Dive computers failure rates?

[RAWalker]

I'd like to know the failure rates of dive computers broken down by model, user error/maintenance issues, manufacturing issues and simple electronics failure.

I'd be interested to know this as a percentage of units sold and as a comparison to a standard SPG. Is such info available for divers to make a informed decision?

Also what is considered acceptable from a design standpoint for such devices?

 

[donnyb]

I would also like to know this....

Me & my wife's Oceanic computer history:

Data 100 purch 1/97 flooded, not thru battery compartment. Upgraded for a fee 10/03 to Veo 200, failed, 3/05 warr traded to Veo 180 still have this as a backup.

Data 100 7/97 warr exchanged 6/98. Died around 1999. No more history.


Data Trans Plus purch 12/ 98, svc issue (fee) 3/02, warr issue 11/02, warr issue 1/02, svc issue (fee) 5/04, warr issue 3/05, warr replaced with:
VT Pro 12/05 press reads slightly low, otherwise works fine.

Note, Data trans Plus had numerous sender issues, losing link during dives.
Sender was redesigned with different battery type, and has greatly improved.

Versa Pro purch 2/06, working fine so far

Total of 9 computers (I think) 6 models between the 2 of us in 10 years of admittedly heavy use.

Anyone else?

 

[ianr33]

Has anybody here EVER had an spg fail during a dive ?

If so was it a cheap plastic one or a glass/brass model ?

Lets assume that some minimal care has been taken with the gauge. i.e. no moisture visible inside gauge,reads zero when off tank and approx correct (+/- 200 psi) pressure on a full tank.

The only spg "failures" I have ever heard of were on extremely deep dives (600ft+) "Failure" mode was the needle sticking due to the faceplate being pushed in.I think this is mentioned in Exleys book.

 

[jimdiverman]

I have never had a failed SPG.

I have never had a computer failure. I bought a DR Nitek in 1999. The battery died in 2006, not on a dive. It died because I defaulted the computer on a dive and the alarm went off for hours. The computer itself never failed. I replaced the battery and now keep it as a backup.

Last month I bought 2 - DR Nitek Duos. Neither have given me any problems, as expected.

 

[miketsp]

Has anybody here EVER had an spg fail during a dive ?

If so was it a cheap plastic one or a glass/brass model ?

Lets assume that some minimal care has been taken with the gauge. i.e. no moisture visible inside gauge,reads zero when off tank and approx correct (+/- 200 psi) pressure on a full tank.

The only spg "failures" I have ever heard of were on extremely deep dives (600ft+) "Failure" mode was the needle sticking due to the faceplate being pushed in.I think this is mentioned in Exleys book.

By coincidence just last night I dismantled one (acrylic/brass) that failed on me after 5 years of service and a few hundred dives. The brass pinion gear that drives the needle had 2 worn teeth and this caused locking when the movable rack gear on the end of the aneroid section moved backwards and forwards.
In other words it just wore out.
Regarding the faceplate, until last night I would have sworn it was glass until I actually cut into it with the hacksaw blade.
After I opened it with a hacksaw and dismantled everything, I saw that it should have been possible to unscrew the face plate retainer and then just bend the aneroid section down a little so that the meshing of the gears would have been on a virgin section of the pinion. This would have given it a few extra years of life at zero cost. Unfortunately the faceplate thread was too corroded.
Next time I'll probably give it a good soak in penetrating oil to try to open it without damage.

 

[ronbeau]

I'd like to know the failure rates of dive computers broken down by model, user error/maintenance issues, manufacturing issues and simple electronics failure.

I'd be interested to know this as a percentage of units sold and as a comparison to a standard SPG. Is such info available for divers to make a informed decision?

Also what is considered acceptable from a design standpoint for such devices?

My family owns 3 Aeris ATMOS AI dive computers (one for each diver).

One is 4 years old, the second one is 2 years old and the other is a little over 1 year old.

I have encountered no problems whatsoever with any of the three dive computers.

 

[USFishin]

I've got a ProPlus2 that I've had a little over 2 years and it just recently got water in through the buttons. I am waiting for a replacement to come in the mail.

 

[RAWalker]

I was hoping that Oceanic would volenteer some information.
I'd would think as a leading manufacturer of dive computers they might have something to say about the quality and safety of their products.

 

[garyfotodiver]

I was hoping that Oceanic would volenteer some information.
I'd would think as a leading manufacturer of dive computers they might have something to say about the quality and safety of their products.

They might, but possibly would not want to publish trade secret info. This would, IMO, be akin to asking a pharmaceutical company for the raw data from one of their clinical trials.

I get around the broken computer problem in this manner: Although I use a computer (Aeris Atmos 2) as my primary, I always look up the table time limit for the maximum depth I plan to dive. I mark my entry into the water time on my wristwatch. Then, if my computer c***s out, I have a secondary source of information. If this situation should occur, I would probably abort the dive and surface. It hasn't yet.

 

[Doug Krause]

Your best bet of getting that kind of data is going to be right here on the board -

Rest assured that we have something to say and do about the quality and safety of our products every day of our lives.