Strange VR3 when low on battery

fjllrs · 16th September 2006, 03:45

A strange occurence with my VR3 the other day, anyone experienced the same thing?
I've a VR3 plugged into a O2-cell in my machine going diving, and the VR3 warned me about low battery 20 minutes or so into the dive, first by flashing, at this point I did nothing, and the strangest of things, PO2 readings on the computer did not change, it was dead set on 1.25.

I flushed and I puffed, got back up to regular PO2 (1,2) reading my manual handsets x 3, still no change on the VR3. I started the sequence of changing plugged-in-real-time driving to setpoint without, and after two or three pushes on the buttons the backlight shut down and the low-bat indicator vas now visible in the display, obviously an automatic power-saving mode initiated by the intelligent VR3 software, and the PO2-reading started to function again. Strange, I thought, but no complains from this happy diver, ended my dive with a smile, changed the battery on the VR3, and we've leaved happily ever after...so far.

I guess the thing I wonder most about is this: Is the VR3 really monitoring input from the O2-cell in this situation, just not telling me about it, or is not doing anything in this department during power-saving mode... anyone?

mwenner · 28th September 2006, 03:42

If you're not running Lithium batteries in your computer, you should. I switched over, and you can find them online for around $4 US. They last a good while longer, and you won't be faced with the scenario you experienced. Not many things run well when the battery gets low.

Padowan · 28th September 2006, 07:56

Perhaps least importantly, you can't access the Octopus game on deco if the battery is low!

mortenkjerulff · 28th September 2006, 09:40

Quote: (Originally Posted by mwenner)

If you're not running Lithium batteries in your computer, you should. I switched over, and you can find them online for around $4 US. They last a good while longer, and you won't be faced with the scenario you experienced. Not many things run well when the battery gets low.

I second this oppinion.
Since I switched to Lithium betteries I have not seen any strange things on the VR3.
I had lots of annoying things before the switch f.ex. resets, low-batt warnings even with new batteries, background lights turning off (because of low-batt warnings).

Morten

Okidiver · 28th September 2006, 11:14

Had one low-bat episode on my VR3 (OC). Reset underwater to air/meters (from nitrox/feet) and was just plain silly, even after I reset everything underwater. Go the lithium route, no probs since.

finbar.taylor · 28th September 2006, 16:37

Quote: (Originally Posted by Okidiver)

Had one low-bat episode on my VR3 (OC). Reset underwater to air/meters (from nitrox/feet) and was just plain silly, even after I reset everything underwater. Go the lithium route, no probs since.

I had a similar last week got a low batt warning on the surface though nothing more of it was only a 30m dip turned it in to air mode and turned on one of the many deco gasses set up in it and check I was still on air.

Must have been about 10 minutes in to the dive and lok at it and it's on 68% O2 which is the deco mix and will not let me switch to the Air which is switched on. I have a back up so carry on any way and wonder why I've not had a high PO2 or CNS warning after breathing this for 40 minutes past 30m?

Got back changed battery and all was fine for the next 6 days diving so must just have been the batt.

Fin

fjllrs · 28th September 2006, 21:03

Been using Sonnenschein AA Inorganic Lithium (3.6V) all along, relatively long-lasting, changing battery two times a year or so, not that bad considering using the vr3 color with backlight always on when diving.

Well, sometimes this attention-seeking spicelike events do happen, keeps us awake and alert, would'nt want life to be too boring.

Thanks for all comments!

16th September 2006, 03:45	#1 (permalink)
fjllrs New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 5	Strange VR3 when low on battery A strange occurence with my VR3 the other day, anyone experienced the same thing? I've a VR3 plugged into a O2-cell in my machine going diving, and the VR3 warned me about low battery 20 minutes or so into the dive, first by flashing, at this point I did nothing, and the strangest of things, PO2 readings on the computer did not change, it was dead set on 1.25. I flushed and I puffed, got back up to regular PO2 (1,2) reading my manual handsets x 3, still no change on the VR3. I started the sequence of changing plugged-in-real-time driving to setpoint without, and after two or three pushes on the buttons the backlight shut down and the low-bat indicator vas now visible in the display, obviously an automatic power-saving mode initiated by the intelligent VR3 software, and the PO2-reading started to function again. Strange, I thought, but no complains from this happy diver, ended my dive with a smile, changed the battery on the VR3, and we've leaved happily ever after...so far. I guess the thing I wonder most about is this: Is the VR3 really monitoring input from the O2-cell in this situation, just not telling me about it, or is not doing anything in this department during power-saving mode... anyone? __________________ ______________________________________________ I admit I’m lacy, always sucking on high HE, it’s lighter... Pilot KC#185 - Participating is what it’s all about…
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28th September 2006, 03:42	#2 (permalink)
mwenner New Member Current Rebreather/s: Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Home Build Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 12	Re: Strange VR3 when low on battery If you're not running Lithium batteries in your computer, you should. I switched over, and you can find them online for around $4 US. They last a good while longer, and you won't be faced with the scenario you experienced. Not many things run well when the battery gets low.
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28th September 2006, 07:56	#3 (permalink)
Padowan Proper Boffin Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, UK. Posts: 518	Re: Strange VR3 when low on battery Perhaps least importantly, you can't access the Octopus game on deco if the battery is low! __________________ Padowan The future's bright, the future's Yellow .....for now padowan.net - Latest Video: Scapa Flow Rebreather Diving
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28th September 2006, 09:40	#4 (permalink)
mortenkjerulff Customise Me! Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 143	Re: Strange VR3 when low on battery Quote: (Originally Posted by mwenner) If you're not running Lithium batteries in your computer, you should. I switched over, and you can find them online for around $4 US. They last a good while longer, and you won't be faced with the scenario you experienced. Not many things run well when the battery gets low. I second this oppinion. Since I switched to Lithium betteries I have not seen any strange things on the VR3. I had lots of annoying things before the switch f.ex. resets, low-batt warnings even with new batteries, background lights turning off (because of low-batt warnings). Morten
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28th September 2006, 11:14	#5 (permalink)
Okidiver New Member Current Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Other Rebreather/s: Not Bought Yet Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ft Walton Beach, FL, USA Posts: 86	Re: Strange VR3 when low on battery Had one low-bat episode on my VR3 (OC). Reset underwater to air/meters (from nitrox/feet) and was just plain silly, even after I reset everything underwater. Go the lithium route, no probs since. __________________ Rapid Rick
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28th September 2006, 16:37	#6 (permalink)
finbar.taylor Rebreather World Writer Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: UK, SE Posts: 104	Re: Strange VR3 when low on battery Quote: (Originally Posted by Okidiver) Had one low-bat episode on my VR3 (OC). Reset underwater to air/meters (from nitrox/feet) and was just plain silly, even after I reset everything underwater. Go the lithium route, no probs since. I had a similar last week got a low batt warning on the surface though nothing more of it was only a 30m dip turned it in to air mode and turned on one of the many deco gasses set up in it and check I was still on air. Must have been about 10 minutes in to the dive and lok at it and it's on 68% O2 which is the deco mix and will not let me switch to the Air which is switched on. I have a back up so carry on any way and wonder why I've not had a high PO2 or CNS warning after breathing this for 40 minutes past 30m? Got back changed battery and all was fine for the next 6 days diving so must just have been the batt. Fin
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28th September 2006, 21:03	#7 (permalink)
fjllrs New Member Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 5	Re: Strange VR3 when low on battery Been using Sonnenschein AA Inorganic Lithium (3.6V) all along, relatively long-lasting, changing battery two times a year or so, not that bad considering using the vr3 color with backlight always on when diving. Well, sometimes this attention-seeking spicelike events do happen, keeps us awake and alert, would'nt want life to be too boring. Thanks for all comments! __________________ ______________________________________________ I admit I’m lacy, always sucking on high HE, it’s lighter... Pilot KC#185 - Participating is what it’s all about…
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