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

Skipbreather · 1st May 2007, 14:09

Hi Patrick-

First things first- thank Goodness you’re OK. Good job recognizing the problem & crafting a workable solution to get you out of the cave w/ an intact loop & O2 to spare. Sounds like your training served you well.

I agree 100% w/ the others- get you head back to ISC PRONTO. No one cares more about quality than Leon & company and they most surely won’t let the mystery go unsolved. Be CERTAIN to send the battery pack that was installed with head.

Reading some of the clues:

>There was a genuine low battery warning given by two sources (no backlight and text); however don’t know if both are triggered by same logic branch in code. Keep in mind system is designed to keep firing solenoid after backlight is commanded off.

>Solenoid was open but eventually closed w/o input from you. Consider that perhaps some bug caused a continuous ‘OPEN’ command to be generated. That would have resulted in a sustained load on battery much longer than intended as a continuous trigger current was sent to solenoid, thus causing a transient low voltage condition.

>New batteries were installed. Would have plenty of electrons to support holding a solenoid open if above was the case.

>Handset was essentially turned off then on again. Could be caused by any number of conditions, but if this was the first/ one of the first/ dives with new pack consider possibility of intermittent internal fault in one cell, or a poor wiring connection (solder or crimp).

Some questions:

>Was this the first dive w/ new batteries?

>What type cell are they (AA alkaline, C Lithium, 9 v alkaline, etc)?

Again, good job on recognizing the situation & getting out safely. Be sure to let us know what the problem turns out to be.

Ken

1st May 2007, 14:09	#7 (permalink)
Skipbreather Reads the fine print Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet MK 15.X Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA Posts: 555	Re: !!!WARNING!!! Solenoid stuck open scenario. Hi Patrick- First things first- thank Goodness you’re OK. Good job recognizing the problem & crafting a workable solution to get you out of the cave w/ an intact loop & O2 to spare. Sounds like your training served you well. I agree 100% w/ the others- get you head back to ISC PRONTO. No one cares more about quality than Leon & company and they most surely won’t let the mystery go unsolved. Be CERTAIN to send the battery pack that was installed with head. Reading some of the clues: >There was a genuine low battery warning given by two sources (no backlight and text); however don’t know if both are triggered by same logic branch in code. Keep in mind system is designed to keep firing solenoid after backlight is commanded off. >Solenoid was open but eventually closed w/o input from you. Consider that perhaps some bug caused a continuous ‘OPEN’ command to be generated. That would have resulted in a sustained load on battery much longer than intended as a continuous trigger current was sent to solenoid, thus causing a transient low voltage condition. >New batteries were installed. Would have plenty of electrons to support holding a solenoid open if above was the case. >Handset was essentially turned off then on again. Could be caused by any number of conditions, but if this was the first/ one of the first/ dives with new pack consider possibility of intermittent internal fault in one cell, or a poor wiring connection (solder or crimp). Some questions: >Was this the first dive w/ new batteries? >What type cell are they (AA alkaline, C Lithium, 9 v alkaline, etc)? Again, good job on recognizing the situation & getting out safely. Be sure to let us know what the problem turns out to be. Ken __________________ "Entropy RULES! Enjoy the interim."
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