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Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 08:25:03 -1000 (HST)
From: Dennis Pierce <dpierce@al*.ne*>
To: Richard Pyle <deepreef@bi*.bi*.ha*.or*>
cc: "Mr. Dude" <heyydude@pi*.co*>, Mike Severns <severns@al*.ne*>,
     techdiver@terra.net
Subject: semi stuff


the fieno uses a spring as well, but not to hold the scrubber material, it
holds the canister pac.  these pacs are to be bought from the factory pre
filled.  we fill our own.  they look like a medium sized oil or gas filter
only are made of plastic.

erik and cathy maiken are here this week diving the unit alot.  i dragged
out the tests i made on the unit and couldn't remember if i posted the
completed tests.  i put five of them together on paper, if any one is
interested i will repost or send them to you.

IF YOU ARE DIVING A SEMICLOSED UNIT YOU SHOULD SEE THE TESTS. especially
if your unit has no sensors.  you may be shocked at what you are
<<really>> breathing.  in fact i suggest that you do your own dry tests,
they are easy to do.

dp

On Wed, 16 Oct 1996, Richard Pyle wrote:

> > 1)  The BioMarine design (on the Mark 16 center section, which is in the
> > 155 and the Mark 16) for the scrubber cannister does not use any springs
> > for compressing the sofnolime. It uses 2 hydrophobic filters, and a foam
> > filter to keep the scrubber medium compacted.  I can't see why the Krauts
> > would come up with a spring arrangement.  Sounds like a stroke invented it.
> 
> I think the spring might have a place, but only if implemented intelligently.
> 
> > 2)  I've been using the 812 mesh scrubber sold by O.C. Lugo.  I noticed
> > something that maybe you others rebreather dudes have already noted, but
> > I'll mention it anyway:  After a dive, especially on a bouncing boat, and
> > in a bouncing car going down the freeway on the ride home, the scrubber
> > medium has a tendency to "settle" - much like your box of cornflakes does
> > in transit to the supermarket.
> 
> This is *EXACTLY* the problem I'm talking about.  Now, your average diver 
> isn't going to knock a rebreather around as much as your average car ride 
> might, but your average boat ride might just do the trick.  If you pack 
> your canister in the dry comfort of home (like I do), then pound through 
> rough seas to the dive site, there's a slim chance that the absorbent 
> (especially the 812 grade sofnolime) might settle enough that in certain 
> body positions, you can have serious by-pass in the gas flow.  This is 
> what we would generally refer to as "bad".  I spend about 20-30 minites 
> "tapping" down the canister everytime I pack it.  If I just fill the 
> canister to the brim, seal it up, tap it on the floor a few times, and 
> open it up, I find that the absorbent has settled by as much as 10-15%, 
> which is enough to do some damage.  I typically top it off, and repeat as 
> necessary until futher tapping does not lead to further settling.
> 
> > That's why I think Leon's advice to check the scrubber before each dive is
> > a good one.  I check mine each time, and often, have to add just a little
> > bit more material to fully fill the cannister, due to settlement.  When I
> > fill with fresh scrubber material, I shake the cannister, and tamp it on a
> > flat table, to try and get it settled as much as possible before I seal it.
> 
> Sounds like we both do the same thing.
> 
> > Whatever happens to you when you enter the water is COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY
> > Heyydude's Fault.  If you get hurt, have your family lawyer call him
> > immediately for a big cash settlement.
> 
> Aloha,
> Rich
> --
> Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@terra.net'.
> Send subscription/archive requests to `techdiver-request@terra.net'.
> 


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