RG UF/M water trap mod

Packhorse

I have just brought my 1st Rebreather. Its a RG UM/F.
The previous owner said it ended up getting quite wet and as I see it there is no where for any moisture to be vented.
The scubber can has been modded to a refillable one and now has a removable perspex plate on the bottom.
Now what I am thinking is to add a water trap onto the bottom of the scrubber can and put a OPV there. I would also remove the OPV on the CL. Then any built up water can easily be vented any time the OPV opens.
The water trap will only hold 200-300ml's which isnt a lot but it is an improvment.
So is this a good idea? Is it a bad idea? Is it a good idea with a bad solution?

Any thoughts sujestions or questions welcome

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kiwidiver

I would find out why or where moisture was getting in first before adding another failure point.

Packhorse

I thought it was common for moisture to build up in a Rebreather. eg from your lungs and also from the reaction of the co2 and the lime. Is this not correct?

Also if the mouth piece was to fallout/get pulled out water can enter the system.

Also its not really creating another failure point but moving one. Eg the OPV valve from the CL to the base of the cannister.

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Mikel-Deko

Hi,
I used two sponge pieces inside the base of the refilable canister. They used to take a lot of water and they work perfectly.
Sorry but i sold the unit and i've not any picture...
Enjoy your new toy.
Best
Mikel

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Mikel-Deko
Basque Country
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"DIR is the nanny state for divers who cannot think on their own" Ron Micjan

kiwidiver

moisture is normall some unit types are more water tolerate than others.I realise you are trying to dive Rebreather on the cheap but wouldnt a training course be it with pete or some one else be a worthwhile investment.I am dubious of a 1kg scrubber being able to tolerate a workload at the 30m depth you have in mind for this conversion.

Packhorse

Can you please explain why? Many of the articals I have read on modding the RG talk about depths exceding 30meters. I do understand the scubber becomes less effective at higher pressure. Can you foward me to any articals that discuss this in detail?
I would have thought the IP pressuse of the O2 reg would have been more of a limiting factor.

Also AFAIK Pete does not do a modded RG or home built course, nor does anyone else from the research I have done. But I have talked breifly with Grant from Global about a course. Although I am the type of person who like to learn as much as possible before I do a course. Which is what brings me to Rebreather World.

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kiwi_diver

If you're going to do more with this than just use it as a < 6m stop pure O2 deco breather, then you need to base your build around the sort of knowledge you can only get from a course.

One of the fundamental requirements of using a rebreather is to "always know your PPO2". As yet, I have not seen you mention this at all yet you are talking about adding water traps and diving it to 30m. You are ill advised to use a pure O2 breather at that depth as you will be at 2.5 times the recommended max O2 partial pressure. Your RGU needs much work to add a diluent supply and PPO2 monitoring etc to transform it to a mixed gas CCR.

Personally, I think the RGU is not a suitable platform around which to build a fully fledged mixed gass CCR. Play with it in the pool as-is and if you still think Rebreather's are for you, then do a course, even SCR on a Dolphin through TDI (Grant). You will learn much about PPO2, flow rates etc and most importantly, how to survive if something goes wrong.

Ray.

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Ray.
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Packhorse

Thanks. I am aware that I will need to add PPO monitoring. This is probably the aspect of it I understand the most. I am not electronic expert by any means but I have built up many circuits over the years including nitrox analizers and canister lights and building a dual sensor and display PPO monitor with HUD is well with in my abbilitys. I am also looking at adding a temp monitor to the scrubber to monitor the temp at diffrent levels in the can.
What I really want to do is use it as a O2 Rebreather for a good many hours and develop a better understanding of Rebreather principals. After that either modify, strip and use parts or start fresh with a homebuild mCCR. I cant see this happening in the next 6 months. It may not happen at all.
As it is I can see areas where I think the RG could do with improvements. One of these is a water trap hence the thread.
Another is lack of DSV.

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Packhorse

I have given up on this idea. On reflection using it for deco just seems to much hassle and maybe a little unsafe.

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jorgey

I would agree with kiwi_diver. I've made one Rebreather based on the valve of the RG UF/M (see my avatar), but I taked only the valve for my project. I didn't even take the mouthpiece, as a german diver told me that the spring valves tend to fail. The whole construction inspires me no confidence for more as what it is, an oxy Rebreather for only one use. Please don't misunderstand me, I like the rig, but it is what it is and it would be not my supporting life gear at 30m. But if you try, I would check the valve, who knows when was the last time it was done some maintainance at it.

And I don't know, what would be happening with the middle pressure. 4,5bar I think. It means, the oriffice efficience would reduce a lot, wouldn't it?

But, I'm not an expert, it's only my opinion.