AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again!

plazma · 8th May 2008, 07:43

I got 7 AI rEvo cells in mid April 2007. They were manufactured in October 2006 according to Paul.

Now six of them are dead.

Three of them were opened last summer for indoor use and DIY setpoint controller testing. Now two of them are dead. They lasted less than a year in use!

I installed one in my Inspiration in mid June. It worked ok. Last week I serviced the unit for first dives this year. The only AI cell was dead.

I opened the last 3 bags of AI cells and 2 of them was dead. I installed the last working one into my Inspiration but it died on the first dive. It started showing reading .2 above Teledyne cells. After 10min it started to show reading below Teledyne cells. After 20min it showed reading .6 below other cells.

All Teledyne cells have worked just fine. 1.5 years in service kit or closet, 12-18 months in rebreather use and 1-2 years in oxygen analyzers.

The cells have only 1 year warranty after manufacturing.
Paul @ rEvo-rebreathers promised a small discount on Teledyne cells but thats all.

Let see what AI says after I email them. 18 month life for unused or used cell just is not enough.

-Pasi

paulraymaekers · 8th May 2008, 07:48

Quote: (Originally Posted by plazma)

I got 7 AI rEvo cells in mid April 2007. They were manufactured in October 2006 according to Paul.

Now six of them are dead.

Three of them were opened last summer for indoor use and DIY setpoint controller testing. Now two of them are dead. They lasted less than a year in use!

I installed one in my Inspiration in mid June. It worked ok. Last week I serviced the unit for first dives this year. The only AI cell was dead.

I opened the last 3 bags of AI cells and 2 of them was dead. I installed the last working one into my Inspiration but it died on the first dive. It started showing reading .2 above Teledyne cells. After 10min it started to show reading below Teledyne cells. After 20min it showed reading .6 below other cells.

All Teledyne cells have worked just fine. 1.5 years in service kit or closet, 12-18 months in rebreather use and 1-2 years in oxygen analyzers.

The cells have only 1 year warranty after manufacturing.
Paul @ rEvo-rebreathers promised a small discount on Teledyne cells but thats all.

Let see what AI says after I email them. 18 month life for unused or used cell just is not enough.

-Pasi

Hello Pasi, as I wrote you in our mails, AI replaced batches 705 and 708..

means I had to deliver at my cost +/- 250 cells... to individual divers...

the batch 610 was never questioned...

paul

jknox · 8th May 2008, 07:50

I would agree with that statement. In my limited numbers of cells, I have not had a problem with Teledyne/AP cells. But I tried an AI-rebranded cell and it read about 8mv out of the box in air, after about 2 weeks it was reading 6mv in air. And couldn't hold steady enough readings to safely be calibrated. So I trashed it and will stick with teledyne...

Tienuts · 8th May 2008, 14:42

As someone who retails (and exchanges) both AI and Teledyne, I can tell you the both have batches which are good, and batches which suck.

The 4 AI's I have in my head now are flawless, and have been so for a while. Before that, the last few I had were very problematic. We get just as many complaints and returns from the Teledyne as we do from the AI's that we sell.

***ScubaDadMiami*** · 8th May 2008, 15:40

I also find the problem to be random. I had three AIs that lasted all of last year without issue. I changed for new cells timely, and the new batch have failed within a couple of dives, and another lasted only six months.

Before this, I used Teledyne. I found that these had problems with handling moisture. I also had some that failed within a few dives.

Dutchy · 8th May 2008, 16:19

You can only say never twice after which you can only opt for an SCR without monitoring or at your choice an oxygen rebreather

Dave IR · 8th May 2008, 18:26

I have to say I am also less than impressed with AII too

I bought the 4-pack of RD-22 from the Rebreather World store which had to be replaced last year.

Now one from the replacement batch has just failed

( awaiting response from Rebreather World store )

I think if anymore fail, I will be going back to Teledynes from Vandagraph, which performed flawlessly for me.

dave t · 8th May 2008, 18:45

AI or teledyne its absolutly appalling that the pinacle of our life support systems can have such a bad reliability track record.

Dave

JonnyB · 9th May 2008, 00:59

I had 8 out of 8 Teledynes from different batches go bad on me...
Then them all back to teledyne and got replacements. Cudos for that.
But i have yet to have any problems with my AII sensors they are spot on.

Drmike · 9th May 2008, 04:03

I said Id give AI cells a fair try (as Ive always use TD) and I did.

Verdict:- they are crap

I bought 3 cells, 1 failed within a day the rest failed within a few months. They were replaced with 3 new ones - they too all failed within a few months

verdict:- confirmed they are crap

I just ordered and recieved 3 TD from a reputable Rebreather manufacturer who told me they also tested AI cells to use in their product and their verdict was:- they are crap

so Im sticking to TD, which although not perfect and still have failures, ive never had this degree (ie 100% of 6 cells) fail

Personally I hate having to buy TD or AI cells - I wish there was a better alternative. Both Mnf apear totaly incapable (or unmotivated) to have good quality control, its just that from my experience TD quality control apears to be not quite as poor as AI -but still appalingly poor

8th May 2008, 07:43	#1 (permalink)
plazma New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Oulu, Finland Posts: 104	AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! I got 7 AI rEvo cells in mid April 2007. They were manufactured in October 2006 according to Paul. Now six of them are dead. Three of them were opened last summer for indoor use and DIY setpoint controller testing. Now two of them are dead. They lasted less than a year in use! I installed one in my Inspiration in mid June. It worked ok. Last week I serviced the unit for first dives this year. The only AI cell was dead. I opened the last 3 bags of AI cells and 2 of them was dead. I installed the last working one into my Inspiration but it died on the first dive. It started showing reading .2 above Teledyne cells. After 10min it started to show reading below Teledyne cells. After 20min it showed reading .6 below other cells. All Teledyne cells have worked just fine. 1.5 years in service kit or closet, 12-18 months in rebreather use and 1-2 years in oxygen analyzers. The cells have only 1 year warranty after manufacturing. Paul @ rEvo-rebreathers promised a small discount on Teledyne cells but thats all. Let see what AI says after I email them. 18 month life for unused or used cell just is not enough. -Pasi
(Offline)

8th May 2008, 07:48	#2 (permalink)
paulraymaekers rEvo's daddy Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: belgium Posts: 1,377	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! Quote: (Originally Posted by plazma) I got 7 AI rEvo cells in mid April 2007. They were manufactured in October 2006 according to Paul. Now six of them are dead. Three of them were opened last summer for indoor use and DIY setpoint controller testing. Now two of them are dead. They lasted less than a year in use! I installed one in my Inspiration in mid June. It worked ok. Last week I serviced the unit for first dives this year. The only AI cell was dead. I opened the last 3 bags of AI cells and 2 of them was dead. I installed the last working one into my Inspiration but it died on the first dive. It started showing reading .2 above Teledyne cells. After 10min it started to show reading below Teledyne cells. After 20min it showed reading .6 below other cells. All Teledyne cells have worked just fine. 1.5 years in service kit or closet, 12-18 months in rebreather use and 1-2 years in oxygen analyzers. The cells have only 1 year warranty after manufacturing. Paul @ rEvo-rebreathers promised a small discount on Teledyne cells but thats all. Let see what AI says after I email them. 18 month life for unused or used cell just is not enough. -Pasi Hello Pasi, as I wrote you in our mails, AI replaced batches 705 and 708.. means I had to deliver at my cost +/- 250 cells... to individual divers... the batch 610 was never questioned... paul __________________ www.rEvo-rebreathers.com .... the earth is flat, Elvis is alive, and radial scrubbers give longer dwell time than axials...
(Offline)

8th May 2008, 07:50	#3 (permalink)
jknox New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 36	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! I would agree with that statement. In my limited numbers of cells, I have not had a problem with Teledyne/AP cells. But I tried an AI-rebranded cell and it read about 8mv out of the box in air, after about 2 weeks it was reading 6mv in air. And couldn't hold steady enough readings to safely be calibrated. So I trashed it and will stick with teledyne... __________________ That's not America! That's not even Mexico...
(Offline)

8th May 2008, 14:42	#4 (permalink)
Tienuts The man from Nantucket Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 149	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! As someone who retails (and exchanges) both AI and Teledyne, I can tell you the both have batches which are good, and batches which suck. The 4 AI's I have in my head now are flawless, and have been so for a while. Before that, the last few I had were very problematic. We get just as many complaints and returns from the Teledyne as we do from the AI's that we sell.
(Offline)

8th May 2008, 15:40	#5 (permalink)
*ScubaDadMiami* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,937	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! I also find the problem to be random. I had three AIs that lasted all of last year without issue. I changed for new cells timely, and the new batch have failed within a couple of dives, and another lasted only six months. Before this, I used Teledyne. I found that these had problems with handling moisture. I also had some that failed within a few dives. __________________ Howard Packer IANTD CCR Instructor Miami Beach, Florida CCRDiveTraining.com
(Offline)

8th May 2008, 16:19	#6 (permalink)
Dutchy SK#007 Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nieuwegein (The Netherlands) Posts: 699	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! You can only say never twice after which you can only opt for an SCR without monitoring or at your choice an oxygen rebreather __________________ = This post is environmentally friendly. It is composed of 100% recycled electrons only. = SK #007
(Offline)

8th May 2008, 18:26	#7 (permalink)
Dave IR New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK, Portsmouth Posts: 47	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! I have to say I am also less than impressed with AII too I bought the 4-pack of RD-22 from the Rebreather World store which had to be replaced last year. Now one from the replacement batch has just failed ( awaiting response from Rebreather World store ) I think if anymore fail, I will be going back to Teledynes from Vandagraph, which performed flawlessly for me.
(Offline)

8th May 2008, 18:45	#8 (permalink)
dave t Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Dolphin Ray Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Ray Azimuth Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: UK Posts: 621	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! AI or teledyne its absolutly appalling that the pinacle of our life support systems can have such a bad reliability track record. Dave
(Offline)

9th May 2008, 00:59	#9 (permalink)
JonnyB Jonny The Hatch Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Titan Other CCR Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Inspiration Classic Megalodon Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Other CCR Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweden (Stockholm)/Cyprus(Ayia Napa) Posts: 944	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! I had 8 out of 8 Teledynes from different batches go bad on me... Then them all back to teledyne and got replacements. Cudos for that. But i have yet to have any problems with my AII sensors they are spot on. __________________ A quote from Crazyduck - In remembering our own Rob Davies. "Outbound flight 777 heavy you are cleared for flight Due west into that warm red Texas sunset You have angels on your wings and divers memories on your six." Rest In Peace http://www.divetekcyprus.com http://www.diveccr.com
(Offline)

9th May 2008, 04:03	#10 (permalink)
Drmike Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: MK 15.X Ouroboros Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,128	Re: AI cells sucks. Newer buy them again! I said Id give AI cells a fair try (as Ive always use TD) and I did. Verdict:- they are crap I bought 3 cells, 1 failed within a day the rest failed within a few months. They were replaced with 3 new ones - they too all failed within a few months verdict:- confirmed they are crap I just ordered and recieved 3 TD from a reputable Rebreather manufacturer who told me they also tested AI cells to use in their product and their verdict was:- they are crap so Im sticking to TD, which although not perfect and still have failures, ive never had this degree (ie 100% of 6 cells) fail Personally I hate having to buy TD or AI cells - I wish there was a better alternative. Both Mnf apear totaly incapable (or unmotivated) to have good quality control, its just that from my experience TD quality control apears to be not quite as poor as AI -but still appalingly poor __________________ Get a girlfriend you sad twat - a Rebreather is an unfaithful mistress - dont blind yourself to her faults just because she goes down on you Last edited by Drmike : 9th May 2008 at 04:14.
(Offline)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode