keep warm for on one set of batteries? - jon
A) OK - this should be used in the following way; turn on the power for a few minutes to warm up the jacket - turn off. It is not deisgned to be powered up constantly and if used in this way the batteries will last no more than 40 to 50 minutes

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by ardhill

Yep, I might just do that.

$33 postage to the UK.

Depending on how they send it be prepared to pay: import duty, VAT on item value, import duty and shipping, import agent's fees (usually a min charge + x percentage of value and finally the unfavourable USD to GBP conversion rate used by the importer (UPS and Bax are still using something like 1.81:1 instead of the actual 2.05:1).

So it could just land on your door mat with no extra charge or it could be quite an expensive $33USDs...

[Scuttler]

Originally Posted by Rob Dobson

Depending on how they send it be prepared to pay: import duty, VAT on item value, import duty and shipping, import agent's fees (usually a min charge + x percentage of value and finally the unfavourable USD to GBP conversion rate used by the importer (UPS and Bax are still using something like 1.81:1 instead of the actual 2.05:1).

So it could just land on your door mat with no extra charge or it could be quite an expensive $33USDs...

Oooh....I misread that as ardhill's sarky remark to my post of send me the report!!!!

[ardhill]

Originally Posted by Scuttler

Oooh....I misread that as ardhill's sarky remark to my post of send me the report!!!!

'My' sarky comment? Pot... Kettle?