Drive Gas - Jetsam Baby Booster

Benthic

Does anyone know the potential implications of driving my Jetsam Baby Booster with something other than air?

Now, before anyone gets excited--yes, I know it says "AIR ONLY" right on the side of the unit. What I'm looking for here is the reason it says that. I asked Jetsam, and their response was "USE AIR ONLY" but they gave no reason. Is it a risk of oyxgen fire? Contamination?

I'm asking because we had the doubles we've been using for drive gas filled last weekend and the guy at the shop topped them up with nitrox, not air. So now I've got tanks full of 27%. Can I use them, or should I drain and re-fill?

Brian

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akscubainst

I would guess the disclaimer otherwise eventually someone would try driving the booster with oxygen.

27% is pretty low, I'd use it but I'm not telling you to.

Dave

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Dave Mitchell
Classic KISS #200
Juneau, Alaska

sunnyboy

I initially drove mine with an AL80 of 36% nitrox because that's all I had. It worked no problem. Then I drove it with 21% (straight air), and now with a small compressor.

The only thing Jetsam told me was that it was designed for the type of dry gas that you get in a scuba cylinder and not normal moist air run through a small compressor. But checking on this forum you'll find many people who are running their boosters with small compressors for several years now without problems.

Me - I'm going to put a water trap on my compressor just to be safe.

-S

PeteS

I wouldn't run a Jetsam Booster from a small garage type compressor. The air from these compressors is, for oxygen purposes, "dirty". In the Jetsam there is only one seal between drive gas and gas being boosted. The piston moves through that seal and is exposed to drive gas.

Just use clean dry air from a scuba tank or scuba compressor.

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Pete S.

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diverreb

The water trap is a must have if you do any boosting in warm, humid conditions with a shop compressor. I also added an inline desiccant filter on QC, which can be added on really humid days... just a little extra protection.

I ran the booster from the compressor when I first brought it home on a dry cool day. It ran fine. Next time I tried to run it it was hot & humid.

After a short run water vapor started spraying out the drive gas muffler/air release..... Figured that wasn't a good thing. Shut it down, ran out & bought the add ons..... Now it runs dry all the time!

The filters & trap are 1/4" fittings and only rated for 90 psi, but the pressure doesn't get too much higher than that in actuality and so far, no issues running it at 120 psi or less.

The water in the trap is very noticeable on humid days.

The filters also drop the compressor psi output a bit when put in-line.

Richie

teksimple

Interested on those add-ons, since I run my Jetsam from my Sears compressor under the house here in Kalaheo, Kauai where it is ALWAYS humid, though never hot (or as humid) as Florida. Plus I have a turbo feature on my booster, so would otherwise like to reduce the chance I lose the first floor of the house.

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diverreb

I got them both at Lowes. The dryer was just under $10. & the water trap was around $12.

The Desiccant Dryer is disposable. It's blue & turns clear when used up.....Item#127959

The Water Trap is called a Mini Air Filter.... Item # 221024 It has a Sintered Brass Filter and a bowl to catch the water.

Richie

Benthic

Um...guys...while I'm certainly interested in running my Baby Booster from a compressor (one of these days), I don't have a compressor at the moment and that's not what I asked about.

Anyone else have any facts (or opinions) about running the Baby Booster using a drive gas other than air?

Brian

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Well lit rooms will not repel determined beer ninjas.

Beanie

Have used 20/30
32%

I would say 27% would be fine
The reasoning behind the air only would be fire risk I guess

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Beanie
Gallery Admin & Library Assistant.
www.outlawdivers.org.uk
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diverreb

I don't see any reason why you couldn't use anything up to 40%, the same as is run through larger compressors without O2 cleaning. Drop it down to 35% if you want a little extra safety factor.

Richie