Tips for cleaning the dolphin?

kissnerdive

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any tips, or ideas on how to clean the dolphin? I have heard of using vinegar on the jets, and and iodine solution to clean the loop. I would love to hear what different people use. Thanks.

__________________
"Vayos con Dios"

PaulTG2

Hello,

I don't think the loop is any different that others. I use Virkon/RelyOn for disinfecting the loop. You can get the run-down on it at:

Disinfectant, Oxygen-Compatible Lubricant and Contact Conditioner for Rebreathers


It's easy and effective and I use what's left at the end of the trip to "disinfect" my dive boots... they finally stopped smelling.

So far as I know I haven't died from an infection since I started using it.


-p

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Paul's first law states that the safety of an activity is determined by how forgiving of mistakes the activity is.

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zmcave

Hi,

I rinse it with fresh water, disinfect with virkon for 15 minutes, rinse again and let it dry.
As for the jets, I take them out of and clean them in the ultrasound with a vinegar and detergent solution for a couple of minutes.

best,
Zé.

camerone

When I first started diving the unit, there wasn't really a good set of choices out there, so I used Betadine, which you can get at your local druggist. It's povidone-iodine, a very potent microbicide, and the over the counter version is usually about a 10% solution. It's VERY cheap, and works well, lasts a long time, etc. Dilute it in an old cooler, and it's good to go for quite a while. I think I ran about a 10:1 dilution, which is pretty typical for disinfection, and I'd make it up once a month or so (and I was doing 75-100 rebreather dives/year, so lots of bottom time...)

While it's cheap, and it's also stable, its downside is that it will stain everything brown-purple. Since the Dolphin parts are all black, it's a non-issue, but you have to be careful of other stuff. I soaked the parts first thing when I got home, and that averaged about 30 minutes while I cleaned the rest of my gear. It's slow stuff.

In the last three years, since I switched to a different rebreather, I also switched to a different disinfectant. I'm using Virkon S these days, in a spritzer bottle, which I buy in pre-measured packets, suitable for adding to a half litre of water. I use it on my Evolution, and I still use it on the Dolphin when my girlfriend takes it out to go diving.

After rinsing with water, it's a 10 minute wait after spraying, then a good fresh rinse, and you're good to go. I believe that the Virkon is considered both slightly safer in the weak dilutions, as well as more effective as a broad spectrum antimicrobicide.

It's not nearly as cheap, and a mixed batch lasts only about a week, which, given its price, kind of sucks. It is convenient, though, and it doesn't stain hands, clothes, or gear. There are lots of online sources; the usual suspects usually have it

W/R/T the flow jets - be very careful how you clean them, as overly aggressive cleaning will damage the rubies inside and result in inaccurate flow, or you'll just gunk them up again. Short batches of ultrasonic cleaning in vinegar and water only worked well for me, with a very good fresh water rinse and blow dry. However, it wouldn't _always_ do the trick, and I think I averaged about one jet per year that had to get replaced with an OEM piece from Drager (at prices that should be called "extortion").

kissnerdive

Thanks for all the great advice. Keep it coming.

__________________
"Vayos con Dios"