Optima Hammerhead issue resolved

**Dsix36** · 7th December 2007, 23:19

I am posting this to give "the rest of the story" to those who were involved with my sensor issue.

For several dives I had a sensor lose its signal (#3). A slight thump on the canister head and it would come back online. I even had a signal worked out with my buddy and the divemaster to let them know when to beat on my canister. I smashed it into a wrecks a couple of times too and that also worked.

Anyway back on track here. I moved the senosor to #2 spot and guess what? Now #2 was falling out. Same thing with #1 spot. Logic told me that the sensor was at fault, I replaced it and have had no problems so far.

Ya Ya, I know. I shouldn't have been diving with a known issue.

MarcLaukien · 8th December 2007, 00:01

The same happened to me on my last dives. I thought the problem would be the wiring harness. I didn't have a chance to test it since my last dives, but if it still fails, I will change the sensors.

Mixaddict · 8th December 2007, 01:07

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dsix36)

I am posting this to give "the rest of the story" to those who were involved with my sensor issue.

For several dives I had a sensor lose its signal (#3). A slight thump on the canister head and it would come back online. I even had a signal worked out with my buddy and the divemaster to let them know when to beat on my canister. I smashed it into a wrecks a couple of times too and that also worked.

Anyway back on track here. I moved the senosor to #2 spot and guess what? Now #2 was falling out. Same thing with #1 spot. Logic told me that the sensor was at fault, I replaced it and have had no problems so far.

Ya Ya, I know. I shouldn't have been diving with a known issue.

Dude,

No offense meant, but what the crap are you thinking diving with a unit that is having intermittent electrical problems ( or any problems for that matter). I am assuming that you have followed the CCR death threads here on Rebreather World. There are a huge percentage of CCR divers who knowingly dived units that were having problems, who are no longer with us. I try to make it a habit not to criticize the diving practices of other divers, but to me this seems pretty irresponsible.

Please be careful!

Just my $.02
Regards,
Randy

**Dsix36** · 8th December 2007, 01:44

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict)

Dude,

No offense meant, but what the crap are you thinking diving with a unit that is having intermittent electrical problems ( or any problems for that matter). I am assuming that you have followed the CCR death threads here on Rebreather World. There are a huge percentage of CCR divers who knowingly dived units that were having problems, who are no longer with us. I try to make it a habit not to criticize the diving practices of other divers, but to me this seems pretty irresponsible.

Please be careful!

Just my $.02
Regards,
Randy

I know that it was stupid to dive a unit with problems.

In my own defense:
1 - My buddy was aware of the problem
2 - No-Deco diving
3 - 4x the necessary bailout
4 - as long as the other 2 sensors were reading the same, I was confident of the electronics
5 - If at any time the sensor would not come back - ABORT, but it always came back.

I appreciate your advice and concern!
Have some green for caring!!!!!

.

CCR-Wrecker · 8th December 2007, 05:35

Green for both!

This is how to communicate, like gentlemen.

Andy

Hanssing · 10th December 2007, 13:19

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dsix36)

1 - My buddy was aware of the problem
2 - No-Deco diving
3 - 4x the necessary bailout
4 - as long as the other 2 sensors were reading the same, I was confident of the electronics
5 - If at any time the sensor would not come back - ABORT, but it always came back.

Do you dive with a FFM?
The consequences of wrong PPO level due to sensor-errors can be fatal!
Hypoxia - lights out, you drown or possible embolize during rescue.
Hyperoxia - lights out, you drown or possible embolize during rescue.

Therefor your reasons 1,2, and 3 are not really relevant unless you are diving with a FFM.
Your reason no. 4 makes more sense, especially if coupled with dil-flushes.

I've also dived with a known bad cell, but I had 3 working ones....

Be carefull

Nicolai

MarcLaukien · 10th December 2007, 13:28

I'm as "guilty" as Dsix 36. I also recently dove with one cell that had intermittent failures. My reasoning for continuing to dive was that the two others sensors read the ppO2 correctly, and the third sensor, when it came back, also showed the same ppO2. Of course, if another sensor would have failed, I would have bailed out immediately.

I guess it all comes down to the level of risk you are willing to take. Rebreather diving is inherently dangerous, so there is no such thing as no-risk Rebreather diving. In this particular situation, my personal assessment was that the added risk was low and acceptable. That being said, I can perfectly understand if other divers have a different opinion.

zmcave · 10th December 2007, 17:18

Glad everything went well at the end.
Just curious, how often did you guys check the cell's accuracy during the dive? (dil. flushing and using the FO2 feature on the HH)
Best,

Zé.

MarcLaukien · 10th December 2007, 18:51

In my case, I didn't have any reasons to doubt the cell accuracy. The first two cells agreed and showed the correct value pre-dive, and the third either showed zero, or the same value as the first and second.

Tony_Q · 10th December 2007, 21:35

Hi Marc,

No criticism, just curious as to why you wouldn't just change out the problem cell.

Shouldn't take to long and would eliminate the most likely source of the problem.

Regards,
Tony

7th December 2007, 23:19	#1 (permalink)
Dsix36 Going Down? Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 976	Optima Hammerhead issue resolved I am posting this to give "the rest of the story" to those who were involved with my sensor issue. For several dives I had a sensor lose its signal (#3). A slight thump on the canister head and it would come back online. I even had a signal worked out with my buddy and the divemaster to let them know when to beat on my canister. I smashed it into a wrecks a couple of times too and that also worked. Anyway back on track here. I moved the senosor to #2 spot and guess what? Now #2 was falling out. Same thing with #1 spot. Logic told me that the sensor was at fault, I replaced it and have had no problems so far. Ya Ya, I know. I shouldn't have been diving with a known issue. __________________ THE MORE THAT I LEARN, THE MORE THAT I STILL NEED TO LEARN!!!!!!
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8th December 2007, 00:01	#2 (permalink)
MarcLaukien Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Optima Other CCR Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South East Florida Posts: 181	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved The same happened to me on my last dives. I thought the problem would be the wiring harness. I didn't have a chance to test it since my last dives, but if it still fails, I will change the sensors.
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8th December 2007, 01:07	#3 (permalink)
Mixaddict Always Learning! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Draper, Utah USA Posts: 454	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved Quote: (Originally Posted by Dsix36) I am posting this to give "the rest of the story" to those who were involved with my sensor issue. For several dives I had a sensor lose its signal (#3). A slight thump on the canister head and it would come back online. I even had a signal worked out with my buddy and the divemaster to let them know when to beat on my canister. I smashed it into a wrecks a couple of times too and that also worked. Anyway back on track here. I moved the senosor to #2 spot and guess what? Now #2 was falling out. Same thing with #1 spot. Logic told me that the sensor was at fault, I replaced it and have had no problems so far. Ya Ya, I know. I shouldn't have been diving with a known issue. Dude, No offense meant, but what the crap are you thinking diving with a unit that is having intermittent electrical problems ( or any problems for that matter). I am assuming that you have followed the CCR death threads here on Rebreather World. There are a huge percentage of CCR divers who knowingly dived units that were having problems, who are no longer with us. I try to make it a habit not to criticize the diving practices of other divers, but to me this seems pretty irresponsible. Please be careful! Just my $.02 Regards, Randy __________________ Randy Thornton (MixAddict) Inspiration, Evolution,Hammerhead & Sentinel CCR Instructor
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8th December 2007, 01:44	#4 (permalink)
Dsix36 Going Down? Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida Posts: 976	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved Quote: (Originally Posted by Mixaddict) Dude, No offense meant, but what the crap are you thinking diving with a unit that is having intermittent electrical problems ( or any problems for that matter). I am assuming that you have followed the CCR death threads here on Rebreather World. There are a huge percentage of CCR divers who knowingly dived units that were having problems, who are no longer with us. I try to make it a habit not to criticize the diving practices of other divers, but to me this seems pretty irresponsible. Please be careful! Just my $.02 Regards, Randy I know that it was stupid to dive a unit with problems. In my own defense: 1 - My buddy was aware of the problem 2 - No-Deco diving 3 - 4x the necessary bailout 4 - as long as the other 2 sensors were reading the same, I was confident of the electronics 5 - If at any time the sensor would not come back - ABORT, but it always came back. I appreciate your advice and concern! Have some green for caring!!!!! . __________________ THE MORE THAT I LEARN, THE MORE THAT I STILL NEED TO LEARN!!!!!!
(Offline)

8th December 2007, 05:35	#5 (permalink)
CCR-Wrecker Classic KISSer #276 Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Posts: 222	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved Green for both! This is how to communicate, like gentlemen. Andy __________________ "I know what you'll find, it's in your mind, it's what you want to see..." Ozzy
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10th December 2007, 13:19	#6 (permalink)
Hanssing flap-flop ..... flap-flop Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 378	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved Quote: (Originally Posted by Dsix36) 1 - My buddy was aware of the problem 2 - No-Deco diving 3 - 4x the necessary bailout 4 - as long as the other 2 sensors were reading the same, I was confident of the electronics 5 - If at any time the sensor would not come back - ABORT, but it always came back. Do you dive with a FFM? The consequences of wrong PPO level due to sensor-errors can be fatal! Hypoxia - lights out, you drown or possible embolize during rescue. Hyperoxia - lights out, you drown or possible embolize during rescue. Therefor your reasons 1,2, and 3 are not really relevant unless you are diving with a FFM. Your reason no. 4 makes more sense, especially if coupled with dil-flushes. I've also dived with a known bad cell, but I had 3 working ones.... Be carefull Nicolai __________________ Woohooo - I can change my rEvo! Its going to be bitchin' tricked out piece of gear
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10th December 2007, 13:28	#7 (permalink)
MarcLaukien Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Optima Other CCR Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South East Florida Posts: 181	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved I'm as "guilty" as Dsix 36. I also recently dove with one cell that had intermittent failures. My reasoning for continuing to dive was that the two others sensors read the ppO2 correctly, and the third sensor, when it came back, also showed the same ppO2. Of course, if another sensor would have failed, I would have bailed out immediately. I guess it all comes down to the level of risk you are willing to take. Rebreather diving is inherently dangerous, so there is no such thing as no-risk Rebreather diving. In this particular situation, my personal assessment was that the added risk was low and acceptable. That being said, I can perfectly understand if other divers have a different opinion. Last edited by MarcLaukien : 10th December 2007 at 13:31.
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10th December 2007, 17:18	#8 (permalink)
zmcave www.rebreather.com.br Current Rebreather/s: Optima Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Optima Dolphin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Brazil Posts: 184	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved Glad everything went well at the end. Just curious, how often did you guys check the cell's accuracy during the dive? (dil. flushing and using the FO2 feature on the HH) Best, Zé.
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10th December 2007, 18:51	#9 (permalink)
MarcLaukien Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Optima Other CCR Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South East Florida Posts: 181	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved In my case, I didn't have any reasons to doubt the cell accuracy. The first two cells agreed and showed the correct value pre-dive, and the third either showed zero, or the same value as the first and second.
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10th December 2007, 21:35	#10 (permalink)
Tony_Q New Member Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 44	Re: Optima Hammerhead issue resolved Hi Marc, No criticism, just curious as to why you wouldn't just change out the problem cell. Shouldn't take to long and would eliminate the most likely source of the problem. Regards, Tony
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