sofnolime question

Jred · 18th November 2006, 15:56

At this time of year diving in my area can get quite sporadic. After a 30 minute, 10 meter, skills practice dive, it might be a couple of weeks before we can get out again to do the same dive. Would you change the scrubber for the next dive?
If not how long would you leave it before throwing it out. I know I can use the temp stick to monitor the active state of the sofnolime but I would like to know once the sofnolime has been activated, does continue to degrade while it is in the scrubber and stored away.

Pierre Farrugia · 18th November 2006, 18:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by Jred)

At this time of year diving in my area can get quite sporadic. After a 30 minute, 10 meter, skills practice dive, it might be a couple of weeks before we can get out again to do the same dive. Would you change the scrubber for the next dive?
If not how long would you leave it before throwing it out. I know I can use the temp stick to monitor the active state of the sofnolime but I would like to know once the sofnolime has been activated, does continue to degrade while it is in the scrubber and stored away.

I have left it for 1 month no problem, when bad weather hits! but normally 2-3weeks!

**Gill Envy** · 19th November 2006, 01:53

Quote: (Originally Posted by Pierre Farrugia)

I have left it for 1 month no problem, when bad weather hits! but normally 2-3weeks!

ditto on that. and I leave the canister out overnight to dry excess moisture and then bag it. As far as reusing sorb, time between dives is not nearly as critical as depth and time on subsequant dives. I tend to do my deepest dive first, then subsequant dives shallower, paying attention to work load as well.

What i've gathered so far, is that as you go deeper and the gas becomes denser, co2 can pass by more granules of scrubber as it goes down the stack before getting "captured". This spreads the reaction front out, deeper into the stack, making it more diffuse and reducing the portion of truly unused sorb disproportionately. by making subsequant dives shallower, you safeguard against what would otherwise be an unpredictable point of breakthrough.

ahh, that's how i think of it anyway

**nigelh** · 19th November 2006, 08:18

Quote: (Originally Posted by Jred)

If not how long would you leave it before throwing it out. I know I can use the temp stick to monitor the active state of the sofnolime but I would like to know once the sofnolime has been activated, does continue to degrade while it is in the scrubber and stored away.

Activated?
Degrades?
The chemistry of a scrubber is too simple for that...
This is like the people asking how long an air fill lasts.

I leave the head off overnight to dry things out then close it up again until I want to dive it again. Then I make the decision whether the planned day's diving warrents a refil. The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation.

**Gill Envy** · 19th November 2006, 16:04

Quote: (Originally Posted by nigelh)

Activated?
Degrades?
The chemistry of a scrubber is too simple for that...
This is like the people asking how long an air fill lasts.

I leave the head off overnight to dry things out then close it up again until I want to dive it again. Then I make the decision whether the planned day's diving warrents a refil. The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation.

nigelh,
I stopped storing our units closed up because we experienced wacky o2 readings that seemed to be due to excess moisture in the sensors....has this been an issue for you?

Jred · 19th November 2006, 19:14

The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation.[/quote]

at all ?? would you leave it for 2 months before repeating the same type of dive ??

Joe · 19th November 2006, 19:42

FWIW, I have a friend who did just that and took a serious CO2 hit (could barely deploy his bailout) and another friend who, while diving a reused scrubber, was unexpectedly physically task loaded and had to get off the loop for a few breaths because the scrubber couldn't keep up.

Max I'll go is 2 weeks, usually less and only if they are shallow, low work load dives. Anything other than that warrants dumping it IMO. Your life is worth more than $20. - 30 bucks.....

Quote: (Originally Posted by Jred)

The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation.

at all ?? would you leave it for 2 months before repeating the same type of dive ??[/quote]

**PhilSiswick** · 20th November 2006, 10:51

Quote: (Originally Posted by Gill Envy)

nigelh,
I stopped storing our units closed up because we experienced wacky o2 readings that seemed to be due to excess moisture in the sensors....has this been an issue for you?

What I've picked up from various discussions on here is to store the Vision with the head off and a scrubber cover in place (Narked @ 90). That allows the head to dry off naturally and stay dry, while keeping the scrubber dry too.

YMMV of course.

Cheers,

zepp · 20th November 2006, 12:13

Quote: (Originally Posted by PhilSiswick)

What I've picked up from various discussions on here is to store the Vision with the head off and a scrubber cover in place (Narked @ 90). That allows the head to dry off naturally and stay dry, while keeping the scrubber dry too.

YMMV of course.

Cheers,

I do similar with my KISS using a scrubber cap from Narked at 90. It came in when i was up in scapa for the week. I just removed the scrubber, checking for any water, then sealed it which gave time for the head and cells to dry before getting in the water the next day.

**Gill Envy** · 20th November 2006, 15:40

phil and zep, thanks for the feedback.

18th November 2006, 15:56	#1 (permalink)
Jred New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ireland Posts: 9	sofnolime question At this time of year diving in my area can get quite sporadic. After a 30 minute, 10 meter, skills practice dive, it might be a couple of weeks before we can get out again to do the same dive. Would you change the scrubber for the next dive? If not how long would you leave it before throwing it out. I know I can use the temp stick to monitor the active state of the sofnolime but I would like to know once the sofnolime has been activated, does continue to degrade while it is in the scrubber and stored away.
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18th November 2006, 18:12	#2 (permalink)
Pierre Farrugia Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Malta Posts: 636	Re: sofnolime question Quote: (Originally Posted by Jred) At this time of year diving in my area can get quite sporadic. After a 30 minute, 10 meter, skills practice dive, it might be a couple of weeks before we can get out again to do the same dive. Would you change the scrubber for the next dive? If not how long would you leave it before throwing it out. I know I can use the temp stick to monitor the active state of the sofnolime but I would like to know once the sofnolime has been activated, does continue to degrade while it is in the scrubber and stored away. I have left it for 1 month no problem, when bad weather hits! but normally 2-3weeks! __________________ Pierre Farrugia My wife told me " If you don't quit diving I'm going to leave you" My reply " God, I'll miss you" www.atlam.org www.divemed.com
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19th November 2006, 01:53	#3 (permalink)
Gill Envy Shearwater Copis Divers Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: seattle Posts: 1,314	Re: sofnolime question Quote: (Originally Posted by Pierre Farrugia) I have left it for 1 month no problem, when bad weather hits! but normally 2-3weeks! ditto on that. and I leave the canister out overnight to dry excess moisture and then bag it. As far as reusing sorb, time between dives is not nearly as critical as depth and time on subsequant dives. I tend to do my deepest dive first, then subsequant dives shallower, paying attention to work load as well. What i've gathered so far, is that as you go deeper and the gas becomes denser, co2 can pass by more granules of scrubber as it goes down the stack before getting "captured". This spreads the reaction front out, deeper into the stack, making it more diffuse and reducing the portion of truly unused sorb disproportionately. by making subsequant dives shallower, you safeguard against what would otherwise be an unpredictable point of breakthrough. ahh, that's how i think of it anyway __________________ Gill Envy ...Because I wasn't born with gills! ><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>
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19th November 2006, 08:18	#4 (permalink)
nigelh New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other CCR Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brighton, Sussex, UK Posts: 838	Re: sofnolime question Quote: (Originally Posted by Jred) If not how long would you leave it before throwing it out. I know I can use the temp stick to monitor the active state of the sofnolime but I would like to know once the sofnolime has been activated, does continue to degrade while it is in the scrubber and stored away. Activated? Degrades? The chemistry of a scrubber is too simple for that... This is like the people asking how long an air fill lasts. I leave the head off overnight to dry things out then close it up again until I want to dive it again. Then I make the decision whether the planned day's diving warrents a refil. The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation. __________________ nigelh
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19th November 2006, 16:04	#5 (permalink)
Gill Envy Shearwater Copis Divers Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: seattle Posts: 1,314	Re: sofnolime question Quote: (Originally Posted by nigelh) Activated? Degrades? The chemistry of a scrubber is too simple for that... This is like the people asking how long an air fill lasts. I leave the head off overnight to dry things out then close it up again until I want to dive it again. Then I make the decision whether the planned day's diving warrents a refil. The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation. nigelh, I stopped storing our units closed up because we experienced wacky o2 readings that seemed to be due to excess moisture in the sensors....has this been an issue for you? __________________ Gill Envy ...Because I wasn't born with gills! ><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>
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19th November 2006, 19:14	#6 (permalink)
Jred New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: ireland Posts: 9	Re: sofnolime question The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation.[/quote] at all ?? would you leave it for 2 months before repeating the same type of dive ??
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19th November 2006, 19:42	#7 (permalink)
Joe Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 273	Re: sofnolime question FWIW, I have a friend who did just that and took a serious CO2 hit (could barely deploy his bailout) and another friend who, while diving a reused scrubber, was unexpectedly physically task loaded and had to get off the loop for a few breaths because the scrubber couldn't keep up. Max I'll go is 2 weeks, usually less and only if they are shallow, low work load dives. Anything other than that warrants dumping it IMO. Your life is worth more than $20. - 30 bucks..... Quote: (Originally Posted by Jred) The time since last dive doesn't enter the equation. at all ?? would you leave it for 2 months before repeating the same type of dive ??[/quote]
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20th November 2006, 10:51	#8 (permalink)
PhilSiswick Phil Siswick, Tango Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 996	Re: sofnolime question Quote: (Originally Posted by Gill Envy) nigelh, I stopped storing our units closed up because we experienced wacky o2 readings that seemed to be due to excess moisture in the sensors....has this been an issue for you? What I've picked up from various discussions on here is to store the Vision with the head off and a scrubber cover in place (Narked @ 90). That allows the head to dry off naturally and stay dry, while keeping the scrubber dry too. YMMV of course. Cheers, __________________ Phil (WSKD 0001) I have always felt that the dive I am on is not nearly important as the dives I plan to be on the rest of my life. Tom Rose, 2007 The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure thing boat never gets far from shore. Charles A. Lindbergh www.hugsac.org.uk
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20th November 2006, 12:13	#9 (permalink)
zepp "Dyson with Death" daddy Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: midlands Posts: 275	Re: sofnolime question Quote: (Originally Posted by PhilSiswick) What I've picked up from various discussions on here is to store the Vision with the head off and a scrubber cover in place (Narked @ 90). That allows the head to dry off naturally and stay dry, while keeping the scrubber dry too. YMMV of course. Cheers, I do similar with my KISS using a scrubber cap from Narked at 90. It came in when i was up in scapa for the week. I just removed the scrubber, checking for any water, then sealed it which gave time for the head and cells to dry before getting in the water the next day. __________________ I'm not a bad person.....HONEST my homebuild photos http://www.rebreatherworld.com/photo...ery.php/cat/48 CLASSIC KISS #052
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20th November 2006, 15:40	#10 (permalink)
Gill Envy Shearwater Copis Divers Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Other CCR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: seattle Posts: 1,314	Re: sofnolime question phil and zep, thanks for the feedback. __________________ Gill Envy ...Because I wasn't born with gills! ><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>><(°>
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