BOV WOB Tests

Steve

Hi all,

Are there any comparison tests out there for the WOB of the various BOV's on the market? I know Gordon Smith did some work and I'm guessing Kevin Gurr has done a comparison but I'm a nerd and would love to see figures for the BOV's in isolation.

I'm shopping for a new BOV and Stuart has promised to have a long hard look at the Sentinal's for me at DEMA (just remember to put your open bag by the display table, point at some bikini clad hottie, and acidently knock it into your bag champ ) but I'd really love some facts and figures and primarily numbers whilst in CC mode.

Have any of the manufacturers, Golum, Pelagian, Divematics etc done this work and will they share it with me?

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Mdemon

The way to do this would be to list the BOVs you're interested in and find out where the reg for each one comes from. Then get the figures direct from the reg manufacturer.

Or get a BOV which allows you to fit your own reg and the choice is then yours. If you can find one, the Divematics allows this, but factor the cost of the new reg in when you do your sums.

Sorry, that wasn't much help really!

In my experience, size "in-water" doesn't make a lot of difference. My criteria included a reg that will deliver as deep as I want to go, and a shape that allows me to look down over my chest without a lump of delrin in the way. So I think you are on the money asking for performance info. Others have pointed out that a purge facing forward may get operated when using a scooter - worth considering but not something I know about.

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Steve

Thanks mate. I'm not all that fussed about the 2nd stage OC part though. I want to know the WOB in CC mode

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WARNING: I contain occasional coarse language, extreme sexual references, nudity, and adult themes, which may offend some people - Usually churchy types.

Mdemon

Sorry, misunderstood.

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www.southwestmafia.com

"small minds talk about people, Average Minds Talk About Events, GREAT MINDS TALK ABOUT IDEAS!"

The WRONG Attitude will get you killed.

"Once the agenda-monkeys and perfect-worlders have moved on, perhaps we can do some diving?"

jhaaja

Maybe not any hard numbers of WOB but comparing the inner bore could give some info about the WOB. The one-way valves are also different on different BOVs.

JH

silent running

Hi Steve, I doubt anybody other than KISS has done WOB tests on their BOVs and as many people have said, WOB has a lot to do with the flapper valves and how easily they open. So, obviously making them thinner will make them easier to open. But then the challenge becomes keeping them from being so thin that they are easily deformed, dry out and would not be durable.

I'm no expert, but I have noticed that all the 2nd stage exhaust valves I have seen are thicker than the ones in the Prism and the Dolphin, the 2 units I have most hrs on. Both companies sourced their flapper valves specifically for Rebreather and I pressume it's for a reason. IIRC, the Drager flappers are slightly thicker than the Prism.

I ruled out the Golem partially due to it's use of Apeks 2nd stage flapper valves, which certaily look thicker than the ones on the Divematics. But I suppose one might be able to put other, thinner Rebreather sourced flappers in it if they fit in the spiders. The Golem is also a bit taller than the Divematics.

I'm not sure which flappers the KISS uses, but I ruled it out of my search mostly due to the fact that it's hose diameter is smaller than the Prism. Which brings me to the next recomendation I would make: be sure the diameter of the BOV is not less than the stock DSV it's replacing which is not likely to be a good thing for WOB. I imagine that bigger than stock might be OK.

But this may all be obvious stuff to a smart guy like you...

colinicky

I don't know about the Kiss tests but AP's new offering has CE approval & I would imagine the new Sentinal BOV has as well so they must have done tests on them but for aftermarket Bovs I have no idea .
The Kiss flapper valves are identical to Interspiro ones .I machined the end of the Adapers on my Kiss BOV to accept the larger Inspiration valves & the WOB improved significantly .

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Colin

I trust my rebreather completely ,
I just don't trust the user

onwards & downwards

Steve

Can anyone shed any light on this matter yet? Specifically the WOB in CC mode of the Jetsam and the Golem offerings

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WARNING: I contain occasional coarse language, extreme sexual references, nudity, and adult themes, which may offend some people - Usually churchy types.

Dave1w

Isn't there something that came out recently from ISC that detailed excessive (as measured) WOB on the Golem Gear BOV?

Dave

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Drmike

not really.

can just say that the smaller the bore and the stiffer the check valves are the worse the wob is likely to be.

A bov with the same bore size and check valves as a non bov dsv should have the same wob

Personally having the smallest lightest bov/dsv/Rebreather in the world doesnt give me a woody if it means I sacrifice a good wob

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Wreck diving is a sport
Diving in general is a sport

'Rebreather diving' is not a sport
its the delusional obsession with a highly dangerous and often inappropriate piece of equipment