DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion

kiwi_diver · 18th October 2007, 22:58

Hi all,

I have converted my Orca DSV to have integrated bail out. I was given a spare DSV so thought I would have a go at hacking and brazing one of them. Surprisingly, they can take a lot of heat. I was worried that I would distort the housing but it was fine, just discoloured. Nothing a bit of enamel wont tidy up.

My plan was to mount a Conshelf XV to the bottom of the DSV and rearrange the workings so that the change-over switch on the front of the DSV, which normally toggles between loop and atmosphere, would toggle between loop and bail-out, like a proper BOV.

Here's what I did:

1. I turned the DSV over so that the atmosphere vent thing is on the bottom, but that reverses the loop flow so I had to cut the left and right side threaded sections off and braze them back on their original sides to restore the flow direction. I also angled them towards my face slightly so when the hoses are screwed on they lay more naturally towards the rear rather than out to the side.

2. Then I cut off and discarded the vent housing, which turned out to be just a little cap silver soldered on, and reshaped and brazed on the mouthpiece tube of my old Conshelf XV second stage.

Now the changeover knob switches between the loop and the Conshelf bail-out reg. The exhaust shroud of the Conshelf just touches my chin so I think it's a reasonable fit. I'm hoping to test it this weekend, otherwise it will be in a pool session on Tuesday night.

I'll post some pics this weekend for any that are interested.

Big credit to Dave Sutton for the original idea!!

Cheers, Ray.

Dsix36 · 19th October 2007, 00:01

sounds cool. how about some pics?

kiwi_diver · 19th October 2007, 10:30

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dsix36)

sounds cool. how about some pics?

Ok, here goes...

1. Original soviet DSV, minus hoses and mouthpiece...
2. BOV front.
3. BOV rear.
4. Old and new
5. As fitted to Orca.

The brazing is not the tidiest, I'm an IT Manager, not a welder. But it's certainly strong enough and with a bit of matt black enamel paint, it'll look fine...

Ray.

jaap · 19th October 2007, 11:19

Hi

Ambitious work!

Once you get it tested UW you will perhaps find a tendency of the demandvalve to free flow.

I did a BOV with an R190 on a IDA-DSV some years ago and used a 90-dgr bend to get it a little less sensitive. Unfortunately the (rather ugly) thing is laying in the heap of seldomly used things at the country house. But will see if I can take some pictures of it next time I go there.

kiwi_diver · 20th October 2007, 05:40

Quote: (Originally Posted by jaap)

Once you get it tested UW you will perhaps find a tendency of the demandvalve to free flow.

Hey Jaap, thanks for the heads up. I may have to flood the Conshelf through the BOV when I get in the water, to stop any free-flow, then switch back to the loop. So long as I remember to breath out first when selecting bail-out, it might work out.

I contemplated using a 3/4" copper elbow too but thought it would start to be too ungainly! Would like to see pix of your's if you can manage it sometime.

Ray.

kiwidiver · 20th October 2007, 09:25

my jaw aches just looking at the weight in that bov.

kiwi_diver · 21st October 2007, 23:02

Quote: (Originally Posted by kiwidiver)

my jaw aches just looking at the weight in that bov.

I hear you man, but I'm hoping it won't be that bad UW. If it is I'll revert to the standard DSV and sling a plastic OMS 2nd around my neck again. Put this effort down to experience!

Ray.

kiwi_diver · 24th October 2007, 20:46

Ok, surprisingly did not have any drama using the BOV at all. It worked as planned and the additional weight was not noticable. The reg did not free-flow and I did not have to do any tricks to keep it that way. WOB on bail-out was only slightly higher than when on the loop, I think because the slot in the rotating switch that points to the second stage is narrower then the two for the loop. After changing back to loop, I did note a little water had come in, I suspect around the switch. Just enough to spatter in the mouth piece. I think a little crystolube during reassembly will sort that out.

Overall, I'm pleased with the result and the BOV will remain in place.

Here's a shot from the pool, though with it's black paint job, the BOV is not showing up very well. Excuse me for forgetting to clear my mask

but I could still see the HUD through that lens! I'm really stoked with the rEvoDream PPO2 monitor and HUD too.

Cheers, Ray.

divingtoors · 26th November 2007, 09:03

HI There

Excellent work for an IT specialist

Have some green

Regards

Johan

jaap · 26th November 2007, 15:08

Nice!

Two pics of my old thing:

FOTO

FOTO

As I said, my thing did not turn out to be great so its been laying around forgotten for a few years.

18th October 2007, 22:58	#1 (permalink)
kiwi_diver Alias - Ray Mansell Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 157	DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion Hi all, I have converted my Orca DSV to have integrated bail out. I was given a spare DSV so thought I would have a go at hacking and brazing one of them. Surprisingly, they can take a lot of heat. I was worried that I would distort the housing but it was fine, just discoloured. Nothing a bit of enamel wont tidy up. My plan was to mount a Conshelf XV to the bottom of the DSV and rearrange the workings so that the change-over switch on the front of the DSV, which normally toggles between loop and atmosphere, would toggle between loop and bail-out, like a proper BOV. Here's what I did: 1. I turned the DSV over so that the atmosphere vent thing is on the bottom, but that reverses the loop flow so I had to cut the left and right side threaded sections off and braze them back on their original sides to restore the flow direction. I also angled them towards my face slightly so when the hoses are screwed on they lay more naturally towards the rear rather than out to the side. 2. Then I cut off and discarded the vent housing, which turned out to be just a little cap silver soldered on, and reshaped and brazed on the mouthpiece tube of my old Conshelf XV second stage. Now the changeover knob switches between the loop and the Conshelf bail-out reg. The exhaust shroud of the Conshelf just touches my chin so I think it's a reasonable fit. I'm hoping to test it this weekend, otherwise it will be in a pool session on Tuesday night. I'll post some pics this weekend for any that are interested. Big credit to Dave Sutton for the original idea!! Cheers, Ray. __________________ Ray. == Latitude 36 South, where the deeper you dive, the warmer it gets! == Last edited by kiwi_diver : 18th October 2007 at 23:10.
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19th October 2007, 00:01	#2 (permalink)
Dsix36 Going Down? Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 1,154	Re: DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion sounds cool. how about some pics? __________________ THE MORE THAT I LEARN, THE MORE THAT I STILL NEED TO LEARN!!!!!!
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19th October 2007, 11:19	#4 (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: 473	Re: DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion Hi Ambitious work! Once you get it tested UW you will perhaps find a tendency of the demandvalve to free flow. I did a BOV with an R190 on a IDA-DSV some years ago and used a 90-dgr bend to get it a little less sensitive. Unfortunately the (rather ugly) thing is laying in the heap of seldomly used things at the country house. But will see if I can take some pictures of it next time I go there. __________________ My initials: JAAP
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20th October 2007, 05:40	#5 (permalink)
kiwi_diver Alias - Ray Mansell Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 157	Re: DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion Quote: (Originally Posted by jaap) Once you get it tested UW you will perhaps find a tendency of the demandvalve to free flow. Hey Jaap, thanks for the heads up. I may have to flood the Conshelf through the BOV when I get in the water, to stop any free-flow, then switch back to the loop. So long as I remember to breath out first when selecting bail-out, it might work out. I contemplated using a 3/4" copper elbow too but thought it would start to be too ungainly! Would like to see pix of your's if you can manage it sometime. Ray. __________________ Ray. == Latitude 36 South, where the deeper you dive, the warmer it gets! ==
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20th October 2007, 09:25	#6 (permalink)
kiwidiver RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Azimuth Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Azimuth Home Build Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: new zealand Posts: 152	Re: DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion my jaw aches just looking at the weight in that bov.
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21st October 2007, 23:02	#7 (permalink)
kiwi_diver Alias - Ray Mansell Current Rebreather/s: Other SCR Other Rebreather/s: Other SCR Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 157	Re: DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion Quote: (Originally Posted by kiwidiver) my jaw aches just looking at the weight in that bov. I hear you man, but I'm hoping it won't be that bad UW. If it is I'll revert to the standard DSV and sling a plastic OMS 2nd around my neck again. Put this effort down to experience! Ray. __________________ Ray. == Latitude 36 South, where the deeper you dive, the warmer it gets! ==
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26th November 2007, 09:03	#9 (permalink)
divingtoors RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Home Build Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town Posts: 103	Re: DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion HI There Excellent work for an IT specialist Have some green Regards Johan __________________ "..Recreational scuba training has developed the denial of risk into an art form...." ( Larry "Harris" Taylor, Ph.D.) "The closer you are to danger, the further you are from harm" - Pippin Took (Hobbit)
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26th November 2007, 15:08	#10 (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: 473	Re: DIY IDA/AKA DSV to BOV Conversion Nice! Two pics of my old thing: FOTO FOTO As I said, my thing did not turn out to be great so its been laying around forgotten for a few years. __________________ My initials: JAAP
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