Heated Under Vests

Pelagian · 10th April 2008, 12:53

Have any of the Q-vest users here, had any shocking issues if/when the vest gets wet?

Does it still work when it's wet?

Cheers

Seb

USSMEG · 30th April 2008, 14:41

Ok this past weekend I got to try the heated vest in the water. We headed out to dive one of the wrecks in 170’ of water North of Boston. As I dress I took my first battery and turned the vest on high to preheat it, then we stood around a while when we tried to grapple the wreck. At this point I swapped to a new fresh battery and closed up the suit with the heat set on low. It took a while to get in and dress. As I dressed I flushed the dry suit with argon to take get all the argon I could.

When I reached the bottom at 170’ and check the water temp, it was 39o, after looking around a bit (maybe 5 minutes) we had missed the wreck. So up I headed, I checked the temp again at 20’ and found it at 45o. I as I watch another diver swim around the line, I hung to be as still as possible and not generate my own heat. I was in the water about 35 minutes and was not cold at all. I could feel it was cool inside the suit, but I was very comfortable. I think the next dive I'll set it to medium, and stay a lot longer.
Later Paul

Pelagian · 30th April 2008, 15:23

Hey Paul

You couldn't get your buddy to unzip your drysuit next time your underwater and see how the vest works when soaked through? I'm especially ineterested as to whether or not you get zapped? You know just to satify my curiosity before I buy one.

Cheers

Seb

Mikel-Deko · 30th April 2008, 15:36

Hi
I will be all the next week in Scapa Flow trying a Fa&mi heated system.
I will tell you in some days...
Best
Mikel

USSMEG · 30th April 2008, 15:46

Quote: (Originally Posted by Pelagian)

Hey Paul

You couldn't get your buddy to unzip your drysuit next time your underwater and see how the vest works when soaked through? I'm especially ineterested as to whether or not you get zapped? You know just to satify my curiosity before I buy one.

Cheers

Seb

Getting Zapped I don't think would be a problem as its a small Lithium Battery. But I'm not sure I would want to soak the thing in salt water

it may be a BIG problem if I did.
Paul

Gadget · 30th April 2008, 16:16

Quote: (Originally Posted by mwynd)

Hi all,

Just wondering if any of you have had any experience with heated under vests? I've recently moved from Sydney to LA and to say that the water's a bit colder here would be a massive understatement!

O3 HUV, Typhoon Icebreaker, Golem Gear Q-Vest. Any others? Pros/cons?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Mike.

Hi Mike

I have the O3 HUV which is a fami vest and an apex suit inflator with the switch built in.

it definatley has my vote.

much like the golem gear one as phil says you tend to turn it on and off. The first time i used it was in january on rebreather try dives. After 4.5 hrs in the water i had gone through two divemasters but i was still going and warm.

Phil · 1st May 2008, 12:56

Depending on the situation/configuration I might have from time to time to run my suit inflation from a bailout with high O2 content gas, such as a Nitrox 80. Now with the heated under vest on, this is definitely a risk in case the vest would produce a spark. The impact is very high but the probability is very low from what I see.

Anybody experience this before, would you be prepare to take that risk?

Cheers,

se2schul · 1st May 2008, 13:15

Well, the high FO2 mix would be at low pressure, but it could still be a concern if the FO2 is high enough. I know a spark will ignite pure O2 at ambient pressure very easily. I'm not sure if it will ignite 80% O2, or if it will ignite the result of blowing a bit of 80% into a drysuit that is mostly filled with air or argon.

I'm doubtful that this is a big concern in practice (since the suit will have low FO2 gas to dilute the higher FO2 gas you might add), yet I wouldn't be comfortable trying this. The best solution would probably be to not allow yourself to get into that situation in the first place. Carry adequate suit inflation gas. You can always get a drysuit infusion from your buddy - even if it looks funny. Take the redundant inflation whips off your 80% bottle and if you feel you really need them, move them to a lower FO2 bottle so you'll never have to worry about combustion inside your drysuit

USSMEG · 1st May 2008, 13:24

POOOOF

Hey what was that? It was Phil.

and his vest filled with O/2.

Later Paul

10th April 2008, 12:53	#21 (permalink)
Pelagian Multi-Circuit Meg Monkey! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Optima Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 275	Re: Heated Under Vests Have any of the Q-vest users here, had any shocking issues if/when the vest gets wet? Does it still work when it's wet? Cheers Seb __________________ 'Because... I was Inverted!'
(Offline)

30th April 2008, 14:41	#22 (permalink)
USSMEG USSMEG Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mass Posts: 267	Re: Heated Under Vests Ok this past weekend I got to try the heated vest in the water. We headed out to dive one of the wrecks in 170’ of water North of Boston. As I dress I took my first battery and turned the vest on high to preheat it, then we stood around a while when we tried to grapple the wreck. At this point I swapped to a new fresh battery and closed up the suit with the heat set on low. It took a while to get in and dress. As I dressed I flushed the dry suit with argon to take get all the argon I could. When I reached the bottom at 170’ and check the water temp, it was 39o, after looking around a bit (maybe 5 minutes) we had missed the wreck. So up I headed, I checked the temp again at 20’ and found it at 45o. I as I watch another diver swim around the line, I hung to be as still as possible and not generate my own heat. I was in the water about 35 minutes and was not cold at all. I could feel it was cool inside the suit, but I was very comfortable. I think the next dive I'll set it to medium, and stay a lot longer. Later Paul
(Offline)

30th April 2008, 15:23	#23 (permalink)
Pelagian Multi-Circuit Meg Monkey! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Sport Kiss Optima Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 275	Re: Heated Under Vests Hey Paul You couldn't get your buddy to unzip your drysuit next time your underwater and see how the vest works when soaked through? I'm especially ineterested as to whether or not you get zapped? You know just to satify my curiosity before I buy one. Cheers Seb __________________ 'Because... I was Inverted!'
(Offline)

30th April 2008, 15:36	#24 (permalink)
Mikel-Deko Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Basque Country -Sp- Posts: 408	Re: Heated Under Vests Hi I will be all the next week in Scapa Flow trying a Fa&mi heated system. I will tell you in some days... Best Mikel __________________ Mikel-Deko Basque Country www.olatu.net "DIR is the nanny state for divers who cannot think on their own" Ron Micjan
(Online)

30th April 2008, 15:46	#25 (permalink)
USSMEG USSMEG Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mass Posts: 267	Re: Heated Under Vests Quote: (Originally Posted by Pelagian) Hey Paul You couldn't get your buddy to unzip your drysuit next time your underwater and see how the vest works when soaked through? I'm especially ineterested as to whether or not you get zapped? You know just to satify my curiosity before I buy one. Cheers Seb Getting Zapped I don't think would be a problem as its a small Lithium Battery. But I'm not sure I would want to soak the thing in salt water it may be a BIG problem if I did. Paul
(Offline)

30th April 2008, 16:16	#26 (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: 159	Re: Heated Under Vests Quote: (Originally Posted by mwynd) Hi all, Just wondering if any of you have had any experience with heated under vests? I've recently moved from Sydney to LA and to say that the water's a bit colder here would be a massive understatement! O3 HUV, Typhoon Icebreaker, Golem Gear Q-Vest. Any others? Pros/cons? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Mike. Hi Mike I have the O3 HUV which is a fami vest and an apex suit inflator with the switch built in. it definatley has my vote. much like the golem gear one as phil says you tend to turn it on and off. The first time i used it was in january on rebreather try dives. After 4.5 hrs in the water i had gone through two divemasters but i was still going and warm. __________________ Si Lawrence www.divehdi.com
(Offline)

1st May 2008, 12:56	#27 (permalink)
Phil Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ouroboros rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon rEvo Other CCR Join Date: May 2005 Location: Geneva-Switzerland Posts: 169	Re: Heated Under Vests Depending on the situation/configuration I might have from time to time to run my suit inflation from a bailout with high O2 content gas, such as a Nitrox 80. Now with the heated under vest on, this is definitely a risk in case the vest would produce a spark. The impact is very high but the probability is very low from what I see. Anybody experience this before, would you be prepare to take that risk? Cheers, __________________ Phil __________________ CCR/OC Instructor CCR Training to Mixed Gas in Switzerland, France, UK & Germany on Megalodon/KISS/Ouroboros/rEvo/Inspiration/Evolution/Sentinel www.zerogravitydiving.com
(Offline)

1st May 2008, 13:15	#28 (permalink)
se2schul New Member Current Rebreather/s: RB80 / Clone Other Rebreather/s: RB80 / Clone Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 62	Re: Heated Under Vests Well, the high FO2 mix would be at low pressure, but it could still be a concern if the FO2 is high enough. I know a spark will ignite pure O2 at ambient pressure very easily. I'm not sure if it will ignite 80% O2, or if it will ignite the result of blowing a bit of 80% into a drysuit that is mostly filled with air or argon. I'm doubtful that this is a big concern in practice (since the suit will have low FO2 gas to dilute the higher FO2 gas you might add), yet I wouldn't be comfortable trying this. The best solution would probably be to not allow yourself to get into that situation in the first place. Carry adequate suit inflation gas. You can always get a drysuit infusion from your buddy - even if it looks funny. Take the redundant inflation whips off your 80% bottle and if you feel you really need them, move them to a lower FO2 bottle so you'll never have to worry about combustion inside your drysuit
(Offline)

1st May 2008, 13:24	#29 (permalink)
USSMEG USSMEG Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mass Posts: 267	Re: Heated Under Vests POOOOF Hey what was that? It was Phil. and his vest filled with O/2. Later Paul Last edited by USSMEG : 1st May 2008 at 13:25. Reason: wrong name
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