Shearwater CE Testing

bgpartri · 3rd June 2008, 23:36

Shearwater Research Inc. has started down the formal testing road.

The Shearwater Pursuit has now been tested for the following CE standards:
EN 61000-6-1
EN 61000-4-2
EN 61000-4-3
EN 55022:2006 Class B

We have also passed similar tests for other jurisdictions such as the US and Canada.

There are a few reasons why anyone would care about this:

We now comply with EN 61000-6-1 which is a normative standard for 14143. Any electronics on a rebreather must meet this standard at least for the rebreather to pass CE.

Since an issue for meeting EN 61508 is electronics developed by two independent development teams, the Pursuit may now be used to help satisfy that requirement on other rebreathers.

We are pleased to announce that the Innerspace Megalodon and Pursuit have been tested together to meet 61000-6-1.

I have not been a huge fan of CE overall, mainly because it excludes mCCRs so far. I consider it to be a key downfall that the rebreathers with the best safety record have been excluded.

On the other hand, I have to admit that the CE testing and modifications that were required have made the Pursuit a better product.

In the early stages of testing, the Pursuit would occasionally hang after a test sequence. After the hang would trigger a watchdog reset, it would start by resetting to a blank state. In order to pass, the system had to return to its' existing state after any malfunction.

Of course the goal is to never have a bug or get disrupted by someone turning on an HMI light. But in real life, software has bugs.

Now, if for any reason the software hangs, the watchdog reset will fire, and the computer will return to where is left off without losing dive time, tissue compartments, or any other deco information. This is a valuable improvement.

Second, of course, is that through other changes, the Pursuit is much more resistant to electrostatic discharges. That's not a problem underwater, but it can be a real issue on the surface, where losing deco information would still be painful.

We will be continuing down this road in the future. Next up is EN 13139, and then maybe to 14143 in cooperation with rebreather manufacturers.

Bruce

mempilot · 4th June 2008, 04:53

Kudos Bruce, and thanks for the disclosure of past bugs and current fixes. I'm looking forward to mating my Meg with a SW Pusuit and will be in touch soon.

RebreatherNut · 4th June 2008, 05:05

Congrats on this great step.

cheers,

RBN

Humuhumu · 4th June 2008, 19:26

Hi Bruce,

it's a pleasure to read such a honest post, really...

I'm in the SW industry for over 20 years and I agree with you.

I'm waiting for an Inspiration Vision and definitely will buy a Pursuit for OC and second computer for my rebreather.

I appreciate that you consider (and you're right) that CE testing is not completely a waste of time and can also improve the global reliability of a product, even if I (like you) think that CE is not enough (by far) to consider that a product is good or bad !

Cheers

Humuhumu

Marco V · 19th June 2008, 08:35

HI Humuhumu,
I fully agree with your opinion. CE certification is a good thing because of the tests but not enough and a limit for a real competition of different design and ideas.

Scubascooby · 19th June 2008, 10:25

Bruce,

Thanks for publishing the progress of your testing.

I am not a fan of the way that the whole of CE has been implemented but that is a political issue and not one against testing.

**Fun Under Pressure** · 19th June 2008, 18:51

Bruce,
all the best and good luck for the process in testing and get the certifikation. I hope the teamwork with ISC would be great. Thanks for your information.

Alkermes · 22nd June 2008, 07:52

Hi,

It is an excellent news... I wait impatiently for my new Deep Pursuit

Regards Alkermes.

Humuhumu · 23rd June 2008, 16:55

Hi,

I have made my first dive on Saturday, unfortunately OC, as APD will deliver my new unit this week. Anyway, great computer, very easy to use and to configure, easy to understand under water... great product !

I have met Yves, a Megalodon diver, newly member of our dive club and he will also buy one ! Daniel (Inspiration Classic) is also thinking about replacing his VR2 by a Pursuit...

Cheers

Humuhumu

3rd June 2008, 23:36	#1 (permalink)
bgpartri Rebreather Zealot Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Titan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 414	Shearwater CE Testing Shearwater Research Inc. has started down the formal testing road. The Shearwater Pursuit has now been tested for the following CE standards: EN 61000-6-1 EN 61000-4-2 EN 61000-4-3 EN 55022:2006 Class B We have also passed similar tests for other jurisdictions such as the US and Canada. There are a few reasons why anyone would care about this: We now comply with EN 61000-6-1 which is a normative standard for 14143. Any electronics on a rebreather must meet this standard at least for the rebreather to pass CE. Since an issue for meeting EN 61508 is electronics developed by two independent development teams, the Pursuit may now be used to help satisfy that requirement on other rebreathers. We are pleased to announce that the Innerspace Megalodon and Pursuit have been tested together to meet 61000-6-1. I have not been a huge fan of CE overall, mainly because it excludes mCCRs so far. I consider it to be a key downfall that the rebreathers with the best safety record have been excluded. On the other hand, I have to admit that the CE testing and modifications that were required have made the Pursuit a better product. In the early stages of testing, the Pursuit would occasionally hang after a test sequence. After the hang would trigger a watchdog reset, it would start by resetting to a blank state. In order to pass, the system had to return to its' existing state after any malfunction. Of course the goal is to never have a bug or get disrupted by someone turning on an HMI light. But in real life, software has bugs. Now, if for any reason the software hangs, the watchdog reset will fire, and the computer will return to where is left off without losing dive time, tissue compartments, or any other deco information. This is a valuable improvement. Second, of course, is that through other changes, the Pursuit is much more resistant to electrostatic discharges. That's not a problem underwater, but it can be a real issue on the surface, where losing deco information would still be painful. We will be continuing down this road in the future. Next up is EN 13139, and then maybe to 14143 in cooperation with rebreather manufacturers. Bruce __________________ http://www.shearwaterresearch.com Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment.
(Offline)

4th June 2008, 04:53	#2 (permalink)
mempilot Eric Stadtmueller Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Megalodon Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 1,472	Re: Shearwater CE Testing Kudos Bruce, and thanks for the disclosure of past bugs and current fixes. I'm looking forward to mating my Meg with a SW Pusuit and will be in touch soon. __________________ Eric Stadtmueller, otherwise known as, MEM "Da Pilot"
(Offline)

4th June 2008, 05:05	#3 (permalink)
RebreatherNut Rebreather World Greeter Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Ray Other Rebreather/s: Ray Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 696	Re: Shearwater CE Testing Congrats on this great step. cheers, RBN __________________ "One minute to go, Luck-meister! Then I'll be down on you like a buzzard on a gut wagon." - ALF
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4th June 2008, 19:26	#4 (permalink)
Humuhumu Yellow Box Of Delight Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Blue Planet Posts: 119	Re: Shearwater CE Testing Hi Bruce, it's a pleasure to read such a honest post, really... I'm in the SW industry for over 20 years and I agree with you. I'm waiting for an Inspiration Vision and definitely will buy a Pursuit for OC and second computer for my rebreather. I appreciate that you consider (and you're right) that CE testing is not completely a waste of time and can also improve the global reliability of a product, even if I (like you) think that CE is not enough (by far) to consider that a product is good or bad ! Cheers Humuhumu __________________ Humuhumu Nukunuku Apua'a
(Offline)

19th June 2008, 08:35	#5 (permalink)
Marco V New Member Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Italy Posts: 38	Re: Shearwater CE Testing HI Humuhumu, I fully agree with your opinion. CE certification is a good thing because of the tests but not enough and a limit for a real competition of different design and ideas.
(Offline)

19th June 2008, 10:25	#6 (permalink)
Scubascooby Better Off Out of the EU Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Great Britain Posts: 388	Re: Shearwater CE Testing Bruce, Thanks for publishing the progress of your testing. I am not a fan of the way that the whole of CE has been implemented but that is a political issue and not one against testing. __________________ "dove" is NOT the past tense of "dive" Better off OUT of the EU ! www.hugsac.org.uk
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19th June 2008, 18:51	#7 (permalink)
Fun Under Pressure Supporting Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 700	Re: Shearwater CE Testing Bruce, all the best and good luck for the process in testing and get the certifikation. I hope the teamwork with ISC would be great. Thanks for your information. __________________ Cheers Markku Meg # 773 Dive my dreams is my life-task
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22nd June 2008, 07:52	#8 (permalink)
Alkermes New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Spain Posts: 34	Re: Shearwater CE Testing Hi, It is an excellent news... I wait impatiently for my new Deep Pursuit Regards Alkermes.
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23rd June 2008, 16:55	#9 (permalink)
Humuhumu Yellow Box Of Delight Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Blue Planet Posts: 119	Re: Shearwater CE Testing Hi, I have made my first dive on Saturday, unfortunately OC, as APD will deliver my new unit this week. Anyway, great computer, very easy to use and to configure, easy to understand under water... great product ! I have met Yves, a Megalodon diver, newly member of our dive club and he will also buy one ! Daniel (Inspiration Classic) is also thinking about replacing his VR2 by a Pursuit... Cheers Humuhumu __________________ Humuhumu Nukunuku Apua'a
(Offline)

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