manifold added to mk15

cys · 9th February 2010, 04:04

I started hatching plans a few weeks ago to add an off-board capability that could feed my BOV. Initially I was thinking that I would not add a manifold -- mostly because I didn't want to have anything in the general proximity of the whitey valve. Then, on a "field trip" to San Diego to get some fills, I got to see the slick manifold placement on the exterior of Amphibiman's rig, and everything that I was thinking about getting done came into focus. Sketched some manifold dimensions, and hiked over to my local machine shop, asking if they could shape the inside of the manifold to the exterior of the case. There's five lp hose ports on the manifold, 2 in front, 2 on the bottom and 1 in back. Haven't seen any interior manifold plumbing on a mk15, so I just four-wheeled it. I consider what I have now as version 1.0.

-Chris

**rob.laurie** · 9th February 2010, 05:37

Hey Chris,
Slick looking manifold !
Can you walk throught the "goesintas & goesoutas " of this setup ?
Looks like onboard feeds your manifold & top port of Whitey valve & offboard feeds lower port of valve ?

Thanks, appreciate it,
Rob

Quote: (Originally Posted by cys)

I started hatching plans a few weeks ago to add an off-board capability that could feed my BOV. Initially I was thinking that I would not add a manifold -- mostly because I didn't want to have anything in the general proximity of the whitey valve. Then, on a "field trip" to San Diego to get some fills, I got to see the slick manifold placement on the exterior of Amphibiman's rig, and everything that I was thinking about getting done came into focus. Sketched some manifold dimensions, and hiked over to my local machine shop, asking if they could shape the inside of the manifold to the exterior of the case. There's five lp hose ports on the manifold, 2 in front, 2 on the bottom and 1 in back. Haven't seen any interior manifold plumbing on a mk15, so I just four-wheeled it. I consider what I have now as version 1.0.

-Chris

cys · 9th February 2010, 06:44

Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie)

Looks like onboard feeds your manifold & top port of Whitey valve & offboard feeds lower port of valve ?

Hi Rob,

Yeah, that's it. What's not indicated in the pics is that I'm primarily planning to connect off-board with the manifold, rather than with the pigtail that comes out of the lower part of the whitey valve, so that I have the ability to access a large volume of different gases via the BOV if need be. I have all the omniswivel connectors on hand for this.

Chris

**rob.laurie** · 9th February 2010, 07:23

Quote: (Originally Posted by cys)

Hi Rob,

Yeah, that's it. What's not indicated in the pics is that I'm primarily planning to connect off-board with the manifold, rather than with the pigtail that comes out of the lower part of the whitey valve, so that I have the ability to access a large volume of different gases via the BOV if need be. I have all the omniswivel connectors on hand for this.

Chris

Understand, but why not plumb onboard to lower port of Whitey valve & seperate your on & off board supplies ?

The way you have it if you have an off board gas loss (blown hose etc..) you'll lose your on board as well ?

Other option, loose the Whitey valve & use your BOV for off board dil add.

Don't get me wrong, just playing devils advocate, as I'm looking at other options for myself & curious as to what others are doing out there on these units.

cys · 9th February 2010, 16:34

Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie)

Understand, but why not plumb onboard to lower port of Whitey valve & seperate your on & off board supplies ?

My goal was to unify the onboard and off-board gas with the manifold, but still have the option of isolated off-board with the whitey valve.

Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie)

The way you have it if you have an off board gas loss (blown hose etc..) you'll lose your on board as well ?

I will have an isolation valve on the off-board hose. There is also the option of undoing the quick connect to the off-board in the event of a failure.

Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie)

Other option, loose the Whitey valve & use your BOV for off board dil add.

I may yet eliminate the whitey valve completely.

The best way to convey my current sentiments about setting up the unit is "BOV-centric" -- I want a system where the BOV has seamless access to on-board and off-board gas. In the event I have to switch off-board gases for the BOV, I want to have access to a gas to bridge the process. Also, I want to avoid linking the BOV singularly to something that I connect and disconnect each dive.

Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie)

Don't get me wrong, just playing devils advocate, as I'm looking at other options for myself & curious as to what others are doing out there on these units.

No worries, I like thinking about rebreathers

.

9th February 2010, 05:37	#2 (permalink)
rob.laurie MK15.x Aficionado MK15.5, MK15 Inspo classics, KISS Classic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 217	Re: manifold added to mk15 Hey Chris, Slick looking manifold ! Can you walk throught the "goesintas & goesoutas " of this setup ? Looks like onboard feeds your manifold & top port of Whitey valve & offboard feeds lower port of valve ? Thanks, appreciate it, Rob Quote: (Originally Posted by cys) I started hatching plans a few weeks ago to add an off-board capability that could feed my BOV. Initially I was thinking that I would not add a manifold -- mostly because I didn't want to have anything in the general proximity of the whitey valve. Then, on a "field trip" to San Diego to get some fills, I got to see the slick manifold placement on the exterior of Amphibiman's rig, and everything that I was thinking about getting done came into focus. Sketched some manifold dimensions, and hiked over to my local machine shop, asking if they could shape the inside of the manifold to the exterior of the case. There's five lp hose ports on the manifold, 2 in front, 2 on the bottom and 1 in back. Haven't seen any interior manifold plumbing on a mk15, so I just four-wheeled it. I consider what I have now as version 1.0. -Chris
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9th February 2010, 06:44	#3 (permalink)
cys Dive different. mk-15 classic KISS Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: S. California Posts: 334	Re: manifold added to mk15 Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie) Looks like onboard feeds your manifold & top port of Whitey valve & offboard feeds lower port of valve ? Hi Rob, Yeah, that's it. What's not indicated in the pics is that I'm primarily planning to connect off-board with the manifold, rather than with the pigtail that comes out of the lower part of the whitey valve, so that I have the ability to access a large volume of different gases via the BOV if need be. I have all the omniswivel connectors on hand for this. Chris
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9th February 2010, 07:23	#4 (permalink)
rob.laurie MK15.x Aficionado MK15.5, MK15 Inspo classics, KISS Classic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alberta Canada Posts: 217	Re: manifold added to mk15 Quote: (Originally Posted by cys) Hi Rob, Yeah, that's it. What's not indicated in the pics is that I'm primarily planning to connect off-board with the manifold, rather than with the pigtail that comes out of the lower part of the whitey valve, so that I have the ability to access a large volume of different gases via the BOV if need be. I have all the omniswivel connectors on hand for this. Chris Understand, but why not plumb onboard to lower port of Whitey valve & seperate your on & off board supplies ? The way you have it if you have an off board gas loss (blown hose etc..) you'll lose your on board as well ? Other option, loose the Whitey valve & use your BOV for off board dil add. Don't get me wrong, just playing devils advocate, as I'm looking at other options for myself & curious as to what others are doing out there on these units.
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9th February 2010, 16:34	#5 (permalink)
cys Dive different. mk-15 classic KISS Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: S. California Posts: 334	Re: manifold added to mk15 Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie) Understand, but why not plumb onboard to lower port of Whitey valve & seperate your on & off board supplies ? My goal was to unify the onboard and off-board gas with the manifold, but still have the option of isolated off-board with the whitey valve. Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie) The way you have it if you have an off board gas loss (blown hose etc..) you'll lose your on board as well ? I will have an isolation valve on the off-board hose. There is also the option of undoing the quick connect to the off-board in the event of a failure. Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie) Other option, loose the Whitey valve & use your BOV for off board dil add. I may yet eliminate the whitey valve completely. The best way to convey my current sentiments about setting up the unit is "BOV-centric" -- I want a system where the BOV has seamless access to on-board and off-board gas. In the event I have to switch off-board gases for the BOV, I want to have access to a gas to bridge the process. Also, I want to avoid linking the BOV singularly to something that I connect and disconnect each dive. Quote: (Originally Posted by rob.laurie) Don't get me wrong, just playing devils advocate, as I'm looking at other options for myself & curious as to what others are doing out there on these units. No worries, I like thinking about rebreathers . Last edited by cys : 9th February 2010 at 16:38.
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