Drager Ray Overview

**Dave1w** · 2nd February 2008, 10:50

Well it seems that as no one has come a long and published an article yet on the Drager Ray, so I may actually get round to doing something and making a contribution at last. I don't know how to post to teh library, so I'll put it here for now.

Here is a quick run down of I guess a pretty simple, but pretty complete little (SC) Rebreather offering.

(Please don't take this as instructions of any sort)

The basic Ray is of course, a semi closed rebreather. From the factory, it comes set up for 50% through a combined dosage/bypass unit, run from a Drager depth compensating 1st stage.

The scrubber holds about 1.25 kg and is rated to 70 mins, or 110 mins depending on where you live apparently!

The whole thing is integrated into a jacket like BC, with over the shoulder counterlungs, and a 4 or 5 litre drager bottle crossways across the base of the thing.

A word about the pneumatics set up: As it is a normalish 1st stage, they also thoughtfully provide a bailout or octopus reg for you or your buddy to use, and a direct feed for the BC. The fitting on the 1st Stage is a special Drager one, but adaptors can be found easy enough.

From Drager, you have a choice of a 40% or a 32% dosage device for 30m and 40m diving respectively (with the proviso you use a biger 7 or 8 litre tank). You can also get a 100% instructor only pool jet, with a pretty low flow.

The flow rates on the Ray are a little higher than on the Dolphin, for no other reason I presume than to add further safety. As standard it comes without any PPO2 monitoring, but a Oxygauge can be added to the base of the scrubber (Note, this is in the exhale side and will give a lower than actual reading than what you are breathing).

Getting it ready to dive is all by hand, with Drager's P-ports used throughout, and all snap together.

Ok, to get it ready to dive, I guess you would start with the scrubber. The locking ring comes off to allow the base of the scrubber to be removed. Put a cap over the centre tube, and you can fill it with your choice of sorb to the marked line. The base has a spring loaded whatsit, which helps to keep the sorb packed OK.

With the base back on you can slip the locking ring in place.

Then the reg attaches and you fight with the hoses until you get them somewhere near.

The scrubber sits in the back of the unit, where the traditional tank would be.

It clips in to the P-Ports (- taking note of which way round it is. The gas goes down to the bottom of the scrubber then back up through the sorb.) and is retained by a velcro flaps, then a strap. Weight can added in the pockets to overcome bouyancy of the thing. (There is quite a lot of foam used in the construction, which forces you to use a lot of extra lead - you can cut it out). Drager thoughtfully provide a list attached to let you check that you have done everything correctly, which is a nice touch. Take time to read and follow the predive check list for items such as checking the DSV flows the right way, pos and neg tests, checking the flow rate and gas mix etc.

The bottle sits below the scrubber in place, across the bottom. The reg and dosage run it up along the side of the scrubber and the feed for the bouyancy goes through the hole, there is a short hose across to the dosage where it goes in the p-port behind the right shoulder. Once the tanks and scrubber are in a band comes up under the tank and clips in place holding everyting snug.

The Ray loop is pretty popular with homebuilders, and clicks in to the colour coded P-Ports on each shoulder (after you have checked one way valves by blocking each end, and breathig to make sure the flow is one way. Notice the loop goes from your right to your left. Also, on CE units, you have an OPV on the front of the exhale counterlung, as well as one behind your left shoulder.

Before every dive it is important to test the flow from the dosage, using the dwyer gauge that come swith the new Ray. For 50%, the spec is around 8.25 litres a minute.

If OK, you can insert the dosage into the counterlung.

(The bit in the white loop)

It is worth checking that all the p-ports are properly seated, and the clips engaged well. Now loosen the back and check everything you have done or forgotten to do on the checklist again!

The BC doesn't have a backpack, so for larger people (like me) when you tighten on to your back, you can squeeze the counterlungs a little, which is less than ideal, so I added a back pack with seperate harness to avoid this. Then on diving it with a wetsuit, a removed it and got on fine!

The reg can routed to a convenient location, and the contents gauge attached nicely. There are two further pockets in the BC, where you can safey drop more lead to get you down....

OK, I think that is it, and as you can see, it is a very basic, straightforward system.

Yes, it is limited, and yes it can on the face of it offer little value, but possibly if we looked at a holiday situation, where we have nitrox on tap, is is an alternative to single tank diving for a nice 20 or so metre bimble, and is pretty handy at that point with quietness letting you approach more life.

So is it any good for anything else? Well I don't know.I guess you could quite easily, turn it into a CCR, but that is for someone else to explain.

Dave

teomannaskali · 2nd February 2008, 13:28

Thank you very much for the post. It was most informative.

OTS and all, it seems that the ray is better designed unit than the dolphin (at least it seems better to me)... How is the wob compared to the dolphin.

Teoman

bletso · 2nd February 2008, 22:01

I have used the Ray twice and was not impressed with it. For one thing it is not user friendly for cleaning. It has severe limitations as compared to the Dolphin. But it was cheap.

Dale

**SeaBass** · 2nd February 2008, 23:56

Quote: (Originally Posted by bletso)

I have used the Ray twice and was not impressed with it. For one thing it is not user friendly for cleaning. It has severe limitations as compared to the Dolphin.

For the benefit of those who haven't dove or used the Ray... can you elaborate?

Thom

**Dave1w** · 3rd February 2008, 04:42

"I have used the Ray twice and was not impressed with it. For one thing it is not user friendly for cleaning. It has severe limitations as compared to the Dolphin. But it was cheap."

The counterlungs are not detachable, so to clean them you are messing around with the whole BC / counterlungs affair, hanging it over the bath etc. I think the Ray was aimed a lot at the rental market, so you would then have a Dive B**ch clean the thing out for you afterwards.

As standard, it is a 50%, 20m bit of kit, and the scrubber is only good for 110 mins. The dolphin from the box, is good for 30ish m, with the optional 32% jet taking it to 40m, and a 150 - 180 min scrubber

There is a lot of bouyancy in the unit, so you need a hell of a lot of lead, unless you cut out a lot of the foam. It takes a while to get used to it, but it does breath nicely. Oh yes, it is also half the price of the dolphin.

Dave

**SeaBass** · 3rd February 2008, 07:19

I have a couple of Rays and enjoy diving them but like you am also aware of thier limitations. However I believe they are excellent starter rigs.

To further comment on the limitations mentioned.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave1w)

The counterlungs are not detachable, so to clean them you are messing around with the whole BC / counterlungs affair, hanging it over the bath etc.

I attached a portion of the Drager Ray manual where it refers to post dive maintenance (see below). Evidently all that is required is disconnecting p-ports, rinsing with hot water and hanging it up to dry.

That's pretty "user friendly" cleaning to me.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave1w)

As standard, it is a 50%, 20m bit of kit, and the scrubber is only good for 110 mins. The dolphin from the box, is good for 30ish m, with the optional 32% jet taking it to 40m, and a 150 - 180 min scrubber

Although I agree the scrubber is a weak point 110 min (close to 2 hours) ... is not a severe limitation to most since many like to change scrubber when they change gas.

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave1w)

There is a lot of bouyancy in the unit, so you need a hell of a lot of lead, unless you cut out a lot of the foam.

I will agree on this being kind of a pain. But I typically have to add only about 5 lbs more than other gear. A dissapointment for what appears to be such a compact, light rig but hey... have you ever hoisted a Meg on your back?

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave1w)

It takes a while to get used to it, but it does breath nicely. Oh yes, it is also half the price of the dolphin.

Try between $400 to $800 for a divable rig. Not a bad investment for a starter. Can be upgraded (as you grow) to a full blown Technical Rig but that is a subject for another thread.

Thom

.

**Dave1w** · 3rd February 2008, 07:38

I fully agree, for what they are they are pretty neat, and you can get round most of the issues.

Now who is going to put up a description of how they closed it

teomannaskali · 3rd February 2008, 13:55

I am wondering about the wob limitations of the unit. Attach a cislunar scrubber on it that has more time and a HH head and would it be just as good as a meg (wob wise). or are the hoses too small... DSV to restrictive ... cl's floaty etc ...

The scrubber has pports on it so you could basically put anything there.

And I know those will cost... I know...

How would you say it compares to the IDA's for example.

About the locking mechanism of the scrubber...
all the hose connectors of the submatix use that same design scaled down.

**dz3866** · 3rd February 2008, 14:18

Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave1w)

I fully agree, for what they are they are pretty neat, and you can get round most of the issues.

Now who is going to put up a description of how they closed it

I closed one a few years ago, 13cuft air, 6cuft 02. kiss valve, and pauls evodream with hud. Very compact fun little rig for the shallows (20-80ft) both bottles could be stacked and clamped in the original bottle position. Drawbacks= I had bubbles at the start of every dive to about 10ft because of the small lungs, I needed about 6 extra pounds of lead. otherwise you can pick these rigs up very cheap *WOB was pretty good to me.

**SeaBass** · 3rd February 2008, 21:23

Quote: (Originally Posted by dz3866)

I closed one a few years ago, 13cuft air, 6cuft 02. kiss valve, and pauls revodream with hud. Very compact fun little rig for the shallows (20-80ft) both bottles could be stacked and clamped in the original bottle position. .

Since Dave is a freind of mine I have seen this rig. It was really slick. The most compact MCCR I have ever seen.

The nice thing is that this could be pulled off for between 1,500 and $2,000.

Thom

.

2nd February 2008, 10:50	#1 (permalink)
Dave1w Born Again Diver! Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Ray Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Ray Home Build Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore / UK Posts: 347	Drager Ray Overview Well it seems that as no one has come a long and published an article yet on the Drager Ray, so I may actually get round to doing something and making a contribution at last. I don't know how to post to teh library, so I'll put it here for now. Here is a quick run down of I guess a pretty simple, but pretty complete little (SC) Rebreather offering. (Please don't take this as instructions of any sort) The basic Ray is of course, a semi closed rebreather. From the factory, it comes set up for 50% through a combined dosage/bypass unit, run from a Drager depth compensating 1st stage. The scrubber holds about 1.25 kg and is rated to 70 mins, or 110 mins depending on where you live apparently! The whole thing is integrated into a jacket like BC, with over the shoulder counterlungs, and a 4 or 5 litre drager bottle crossways across the base of the thing. A word about the pneumatics set up: As it is a normalish 1st stage, they also thoughtfully provide a bailout or octopus reg for you or your buddy to use, and a direct feed for the BC. The fitting on the 1st Stage is a special Drager one, but adaptors can be found easy enough. From Drager, you have a choice of a 40% or a 32% dosage device for 30m and 40m diving respectively (with the proviso you use a biger 7 or 8 litre tank). You can also get a 100% instructor only pool jet, with a pretty low flow. The flow rates on the Ray are a little higher than on the Dolphin, for no other reason I presume than to add further safety. As standard it comes without any PPO2 monitoring, but a Oxygauge can be added to the base of the scrubber (Note, this is in the exhale side and will give a lower than actual reading than what you are breathing). Getting it ready to dive is all by hand, with Drager's P-ports used throughout, and all snap together. Ok, to get it ready to dive, I guess you would start with the scrubber. The locking ring comes off to allow the base of the scrubber to be removed. Put a cap over the centre tube, and you can fill it with your choice of sorb to the marked line. The base has a spring loaded whatsit, which helps to keep the sorb packed OK. With the base back on you can slip the locking ring in place. Then the reg attaches and you fight with the hoses until you get them somewhere near. The scrubber sits in the back of the unit, where the traditional tank would be. It clips in to the P-Ports (- taking note of which way round it is. The gas goes down to the bottom of the scrubber then back up through the sorb.) and is retained by a velcro flaps, then a strap. Weight can added in the pockets to overcome bouyancy of the thing. (There is quite a lot of foam used in the construction, which forces you to use a lot of extra lead - you can cut it out). Drager thoughtfully provide a list attached to let you check that you have done everything correctly, which is a nice touch. Take time to read and follow the predive check list for items such as checking the DSV flows the right way, pos and neg tests, checking the flow rate and gas mix etc. The bottle sits below the scrubber in place, across the bottom. The reg and dosage run it up along the side of the scrubber and the feed for the bouyancy goes through the hole, there is a short hose across to the dosage where it goes in the p-port behind the right shoulder. Once the tanks and scrubber are in a band comes up under the tank and clips in place holding everyting snug. The Ray loop is pretty popular with homebuilders, and clicks in to the colour coded P-Ports on each shoulder (after you have checked one way valves by blocking each end, and breathig to make sure the flow is one way. Notice the loop goes from your right to your left. Also, on CE units, you have an OPV on the front of the exhale counterlung, as well as one behind your left shoulder. Before every dive it is important to test the flow from the dosage, using the dwyer gauge that come swith the new Ray. For 50%, the spec is around 8.25 litres a minute. If OK, you can insert the dosage into the counterlung. (The bit in the white loop) It is worth checking that all the p-ports are properly seated, and the clips engaged well. Now loosen the back and check everything you have done or forgotten to do on the checklist again! The BC doesn't have a backpack, so for larger people (like me) when you tighten on to your back, you can squeeze the counterlungs a little, which is less than ideal, so I added a back pack with seperate harness to avoid this. Then on diving it with a wetsuit, a removed it and got on fine! The reg can routed to a convenient location, and the contents gauge attached nicely. There are two further pockets in the BC, where you can safey drop more lead to get you down.... OK, I think that is it, and as you can see, it is a very basic, straightforward system. Yes, it is limited, and yes it can on the face of it offer little value, but possibly if we looked at a holiday situation, where we have nitrox on tap, is is an alternative to single tank diving for a nice 20 or so metre bimble, and is pretty handy at that point with quietness letting you approach more life. So is it any good for anything else? Well I don't know.I guess you could quite easily, turn it into a CCR, but that is for someone else to explain. Dave __________________ This message may contain spelling mistakes as it was generated by an idiot.
(Offline)

2nd February 2008, 13:28	#2 (permalink)
teomannaskali Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Home Build Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Istanbul TR Posts: 384	Re: Drager Ray Overview Thank you very much for the post. It was most informative. OTS and all, it seems that the ray is better designed unit than the dolphin (at least it seems better to me)... How is the wob compared to the dolphin. Teoman Last edited by teomannaskali : 2nd February 2008 at 13:31.
(Offline)

2nd February 2008, 22:01	#3 (permalink)
bletso An independent diver. Current Rebreather/s: Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Home Build Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 256	Re: Drager Ray Overview I have used the Ray twice and was not impressed with it. For one thing it is not user friendly for cleaning. It has severe limitations as compared to the Dolphin. But it was cheap. Dale
(Offline)

2nd February 2008, 23:56	#4 (permalink)
SeaBass Thom Susko Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ray Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Ray Home Build Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 232	Re: Drager Ray Overview Quote: (Originally Posted by bletso) I have used the Ray twice and was not impressed with it. For one thing it is not user friendly for cleaning. It has severe limitations as compared to the Dolphin. For the benefit of those who haven't dove or used the Ray... can you elaborate? Thom
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 04:42	#5 (permalink)
Dave1w Born Again Diver! Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Ray Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Ray Home Build Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore / UK Posts: 347	Re: Drager Ray Overview "I have used the Ray twice and was not impressed with it. For one thing it is not user friendly for cleaning. It has severe limitations as compared to the Dolphin. But it was cheap." The counterlungs are not detachable, so to clean them you are messing around with the whole BC / counterlungs affair, hanging it over the bath etc. I think the Ray was aimed a lot at the rental market, so you would then have a Dive B**ch clean the thing out for you afterwards. As standard, it is a 50%, 20m bit of kit, and the scrubber is only good for 110 mins. The dolphin from the box, is good for 30ish m, with the optional 32% jet taking it to 40m, and a 150 - 180 min scrubber There is a lot of bouyancy in the unit, so you need a hell of a lot of lead, unless you cut out a lot of the foam. It takes a while to get used to it, but it does breath nicely. Oh yes, it is also half the price of the dolphin. Dave __________________ This message may contain spelling mistakes as it was generated by an idiot.
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 07:38	#7 (permalink)
Dave1w Born Again Diver! Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Dolphin Ray Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Dolphin Ray Home Build Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Singapore / UK Posts: 347	Re: Drager Ray Overview I fully agree, for what they are they are pretty neat, and you can get round most of the issues. Now who is going to put up a description of how they closed it __________________ This message may contain spelling mistakes as it was generated by an idiot.
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 13:55	#8 (permalink)
teomannaskali Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Home Build Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Istanbul TR Posts: 384	Re: Drager Ray Overview I am wondering about the wob limitations of the unit. Attach a cislunar scrubber on it that has more time and a HH head and would it be just as good as a meg (wob wise). or are the hoses too small... DSV to restrictive ... cl's floaty etc ... The scrubber has pports on it so you could basically put anything there. And I know those will cost... I know... How would you say it compares to the IDA's for example. About the locking mechanism of the scrubber... all the hose connectors of the submatix use that same design scaled down. Last edited by teomannaskali : 3rd February 2008 at 14:03.
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 14:18	#9 (permalink)
dz3866 zboy Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: May 2005 Location: US California Posts: 147	Re: Drager Ray Overview Quote: (Originally Posted by Dave1w) I fully agree, for what they are they are pretty neat, and you can get round most of the issues. Now who is going to put up a description of how they closed it I closed one a few years ago, 13cuft air, 6cuft 02. kiss valve, and pauls evodream with hud. Very compact fun little rig for the shallows (20-80ft) both bottles could be stacked and clamped in the original bottle position. Drawbacks= I had bubbles at the start of every dive to about 10ft because of the small lungs, I needed about 6 extra pounds of lead. otherwise you can pick these rigs up very cheap *WOB was pretty good to me.
(Offline)

3rd February 2008, 21:23	#10 (permalink)
SeaBass Thom Susko Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Ray Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Ray Home Build Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Clemente, CA Posts: 232	Re: Drager Ray Overview Quote: (Originally Posted by dz3866) I closed one a few years ago, 13cuft air, 6cuft 02. kiss valve, and pauls revodream with hud. Very compact fun little rig for the shallows (20-80ft) both bottles could be stacked and clamped in the original bottle position. . Since Dave is a freind of mine I have seen this rig. It was really slick. The most compact MCCR I have ever seen. The nice thing is that this could be pulled off for between 1,500 and $2,000. Thom .
(Offline)

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