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Genesis · 4th December 2005, 20:20

I think you have to get CCRs down in to the "reasonable" range in terms of kit price first.

I don't see why this is particularly difficult, to be honest. It will be somewhat more expensive, but does it have to be $10k as it is now? I think not.

Seriously guys, what's in a controller? Leave the deco out of it - you can buy a Vr3 or just cut tables if you want. A solenoid ($30 in reasonable quantity), a small microprocessor board ($75 q1, a LOT less in volume) and a LCD display ($30) plus some plastics and wire. What do you got here - under $150 plus the plastics? What's a scrubber really? A piece of 5" HDPE pipe and some fittings, along with another few bits of plastic, right?

So what's the deal here with production costs? Is it one of limited volume and tooling by hand instead of REAL production tactics? Well, until someone solves that, you're going to have this problem.

Solve the $10k equipment problme and I think what you're proposing is viable. Get it down to $2k for the basic hardware, not including aircell, regs and bottles, and it will take off.

I think it can be done, but you have to crack this idea that a DSV is worth $600, when you should be able to have them cranked out for under $100.

Right now you've got a basic problem in that people who want to take up diving aren't going to pop for the $10k up front in hardware.

4th December 2005, 20:20	#4 (permalink)
Genesis Bubbless Box of Death Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 1,395	Re: CCR VS. OC as first class I think you have to get CCRs down in to the "reasonable" range in terms of kit price first. I don't see why this is particularly difficult, to be honest. It will be somewhat more expensive, but does it have to be $10k as it is now? I think not. Seriously guys, what's in a controller? Leave the deco out of it - you can buy a Vr3 or just cut tables if you want. A solenoid ($30 in reasonable quantity), a small microprocessor board ($75 q1, a LOT less in volume) and a LCD display ($30) plus some plastics and wire. What do you got here - under $150 plus the plastics? What's a scrubber really? A piece of 5" HDPE pipe and some fittings, along with another few bits of plastic, right? So what's the deal here with production costs? Is it one of limited volume and tooling by hand instead of REAL production tactics? Well, until someone solves that, you're going to have this problem. Solve the $10k equipment problme and I think what you're proposing is viable. Get it down to $2k for the basic hardware, not including aircell, regs and bottles, and it will take off. I think it can be done, but you have to crack this idea that a DSV is worth $600, when you should be able to have them cranked out for under $100. Right now you've got a basic problem in that people who want to take up diving aren't going to pop for the $10k up front in hardware.
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