Subsea systems

cameron

I finally was able to fit my new subsea systems kit to my KISS. I must say that my first impressions are very good. The set up is robustly constructed and certainly looks like it will put up with the kind of abuse dive gear receives. I had no problems navigating the menus and getting the unit ready to dive.

I just need to get it wet!

I will post some pictures of my set up and some impressions of the whole system along with the integration of the shearwater pursuit.

So far so good.

Cam

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Reclaim at work and CCR at home, life is good

rob.laurie

Hi Cam,
When you get around to some photo's & a description, I would appreciate some shots of your TEC3 1st stage set up, I haven't got around to setting mine up yet !
Thanks, Rob

curt

Hi Cam,

Looking forward to your impressions on the Subsea Display. I've been using one for a couple of years now, and it has performed very well.

BTW - How did the spiral loop hoses work for you?

cheers...

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Curt Harpold
US Representative
Rebreathers Australia
http://rebreathers.com.au/

cameron

As promised here are some pictures of the system.

Here is the kidney with all the trimmings attached. From left to right you have the HUD, DS1 display, secondary which may be another DS1 or a computer if you will. The wiring into the kidney is a little tight but everything fits well and is all well protected by the hat. I found that the "extra" lengths of cable can easily be stored in the counterlung case or in wrapped up under the hat like I have done with the HUD cable.


This is a comparison of a standard Uwatec bottom timer a shearwater pursuit and the DS1 display. As you can see the DS1 is very compact and easily routed on either arm. I choose to have everything on the right for scootering purposes.

I am running the shearwater secondary as my principal means of ppo2 monitoring. I have tucked the primary DS1 up onto my shoulder to keep it out of the way. The HUD will display the readings that the DS1 are giving me so as long as the shearwater and the HUD are aggreing I will not need constantly look at the primary. In the event that I do need it, A simple pull on the DS1 will allow me to get the excess cable slack from the counter lungs case allowing me to then use the display as a pendant style.
I feel that this set up will give me the most streamlined setup along with the redundency that I require.

The HUD was a bit of a pain in the ass as I do not use the standard KISS BOV. I have a halcyon that has proved to be excellent for scootering. Thanks again for sorting those hoses out Curt. They have a nice big ID and really streamlined. I had to do a little DIY on the HUD stand. I ended up drilling and tapping a couple holes to mount the standard subsea mount. It was a little nerve racking drilling into a $500 DSV but what the hell! I just hope I didn't generate too much bad mojo mounting a HUD on a piece of RB80 kit.

All in all I am impressed with the build quality and the initial set up. I should have it all wet this week so I can speak a little more on the usability of the kit underwater. My son called it a christmas tree with all the flashing lights and things hanging off but I think it is the dogs bollocks and beside, I can ground him!


Here is a pic of the Diluent Reg set up with tec 3s. You can see the lengths of the various lines that I have used. It allows me to mostly use standard hose lengths while running everything through the counter lung case. I run 2 large bags and have not had a problem with them being restricted. I am a pretty tall guy too. It has done a pretty good job of cleaning up the diluent manifold mess. The off board gas plug and BC inflation are tied into the Y block while everything else is running straight off the reg.

Cam

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Reclaim at work and CCR at home, life is good

Mike Costanzo

Nice.

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Mike Costanzo
CK #318

Gary Graham

Nice setup; one I'm thinking about trying for my KISS.

One question - what do you use as deco computer? Do you use the Shearwater and is that still wired in to the kidney or do you use Shearwater as a standalone?

Ok, that was like 3 questions, but you know what I mean

Dive safe,

Gary

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CK#103

cameron

The subsea system allows you to run two displays that will show all three sensors. I have a DS1 display that drives the HUD showing all three sensors as a secondary and a shearwater as a primary that is also showing all three sensors. The shearwater provides me with deco information. When I dive tables, I will use 2 DS1s.

They are isolated from each other so that if one were to fail in any manner the other would not be affected.
It give true redundency that other systems don't.

cam

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Reclaim at work and CCR at home, life is good

Gary Graham

Cameron,

Cheers; green incoming

All the best,

Gary

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CK#103

gerstl_ossi

Hi Cam, looks very nice, love the configuration of your unit, very neat and clean.

Let us know how it dives.

Cheers Oswald

cameron

I finally have put some bottom time on the setup. It has fulfilled all my desires and expectation as far as a PPO2 monitor goes.

The DS1 display is easy to read, uncluttered, and compact. It provides the information you need and nothing else. I like the fact that it doesn't display too much information and that the screen is not cluttered with information that is not required.

The HUD was nice to use. I have to work with positioning a little but the intensity and colour of light was good. I "forgot" about the green while swimming along but my attention was drawn to the red as soon as it flashed. I was running the flash pattern to display red when I was 0.05 off set point. I will have to play around with it a bit but I think this is the setting I will run as it is the amount of error I allow myself during regular diving. I could manage an accent on the HUD alone which i think will really help when things get busy.

Menus and setup of the system is intuative and simple. Its pretty hard to mess it up. I would like to see finer control of the set point and the HUD alarm settings though. Adjustment to the next decimal place would be nice for setpoint and a high and low thresh hold on the HUD alarm would really enhance the usability of the system.

I do not like the fact that you have to open up the case to operate the menus and calibrate but it does keep the system simple and clean. All your prep can be done before you dive so the risk of contamination of the display is pretty minimal but it would still be nice to have a piezo.

I will have to change some of my procedures for pre and post dive due to the sleep timer. The unit turns on when the po2 is above .4 and shuts off when po2 drops below this. I really have to pay attention when setting up and shutting down the unit as it will be very easy to have the displays stay on. Again, I think a piezo would really be an asset for this function.

All in all I am really happy with this system. I think it is has kept with the KISS concept while providing redundency, making the unit safer, and providing a much more reliable display.

I have to get alot more time on the system to really form a solid opinion but so far so good.

Cam

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Reclaim at work and CCR at home, life is good