Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather

robertfondren · 1st February 2008, 06:25

Hello all,
Okay, how do you gals and guys integrate a chest-mounted rebreather (such as an IDA59, IDA76, or C96) with a drysuit with a chest-mounted inflator button? Certainly they're not mutually exclusive. Last time I tried, the scrubber hit the inflator button, completely draining my pony tank. I've since switched to an inflator with button(s) on the side, so shouldn't come into contact with the inflator button, but I'm yet to try this arrangement, and I'm still concerned about access to the inflator when I need it. Thoughts? Suggestions? As I'm @ a temperate latitude in the winter, diving wet won't be an option for a few more months, and even in mid-summer, the bottom temp is always no higher than the mid-fifties (F)
SIGNED: Looking for a workable System!
Regards

***Decodiver*** · 1st February 2008, 08:25

Hi Robert,

Move the inflator to the front of your right or left hip.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

robertfondren · 1st February 2008, 08:42

Quote: (Originally Posted by Decodiver)

Hi Robert,

Move the inflator to the front of your right or left hip.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

Thanks, Dave
Do they make a plug for the hole in the chest, and where would I get one? Alternatively, I do have an extra exhaust valve, so I guess I just need the courage to cut my suit!
Thanks

***Decodiver*** · 1st February 2008, 09:08

Quote: (Originally Posted by robertfondren)

Thanks, Dave
Do they make a plug for the hole in the chest, and where would I get one? Alternatively, I do have an extra exhaust valve, so I guess I just need the courage to cut my suit!
Thanks

Not sure, but any drysuit repair shop should be able to patch it for you, I would guess.

Cheers,

Dave Cooper.

jaap · 1st February 2008, 10:43

Quote: (Originally Posted by robertfondren)

Thanks, Dave
Do they make a plug for the hole in the chest, and where would I get one? Alternatively, I do have an extra exhaust valve, so I guess I just need the courage to cut my suit!
Thanks

Si-Tech makes a blank plug for their valves, look at the bottom of this link:
http://www.si-techuk.com/pdf/retail_catalogue.pdf

Just remember the diameter of the hole and the designs can differ between valve manufacturers.
If you decide for the hip and use a weight belt make sure to think about the hose routing.

Another trick is to remove the top of the chest inflate button to make the button slightly recessed on the inlet valve. There can typically be a small thing with a logo on that can be removed on the very top of the button. That way it does not get depressed by the chestmount. With some practice its still farily easy to slide the hand in and press the button.

robertfondren · 2nd February 2008, 10:17

Thanks one and all. I actually have an inflator valve with side-inflation buttons now, so I may have already handled the accidental-inflation problem. Still a little concerned about safe access to the button. Also cosidered switching the inflator and exhaust valves, giving me arm-inflation, but then the auto-exhaust may be blocked by my rebreather.
JAAP, the links were very helpful.
Ultimately just going to have to find the best arrangement through practice.

mempilot · 2nd February 2008, 12:30

Most tactical combat drysuits have the inflator on the left side, about mid-torso, to accomodate a chest mounted Rebreather.

**Dave Sutton** · 2nd February 2008, 12:33

Never has been an issue with my Viking suit and any of the chest rigs: The valve is off to the left side a little and they never interfered with each other. Ditto my DUI suits. The valves are all off to the side 'just enough'.

Dave

.

robertfondren · 3rd February 2008, 06:01

It's a relatively cheap suit, O-neil (oneal?), but I always have to do everything perfectly the first time. Anyone with any sense knows, of course, that very little gets attempted or accomplished with this mind-set. It's a problem...

Thank God for a resource like this to share ideas! It greatly shortens the learning curve.

***Decodiver*** · 3rd February 2008, 08:20

Robert,

I would advise against swapping the places of your valves, it may prove difficult to remove the LP hose in the event of a runaway inflation, but more importantly you would have to roll onto your back to dump when necessary, trust me, that is not the most comfortable position on a chest-mounted rig.

Cheers,

Dave.

1st February 2008, 06:25	#1 (permalink)
robertfondren New Member Current Rebreather/s: Ray Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Ray Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: u.s.a. Posts: 74	Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Hello all, Okay, how do you gals and guys integrate a chest-mounted rebreather (such as an IDA59, IDA76, or C96) with a drysuit with a chest-mounted inflator button? Certainly they're not mutually exclusive. Last time I tried, the scrubber hit the inflator button, completely draining my pony tank. I've since switched to an inflator with button(s) on the side, so shouldn't come into contact with the inflator button, but I'm yet to try this arrangement, and I'm still concerned about access to the inflator when I need it. Thoughts? Suggestions? As I'm @ a temperate latitude in the winter, diving wet won't be an option for a few more months, and even in mid-summer, the bottom temp is always no higher than the mid-fifties (F) SIGNED: Looking for a workable System! Regards
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1st February 2008, 08:25	#2 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ouroboros rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,168	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Hi Robert, Move the inflator to the front of your right or left hip. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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1st February 2008, 08:42	#3 (permalink)
robertfondren New Member Current Rebreather/s: Ray Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Ray Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: u.s.a. Posts: 74	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Quote: (Originally Posted by Decodiver) Hi Robert, Move the inflator to the front of your right or left hip. Cheers, Dave Cooper. Thanks, Dave Do they make a plug for the hole in the chest, and where would I get one? Alternatively, I do have an extra exhaust valve, so I guess I just need the courage to cut my suit! Thanks
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1st February 2008, 09:08	#4 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ouroboros rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,168	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Quote: (Originally Posted by robertfondren) Thanks, Dave Do they make a plug for the hole in the chest, and where would I get one? Alternatively, I do have an extra exhaust valve, so I guess I just need the courage to cut my suit! Thanks Not sure, but any drysuit repair shop should be able to patch it for you, I would guess. Cheers, Dave Cooper. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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1st February 2008, 10:43	#5 (permalink)
jaap Normal people worry me Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR RB80 / Clone Ray Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR RB80 / Clone Ray Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stockholm Sweden Posts: 438	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Quote: (Originally Posted by robertfondren) Thanks, Dave Do they make a plug for the hole in the chest, and where would I get one? Alternatively, I do have an extra exhaust valve, so I guess I just need the courage to cut my suit! Thanks Si-Tech makes a blank plug for their valves, look at the bottom of this link: http://www.si-techuk.com/pdf/retail_catalogue.pdf Just remember the diameter of the hole and the designs can differ between valve manufacturers. If you decide for the hip and use a weight belt make sure to think about the hose routing. Another trick is to remove the top of the chest inflate button to make the button slightly recessed on the inlet valve. There can typically be a small thing with a logo on that can be removed on the very top of the button. That way it does not get depressed by the chestmount. With some practice its still farily easy to slide the hand in and press the button. __________________ My initials: JAAP Last edited by jaap : 1st February 2008 at 11:40.
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2nd February 2008, 10:17	#6 (permalink)
robertfondren New Member Current Rebreather/s: Ray Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Ray Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: u.s.a. Posts: 74	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Thanks one and all. I actually have an inflator valve with side-inflation buttons now, so I may have already handled the accidental-inflation problem. Still a little concerned about safe access to the button. Also cosidered switching the inflator and exhaust valves, giving me arm-inflation, but then the auto-exhaust may be blocked by my rebreather. JAAP, the links were very helpful. Ultimately just going to have to find the best arrangement through practice.
(Offline)

2nd February 2008, 12:30	#7 (permalink)
mempilot What is this..terrafirma? Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,178	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Most tactical combat drysuits have the inflator on the left side, about mid-torso, to accomodate a chest mounted Rebreather. __________________ MEM "Da Pilot" Black holes are where God divided by zero. "If at first you don't succeed, don't dive silent." "Would you mind not shooting at the thermo-nuclear weapons." ~ Vic Deakins "Donkey's kill more people annually than plane crashes."
(Online)

2nd February 2008, 12:33	#8 (permalink)
Dave Sutton Living on Animal Farm Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss MK 15.X rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Narragansett, Rhode Island and Hackettstown, New Jersey Posts: 2,511	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Never has been an issue with my Viking suit and any of the chest rigs: The valve is off to the left side a little and they never interfered with each other. Ditto my DUI suits. The valves are all off to the side 'just enough'. Dave . __________________ . "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" Professional Small Boy: Never Successfully Cubicled.
(Online)

3rd February 2008, 06:01	#9 (permalink)
robertfondren New Member Current Rebreather/s: Ray Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Ray Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: u.s.a. Posts: 74	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather It's a relatively cheap suit, O-neil (oneal?), but I always have to do everything perfectly the first time. Anyone with any sense knows, of course, that very little gets attempted or accomplished with this mind-set. It's a problem... Thank God for a resource like this to share ideas! It greatly shortens the learning curve.
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 08:20	#10 (permalink)
*Decodiver* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ouroboros rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 2,168	Re: Dry Suit with Chest-Mounted Rebreather Robert, I would advise against swapping the places of your valves, it may prove difficult to remove the LP hose in the event of a runaway inflation, but more importantly you would have to roll onto your back to dump when necessary, trust me, that is not the most comfortable position on a chest-mounted rig. Cheers, Dave. __________________ CCR/OC Trimix Instructor Trainer CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/COPIS-Megalodon/KISS/Sport KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com Rebreather World Terms & Conditions
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