rEvo electronic options

JtM

Hi all,

Just wanted to see what peoples thoughts are regarding the rEvo electronics options...

It will be my first rebreather - and currently planning on going down the hybrid route - meaning i can learn to run it manually in the first instance, and as i build experience up use the other options available...

From what i've learned so far, the two revo dream + shearwater (i plan to get the trimix/deco version) option seems to be the most common/preffered solution. I know there are other trains of thought re having only one dream, so thought i'd ask what others experience is before I move forward!

Thanks,

Justin.

paulraymaekers

hi Justin, just before leaving for egypt
the 1 or 2 rEvodreams: depends a bit on what diving you do: on remote locations, or for liveaboards, or longer trps, if one of the electronics would die... if you have 3, well you simply continue your diving!

just a matter of redundancy

paul

ps... no worries, shearwater and dreams are very reliable, they don't fail quickly

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silentscuba

By far, having to rEvo Dreams and a Shearwater is the most reliable way to go that gives you the most options with two complete systems for monitoring 3-4 cells.

Shearwater hooked to 3 cells with one Dream sharing 2 of those 3 cells and then one Dream monitoring the 4th cell totally independent of the rest of the system, this gives you a quick independent way of validating that your integrated deco computer is reading correctly.

Just my thoughts, have been using this system for a couple of years now and I feel very comfortable with it's functionality and reliability.

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Loanwolf

I second Paul and Curt the redundancy is nice to have if you have a problem. and it is not all that much more money.

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Greg


Life is Short do as Much as You can in as Short of Period of Time as Possible.

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warjarrett

This is just one diver's opinion, given that there are many options to diving a rEvo safely and enjoyably. After having owned 4 rebreathers (both fully automatic and fully manual), I have put a lot of thought into the differences between units, and how I prefer to monitor and control PO2.

First, I wish to say that controlling and monitoring PO2 do not (for me) differentiate the rEvo from other rebreathers. I really don't care much if a rebreather is fully automatic or manual. In both cases I MUST be constantly aware of my PO2. It doesn't matter whether it is a solenoid or my finger that performs O2 addition. I need to be equally active in keeping PO2 under control. Same story for how many PO2 displays I have and where they are located. Their only purpose is to KNOW my PO2 at all times.

The great diving that a rEvo provides comes from its ease of breathing, its comfortable underwater weight and balance, and its physical layout, which makes it easy to dive and maintain. You get these great advantages no matter what options of PO2 monitoring and control you choose.

So the second part to this expression of MY OPINION is the direct answer to your question. Whether you add electronics, add cell-monitoring computers, add rEvoDreams or just choose the simple minimum, the actual diving experience with a rEvo will not change. These are redundant safety features, not diving experience features.

OK, OK, it could be argued that the deeper or more extensive technical situations you plan to get involved with will determine how much redundancy is appropriate for you. And, diving in remote locations may also add need for more redundancy.

For me, simple is better. I like two rEvoDreams monitoring 4 cells, and a fixed PO2 computer. As a more expensive alternative, I would be just as happy diving one rEvoDream and one 3-cell monitoring computer - this provides a little more information but also a little more complexity, it could be done with either 4 cells or 5 cells. Four cells works just fine, and if one cell goes koo-koo, you will know it right away. These two approaches offer simplicity and effectiveness, with redundancy. I see no reason to add more.

I have already dived with a solenoid (on a Prism Topaz), tried adding a 5th O2 cell and attached a 3rd cell-monitoring device (on my rEvo). As of now, I prefer manual O2 addition, with 4 cells, monitored by 2 independant devices (either two rEvoDreams or one rEvoDream plus one 3-cell monitoring computer). Either of these is a simple set-up, and already more redundant than the 3-cell set-ups that most rebreather divers consider safe and effective.

Mark Chase

I had the Shearwater and two dreams.

I find the Shearwater triple Pp02 display makes for logical simple diving. The two dreams were clipped off to hip D rings running behind my shoulder and I never used the displays during the bottom phase of the dive. They were only there to provide redundancy to the Shearwater. During ascent Id use the one on the 02 side to monitor 02 (its attached to the SPG) and check display health against the Shearwater.

A bit of discipline is required using rEvo dreams as they don't have wet switches and they are independently calibrated which is good and a pain at the same time.

You need to do three separate calibration checks pre dive and make sure both Dreams are on before jumping in the water. You can switch on in the water but thats not smart if your primary has just gone down.

The down side with the dreams is the HUD displays a range and not specific PP02. For short shallow dives (less than 50m) this isn't a problem just so long as you studdy the hand sets during ascent to assess cell health. For long deep dives you need to know your Dreams are tracking set point properly. This means un clipping and monitoring both hand sets.

Id never choose to dive this way as its too much time studying the hand sets and not enough studying the wreck. However as a redundancy option they are fine.

Id have been happy with one dream for redundancy but if you can afford two? Go for it, because they don't get in the way and more is better when considering redundancy.


ATB

Mark

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OceanOpportunity

Apples and oranges...I view the above as an upside for mCCR diving. I currently dive one Dream with a Shearwater computer. My philosophy being that the HUD is my constant/ongoing indicator of being with range - and its pretty darn close to tracking spot on as you can set your green bandwidth from say .95 to 1.1 (or the higher option). For all my diving, I'm looking at a computer AT LEAST every few minutes (probably more like once/per min) for depth/time/deco/etc anyway, so can cross check my PO2 there.

I keep the 2nd dream in my spares kit and can easily field swap if there were a problem with the first one.

In any case, I agree with warjarett's post entirely. Today its almost inevitable to pick your chassis, and pick your electronics seperately. You can't go wrong with the rEvo, and with all of the electronics options out there you'll find the right set for you....but give the Dreams a chance. I was skeptical, but now love them.

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Dsix36

The system that works best for me is a hardwired pursuit (soon to be a predator) reading 1,2,3 and the shearwater HUD reading 1,2,4. I also have a stand alone pursuit that is set to constant PO2 for a backup deco computer (I don't like using tables).

The dreams do offer true redundency with the digital readout, but they just weren't for me.

I will be running a fischer cable to the stand alone pursuit and run it off the same cells as the HUD. This will give me the digital readout for the HUD and realtime deco in the event of a primary failure. My setup will end up being configured very much like the hammerheads were on my optima.

PS - don't let Kevin read this, he might think I am going soft in my old age.

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Loanwolf

High range is 1.24-1.40
Low range is 0.95-1.10

Most alway you would be diving the high range.

I like the Dream HUD's as I do not have to think and count flashes of the same colored lights as with the Shearwater HUD. Granted yes you can tell what you exact PO2 is by the HUD but you have to think about it. I have several friends who love them but I find it too consuming.

Having just a simple:

Green is go.
Yellow is low.
Red is high.

I nice for me. Then I can concentrate on those and what is around me.

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Greg


Life is Short do as Much as You can in as Short of Period of Time as Possible.

Home is Where I hang my hat at the moment.

sherwood

I personally like the rEvoDreams and HUD combination. I have a hardwired Pursuit reading cells 1,2 & 3 and the dream is reading cells 3 & 4, also a second Pursuit with fixed PO2. I check my pursuits frequently throughout the dive for depth, time, deco and PO2. Personally, I would rather not have a HUD blinking unless it is trying to get my attention, which may mean I should pay more attention to my PO2.

There is no right or wrong solution here, it's what works right for you and you alone.

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Sherwood
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