What do you use on your Meg?

clivethediver2 · 10th December 2005, 11:27

Hi all.
My Meg's arriving on Dec 18th and I ordered it without the dil and O2 cylinders for ease of carrying etc.Before I go out and buy some cylinders,what do you guys use?I've used 3ltrs but I've also seen a Meg with 5ltrs-also steel or aluminium?I'd appreciate your comments.
Also,I've seen a Meg at Stoney with a stand/travel case on it.Any ideas where you can get this from?

Cheers Clive.

lof · 10th December 2005, 17:06

I use 3L Faber steels for most of the diving, as it requires no additional weight. No stand needed for a Meg it stands on its own. Stand would make you butt heavy.

Deep Thought · 10th December 2005, 18:03

When it comes to choosing a cylinder for the Meg or other ccr’s that adapt to multiple sizes, the choice is due to personal and practical applications including;

duration of dive and appropriate oxygen reserve, diluent volume
convenience of cylinder volume allowing multiple dives without exchanging
ballast or weight consideration if needed

Regarding #1.
The 2 liter oxygen cylinder has sufficient duration / reserve for most of my adventures but not all, and the 3 liter oxygen cylinder is very adequate, and anything above 3 liter is exceptional. For diluent I only plan for equalizing the loop, emergency flush, momentary sanity breaths, and rely on offboard gas for bailout. So I will dive 3 liter cylinders most often, but have occasion to dive 2 liter as well.

Regarding #2
The really cool thing about rebreathers is the efficiency of gas use, and if you plan accordingly the set up time, in-between dive time and break down time of a rebreathers will kick butt when compared to o.c. set up time. The most practical size for me to go for a weekend of wreck diving / cave diving is the 3 liter cylinder as I can make several dives / penetrations before I have to swap cylinders.

Regarding #3
When considering cylinder size (volume) you have to take the good with the bad or basically accept trade offs to get the best. In order to get a greater quantity of gas you need to either have a larger internal volume or have a higher pressure. Typically greater volume equates to larger size cylinder, although there are exceptions to low volume high pressure cylinders. Carefully consider the ratio of volume to buoyancy characteristics so you get the desired result. Another consideration is the alloy which generally equates to aluminum cylinders having a larger overall size to equate to a steel cylinder of equal volume.

In most instances I am diving a dry suit in fresh water and the 3 liter steel cylinders afford a good weight ratio to size, and require that I add only a small quantity of lead to the harness to achieve slight negative buoyancy. Recently I was diving Puget Sound using 3 liter aluminum cylinders and was caught off guard with the increased effect of salt water and the weight difference of alloys. In another case I was diving Truk Lagoon wearing a 5 mil jumpsuit and a set of 2 liter steel cylinders caused me to dive with excess air in the wing, which I greatly dislike, so in this case aluminum cylinders would have been a better option. Most recently I was cave diving with a partner who used high pressure small volume steel cylinders that are very negative, resulting in the diver trimming buoyancy with wing – more air, more change, more work…etc. This reminded me of a cave dive where one of the divers was wearing 5 liter cylinders on the Meg and it was beastly burden – not worth the negative weight and size – carry offboard if needed.

So there may not be a perfect cylinder yet, if you consider the ideal cylinder would be light and easy to travel with, yet hold sufficient gas at a pressure that was convenient for filling. Since I travel a lot, and lead is universal it is much easier to get the negative weight I require at the destination than to have it built into the cylinder.

Enjoy the Meg!

ron

Gadget · 11th December 2005, 13:56

most people in the uk seem to use standard 3 ltr cylinders, however julie runs dummpy 3ltrs on hears you can see a picture in the gallery section under tigger meg, I know that brett from divelife is getting some in in january, this will be the first batch into the uk for a year or two, i know they are selling fast.

Diver Den · 12th December 2005, 19:56

3 ltr dumpy's look great on the Meg but they offer no protection to the hose's when it falls out of the boot of you car.

Dennis

**trob09** · 12th December 2005, 21:26

typically the Faber 3l steels. Although I receved 2 of Worthington's High pressure tanks as a gift that are 3-ish liters in a slightly smaller package that I'm itching to try out.

***schford*** · 13th December 2005, 20:11

faber 3s get my vote too, although I played with faber 2s too.

Fabers just give the hoses that extra protection and a little safety margin for cramming in a whole weekends diving

farmerted · 14th December 2005, 02:49

3 liter fabers get my vote as well, but for warm water/wetsuit aluminum is a better choice. I like the protection of the fabers, but it is a pain to get into cow spring as the dil bottle always hangs up in the entrance restriction, but then again, I should not complain as I could not even get in there on my 15/5. Ted

clivethediver2 · 14th December 2005, 09:10

Hi all.
Thanks for your views.
Brett's dumpy's!!! arrive in the country on Jan 14th-but I couldn't wait that long!So Faber 3's it is then and they arrive today!!
Look out Stoney-here we come!!

Cheers Clive

DonalWalsh · 16th December 2005, 19:13

Quote: (Originally Posted by Diver Den)

3 ltr dumpy's look great on the Meg but they offer no protection to the hose's when it falls out of the boot of you car.

Dennis

I think Den might have me in mind there......I've given a live demonstration of this facility with Faber 3's at Stoney recently

....

10th December 2005, 11:27	#1 (permalink)
clivethediver2 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: BEDFORD ENGLAND Posts: 36	What do you use on your Meg? Hi all. My Meg's arriving on Dec 18th and I ordered it without the dil and O2 cylinders for ease of carrying etc.Before I go out and buy some cylinders,what do you guys use?I've used 3ltrs but I've also seen a Meg with 5ltrs-also steel or aluminium?I'd appreciate your comments. Also,I've seen a Meg at Stoney with a stand/travel case on it.Any ideas where you can get this from? Cheers Clive.
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10th December 2005, 17:06	#2 (permalink)
lof RBW Master Plumber Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Prism Topaz Sport Kiss Classic Kiss MK 15.X Other CCR RB80 / Clone Other SCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR RB80 / Clone Other SCR Home Build Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: USA Posts: 501	Re: What do you use on your Meg? I use 3L Faber steels for most of the diving, as it requires no additional weight. No stand needed for a Meg it stands on its own. Stand would make you butt heavy. __________________ Jakub Golem Gear ShopKeeper www.golemgear.com
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10th December 2005, 18:03	#3 (permalink)
Deep Thought RebreatherWorld Sponsor Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Optima Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Great Lakes Posts: 195	Re: What do you use on your Meg? When it comes to choosing a cylinder for the Meg or other ccr’s that adapt to multiple sizes, the choice is due to personal and practical applications including; duration of dive and appropriate oxygen reserve, diluent volume convenience of cylinder volume allowing multiple dives without exchanging ballast or weight consideration if needed Regarding #1. The 2 liter oxygen cylinder has sufficient duration / reserve for most of my adventures but not all, and the 3 liter oxygen cylinder is very adequate, and anything above 3 liter is exceptional. For diluent I only plan for equalizing the loop, emergency flush, momentary sanity breaths, and rely on offboard gas for bailout. So I will dive 3 liter cylinders most often, but have occasion to dive 2 liter as well. Regarding #2 The really cool thing about rebreathers is the efficiency of gas use, and if you plan accordingly the set up time, in-between dive time and break down time of a rebreathers will kick butt when compared to o.c. set up time. The most practical size for me to go for a weekend of wreck diving / cave diving is the 3 liter cylinder as I can make several dives / penetrations before I have to swap cylinders. Regarding #3 When considering cylinder size (volume) you have to take the good with the bad or basically accept trade offs to get the best. In order to get a greater quantity of gas you need to either have a larger internal volume or have a higher pressure. Typically greater volume equates to larger size cylinder, although there are exceptions to low volume high pressure cylinders. Carefully consider the ratio of volume to buoyancy characteristics so you get the desired result. Another consideration is the alloy which generally equates to aluminum cylinders having a larger overall size to equate to a steel cylinder of equal volume. In most instances I am diving a dry suit in fresh water and the 3 liter steel cylinders afford a good weight ratio to size, and require that I add only a small quantity of lead to the harness to achieve slight negative buoyancy. Recently I was diving Puget Sound using 3 liter aluminum cylinders and was caught off guard with the increased effect of salt water and the weight difference of alloys. In another case I was diving Truk Lagoon wearing a 5 mil jumpsuit and a set of 2 liter steel cylinders caused me to dive with excess air in the wing, which I greatly dislike, so in this case aluminum cylinders would have been a better option. Most recently I was cave diving with a partner who used high pressure small volume steel cylinders that are very negative, resulting in the diver trimming buoyancy with wing – more air, more change, more work…etc. This reminded me of a cave dive where one of the divers was wearing 5 liter cylinders on the Meg and it was beastly burden – not worth the negative weight and size – carry offboard if needed. So there may not be a perfect cylinder yet, if you consider the ideal cylinder would be light and easy to travel with, yet hold sufficient gas at a pressure that was convenient for filling. Since I travel a lot, and lead is universal it is much easier to get the negative weight I require at the destination than to have it built into the cylinder. Enjoy the Meg! ron __________________ Creature Of Habits; Mostly Bad www.gudcscuba.com
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11th December 2005, 13:56	#4 (permalink)
Gadget Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon rEvo Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Dolphin Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hoddesdon, Herts. Posts: 163	Re: What do you use on your Meg? most people in the uk seem to use standard 3 ltr cylinders, however julie runs dummpy 3ltrs on hears you can see a picture in the gallery section under tigger meg, I know that brett from divelife is getting some in in january, this will be the first batch into the uk for a year or two, i know they are selling fast. __________________ Si Lawrence www.divehdi.com
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12th December 2005, 19:56	#5 (permalink)
Diver Den New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: lincolnshire uk Posts: 22	Re: What do you use on your Meg? 3 ltr dumpy's look great on the Meg but they offer no protection to the hose's when it falls out of the boot of you car. Dennis
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12th December 2005, 21:26	#6 (permalink)
trob09 . Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 701	Re: What do you use on your Meg? typically the Faber 3l steels. Although I receved 2 of Worthington's High pressure tanks as a gift that are 3-ish liters in a slightly smaller package that I'm itching to try out.
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13th December 2005, 20:11	#7 (permalink)
*schford* RBW Founder Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,564	Re: What do you use on your Meg? faber 3s get my vote too, although I played with faber 2s too. Fabers just give the hoses that extra protection and a little safety margin for cramming in a whole weekends diving __________________ Bailout and Kit Management account for Murphy's Law The only bad question is one you did not ask and later wish you had. Use of RBW is subject to the Rebreather World Terms & Conditions of Use
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14th December 2005, 02:49	#8 (permalink)
farmerted New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island/Wakulla Posts: 14	Re: What do you use on your Meg? 3 liter fabers get my vote as well, but for warm water/wetsuit aluminum is a better choice. I like the protection of the fabers, but it is a pain to get into cow spring as the dil bottle always hangs up in the entrance restriction, but then again, I should not complain as I could not even get in there on my 15/5. Ted
(Offline)

14th December 2005, 09:10	#9 (permalink)
clivethediver2 New Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: BEDFORD ENGLAND Posts: 36	Re: What do you use on your Meg? Hi all. Thanks for your views. Brett's dumpy's!!! arrive in the country on Jan 14th-but I couldn't wait that long!So Faber 3's it is then and they arrive today!! Look out Stoney-here we come!! Cheers Clive
(Offline)

16th December 2005, 19:13	#10 (permalink)
DonalWalsh Third Class Snorkeller Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Moving to London in Sept.....which way to the South Coast?? Posts: 133	Re: What do you use on your Meg? Quote: (Originally Posted by Diver Den) 3 ltr dumpy's look great on the Meg but they offer no protection to the hose's when it falls out of the boot of you car. Dennis I think Den might have me in mind there......I've given a live demonstration of this facility with Faber 3's at Stoney recently ....
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