Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: techdiver

Banner Advert

Message Display

Date: Fri, 29 Sep 1995 18:22:18 EDT
From: RMQN56A@pr*.co* (MR KEVIN A ROTTNER)
To: techdiver@terra.net
Subject: Re: O2 Sensors (+Bill Pilicer)
Date:     Fri, 29 Sep 1995
From:    Kevin (rmqn56a@pr*.co*)
Subject:  Re: Oxygen Sensors

>>" that you can get at discount at Pep Boys "?
>>
>>I'll spend the money on a proper sensor, and then be able to 
>>experience descending, as well as ascending on my next dive.
>>
>>

>What's Pep Boys?
>What is a proper sensor?


 Dear Bill Pilicer (an aspiring guppie):

Pep boys is a "discount" auto parts store. They sell "Lambda" sensors 
which are probably in your car's exhaust system. These little spark-
plug look alikes tell your car's computer and or fuel injection 
system the O2 content in the exhaust. It seems that because these are 
rudimentary "oxygen sensors" some techs are hypothesizing about using 
them to measure O2 in their diving gases. The automotive sensors are 
designed to be crude, rude, operate at very high temperatures and 
last a long time under rough  conditions. They ARE NOT AN ACCEPTABLE 
REPLACEMENT for your desk top/fill room O2 sensor.

Since you mentioned "aspiring guppie", assume the following scenario.


You are planning some dive to about 100 or 110 feet max. You mix your 
primary gas to NOAA II (36%). You want some bottom time.  If you 
calibrate your O2 sensor to 21% (room air - forget about moisture etc.
) and then measure your gas, it comes out 36%. GREAT. But lets say 
you tried to save some money and your O2 sensor is from Pep Boys 
(!!!!!!!), and is off 4 to 5 % too rich, you are screwed big time. 
The bends suck but O2 convulsions at depth will cause you to miss out 
on your next birthday party.

This is why I thought it important to add my two cents to this 
strange thread on how to save money on O2 sensors.


Kevin

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]