VR3 Problem

RonMicjan · 6th February 2006, 00:44

I have had my VR3 for over a year and a half with no problems whatsoever, but just recently I picked up one for my GF and if she takes it below about 60 fsw it quits and resets to metric. I was planning on sending it back to DP but we had a trip to mexico and I decided to let her use mine for ocean diving because I was going to be in some shallow caves and didnt need it. She took it and the first day the battery went dead. OK it was 18 months old and needed a new batt. I replaced it with a SAFT 3.6 volt lithium battery that I had in my spares kit. the next dive it started having the same problem hers did, resetting at depth. I pulled the battery out of her unit and it was the same SAFT battery. Ah Ha! The SAFT battery seemed tight and was difficult to pull from the battery cap, so i cut the label off the battery and it fit much better. The next dive went off without a hitch, but its only been one dive and then we didnt have anymore deep dives. I was wondering if anyone else had seen the same problem?

***sadave*** · 6th February 2006, 01:10

Quote: (Originally Posted by RonMicjan)

I was wondering if anyone else had seen the same problem?

Short answer, Yes.

Long answer, yes, and basically same fix as you, or go with a different brand of battery. Cleaning the terminals can help too.

And anyways, whats wrong with it switching to Metric? Isn't that how it should be set in the first place?

Scuba_Vixen · 6th February 2006, 03:26

Tadiran is the other popular brand of 3.6v lithium battery. It seems to match up to standard AA battery dimensions nicely. On the other hand, the Saft is also a tad longer, besides a few thousandths wider. Be carefull when tightening caps on the Safts, as the extra length can cause damage. The HS explorers have particular issues here.

Darlene

RZEP17 · 6th February 2006, 03:34

Quote: (Originally Posted by RonMicjan)

battery seemed tight and was difficult to pull from the battery cap, so i cut the label off the battery and it fit much better. The next dive went off without a hitch

I had the same problem. Downsizing battery with some sand paper was the solution.
rgrds
Tomek

abowie · 6th February 2006, 05:06

Common problem.

I think it's actually in the manual.

Genesis · 6th February 2006, 05:12

Yeah, my solution is to use regular Duracells. They don't last as long but are a lot cheaper; in quantity you can get 'em for about 50 cents each. I can buy a LOT of Duracells for the price of one 3.6V lithium, and can get them literally anywhere if I'm on vacation somewhere and need a new one.

bubnotbub · 6th February 2006, 08:21

Hi
A problem partially resolved with the new caps. I use Saft Lithium 3,6 too, and for emergency I remove the low part of the label.

I prefer Saft, because guarantees me a year of I use without having to find too much time before the dive "Low Battery"

paulraymaekers · 6th February 2006, 08:30

same solution here: for the SAFT 3.6V, always cut off the last 15mm of the plastic cover of the battery: problem is solved for both plastic and aluminium caps (I still use the old alu cap)

conc duracell 1.5 versus lithium 3.6: since we started to banne the 1.5V, and always use saft 3.6, we never got problems any more, no funny start-ups, no 'going dead' when changing batteries, ....

but we keep touching wood... like they say in dutch

regards
paul

steevke · 6th February 2006, 08:36

I've used the SONNENSCHEIN AA 3.6V lithium batteries without any problem in tha past.

Don't know if they are better or worse than the Safts capacitywise though.

Farnell stocks them.

Steven

n2diving · 6th February 2006, 14:16

There is a surprising variation in dimensions among the various brands of AA size batteries, and this does seem to cause a problem with some VR3's. The use of the newer caps, or stripping the cover from the negative end of the battery, seems to solve the problem. For more info see....

http://www.diveriteexpress.com/vr3/v...l#tektipvr3bat

6th February 2006, 00:44	#1 (permalink)
RonMicjan Cap Ron scourge of the NW Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Dolphin Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Classic Kiss Dolphin Home Build Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cape Disapointment, The Graveyard of the Pacific Posts: 1,120	VR3 Problem I have had my VR3 for over a year and a half with no problems whatsoever, but just recently I picked up one for my GF and if she takes it below about 60 fsw it quits and resets to metric. I was planning on sending it back to DP but we had a trip to mexico and I decided to let her use mine for ocean diving because I was going to be in some shallow caves and didnt need it. She took it and the first day the battery went dead. OK it was 18 months old and needed a new batt. I replaced it with a SAFT 3.6 volt lithium battery that I had in my spares kit. the next dive it started having the same problem hers did, resetting at depth. I pulled the battery out of her unit and it was the same SAFT battery. Ah Ha! The SAFT battery seemed tight and was difficult to pull from the battery cap, so i cut the label off the battery and it fit much better. The next dive went off without a hitch, but its only been one dive and then we didnt have anymore deep dives. I was wondering if anyone else had seen the same problem? __________________ Marine rescue, towing and salvage. Interfering with natural selection since 1983. www.tmishop.com Diving bits etc. www.seatowpdx.com The Summer Job
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6th February 2006, 01:10	#2 (permalink)
*sadave* Administrator Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Classic Kiss Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Brisbane, Queensland Posts: 1,131	Re: VR3 Problem Quote: (Originally Posted by RonMicjan) I was wondering if anyone else had seen the same problem? Short answer, Yes. Long answer, yes, and basically same fix as you, or go with a different brand of battery. Cleaning the terminals can help too. And anyways, whats wrong with it switching to Metric? Isn't that how it should be set in the first place?
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6th February 2006, 03:26	#3 (permalink)
Scuba_Vixen e/mCCR Dolphin Pilot Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: St. Croix USVI Posts: 557	Re: VR3 Problem Tadiran is the other popular brand of 3.6v lithium battery. It seems to match up to standard AA battery dimensions nicely. On the other hand, the Saft is also a tad longer, besides a few thousandths wider. Be carefull when tightening caps on the Safts, as the extra length can cause damage. The HS explorers have particular issues here. Darlene Last edited by Scuba_Vixen : 6th February 2006 at 03:49.
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6th February 2006, 03:34	#4 (permalink)
RZEP17 RBW Member Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 78	Re: VR3 Problem Quote: (Originally Posted by RonMicjan) battery seemed tight and was difficult to pull from the battery cap, so i cut the label off the battery and it fit much better. The next dive went off without a hitch I had the same problem. Downsizing battery with some sand paper was the solution. rgrds Tomek
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6th February 2006, 05:06	#5 (permalink)
abowie Fighting Girl Current Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2005 Location: Land of Oz Posts: 574	Re: VR3 Problem Common problem. I think it's actually in the manual. __________________ Andrew Bowie Rebreather-friendly Buddy
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6th February 2006, 05:12	#6 (permalink)
Genesis Bubbless Box of Death Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 1,453	Re: VR3 Problem Yeah, my solution is to use regular Duracells. They don't last as long but are a lot cheaper; in quantity you can get 'em for about 50 cents each. I can buy a LOT of Duracells for the price of one 3.6V lithium, and can get them literally anywhere if I'm on vacation somewhere and need a new one. __________________ "A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches - that is the right and privilege of any free American." http://www.denninger.net http://www.diversunion.org/liability.htm - Fix the Diving Cert racket
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6th February 2006, 08:21	#7 (permalink)
bubnotbub Silent diver Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Ouroboros rEvo Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss rEvo Other CCR Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: France Italy Posts: 393	Re: VR3 Problem Hi A problem partially resolved with the new caps. I use Saft Lithium 3,6 too, and for emergency I remove the low part of the label. I prefer Saft, because guarantees me a year of I use without having to find too much time before the dive "Low Battery" __________________ Aldo Ferrucci *Trimix and Rebreather IT* *Expedition Leader* *www.bubnotbub.com* I like bubbles only in my glass of Champagne
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6th February 2006, 08:30	#8 (permalink)
paulraymaekers rEvo's daddy Current Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: May 2005 Location: belgium Posts: 1,638	Re: VR3 Problem same solution here: for the SAFT 3.6V, always cut off the last 15mm of the plastic cover of the battery: problem is solved for both plastic and aluminium caps (I still use the old alu cap) conc duracell 1.5 versus lithium 3.6: since we started to banne the 1.5V, and always use saft 3.6, we never got problems any more, no funny start-ups, no 'going dead' when changing batteries, .... but we keep touching wood... like they say in dutch regards paul __________________ www.rEvo-rebreathers.com .... the earth is flat, Elvis is alive, and radial scrubbers give longer dwell time than axials...
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6th February 2006, 08:36	#9 (permalink)
steevke Custom Title Allowed! Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 317	Re: VR3 Problem I've used the SONNENSCHEIN AA 3.6V lithium batteries without any problem in tha past. Don't know if they are better or worse than the Safts capacitywise though. Farnell stocks them. Steven
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6th February 2006, 14:16	#10 (permalink)
n2diving www.RebreatherExpress.com Current Rebreather/s: Optima Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 279	Re: VR3 Problem There is a surprising variation in dimensions among the various brands of AA size batteries, and this does seem to cause a problem with some VR3's. The use of the newer caps, or stripping the cover from the negative end of the battery, seems to solve the problem. For more info see.... http://www.diveriteexpress.com/vr3/v...l#tektipvr3bat
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