Rebreather World - View Single Post - !!!WARNING!!! Solenoid stuck open scenario.

Amarok · 1st May 2007, 12:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mephisto26)

Meg goes crazy...

This story is to warn you guys in case something similar should happen to you.

I was on a cave dive here in Mexico, at a routin check I realize that the backlight on the primary handset istn't working...strange since there are brand new batteries inside. Anyway I check the voltage status and both, load and no load is above 7,0...even stranger...so I scroll fwd to the backlight options and there is written low bat...now that is really strange. In this moment I realized that on the main screen the ISC logo is gone...so I decide to turn the dive since I was about an hour away from the exit. On the way back I concentrated on the noise of the solenoid sice the batterie status wasn't really clear as explained above. After about 10min suddenly the injecting didn't stop...I turned off the o2 tank and vented gas since I was close to hit the ceiling...dil flush wasn't necessary due to the very shallow depth and the PO2 only got up to 1,4.
After I stabalized myself I checked again the prim Handset and suddenly the backlight went on and the Handset restarted like somebody switched the electronice off and back on. Everything seemed to work perfect again, but when I reopened the O2 the solenoid was still stuck open. And again the Handset restarted. In this Moment I decided that it was time to exit and so I controlled my PO2 with opening and closing the O2 tank valve.
About 5min away from the exit when I again opened the O2 tank suddenly there was no O2 flowing...so the solenoid wasn't stuck anymore but was working again, injecting when the PO2 droped under the SP. But the backlight of the handset was again not working allthough the system monitor showed that both load and noload voltage was still above 7,0. And again on the backlight options was written low bat.
So I exited the cave safely without having switched to bail out and also stress level and task loading wasn't that high so I took all reels out.

Back home I disassembled the unit and everything looked perfect, usual amount of moisture and dry battery comparments...

I restarted the unit and guess what, backlight is working and voltage is above 7,0...

Seems like AI haunted my electronics...Anyway, I will testdive the unit tmrw in the pool and if there is only as much as a twitching I'll send it to ISC...

In case that happens I would need some help...anyone of u guys comes soon to mexico??? I need to find a way to send it with somebody to the states and get it back later...any help would be very appreciated since it is kinda hard to send stuff from mexico and get it back here...

Hope my nightmare can help somebody out there...I will have to go through a long Meg less time

and have to go through all the stress of sending the head to ISC...

Greetings from Playa del Carmen,
Patrick

PM sent ref getting it out
KB

1st May 2007, 12:46	#6 (permalink)
Amarok New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 74	Re: !!!WARNING!!! Solenoid stuck open scenario. Quote: (Originally Posted by Mephisto26) Meg goes crazy... This story is to warn you guys in case something similar should happen to you. I was on a cave dive here in Mexico, at a routin check I realize that the backlight on the primary handset istn't working...strange since there are brand new batteries inside. Anyway I check the voltage status and both, load and no load is above 7,0...even stranger...so I scroll fwd to the backlight options and there is written low bat...now that is really strange. In this moment I realized that on the main screen the ISC logo is gone...so I decide to turn the dive since I was about an hour away from the exit. On the way back I concentrated on the noise of the solenoid sice the batterie status wasn't really clear as explained above. After about 10min suddenly the injecting didn't stop...I turned off the o2 tank and vented gas since I was close to hit the ceiling...dil flush wasn't necessary due to the very shallow depth and the PO2 only got up to 1,4. After I stabalized myself I checked again the prim Handset and suddenly the backlight went on and the Handset restarted like somebody switched the electronice off and back on. Everything seemed to work perfect again, but when I reopened the O2 the solenoid was still stuck open. And again the Handset restarted. In this Moment I decided that it was time to exit and so I controlled my PO2 with opening and closing the O2 tank valve. About 5min away from the exit when I again opened the O2 tank suddenly there was no O2 flowing...so the solenoid wasn't stuck anymore but was working again, injecting when the PO2 droped under the SP. But the backlight of the handset was again not working allthough the system monitor showed that both load and noload voltage was still above 7,0. And again on the backlight options was written low bat. So I exited the cave safely without having switched to bail out and also stress level and task loading wasn't that high so I took all reels out. Back home I disassembled the unit and everything looked perfect, usual amount of moisture and dry battery comparments... I restarted the unit and guess what, backlight is working and voltage is above 7,0... Seems like AI haunted my electronics...Anyway, I will testdive the unit tmrw in the pool and if there is only as much as a twitching I'll send it to ISC... In case that happens I would need some help...anyone of u guys comes soon to mexico??? I need to find a way to send it with somebody to the states and get it back later...any help would be very appreciated since it is kinda hard to send stuff from mexico and get it back here... Hope my nightmare can help somebody out there...I will have to go through a long Meg less time and have to go through all the stress of sending the head to ISC... Greetings from Playa del Carmen, Patrick PM sent ref getting it out KB __________________ 'If you find yourself in a hole - stop digging"
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