ABS Backplate plus single LP95?

[mahjong]

Hi.

I'm looking to go from a SP Classic to BP/wings. I dive a single Faber LP95. Dive Rite and OMS backplates would, I believe, position the tank a few inches away from my back, perched on a very slim tank mount. Questions:

Is this a stable set up? Would it work with an ABS backplate (I'm not a tech diver and would love a light, travel-worthy rig, but also want to use my LP95 at home)? Has anyone ever dove such a set up?

Also, some backplates have cam band slots, while the tank adapters also have cam band slots. I'm having trouble imagining how an LP95 will be stable on a slim adapter, perched a few inches off my back, attached to the backplate by a couple of screws, and with the cam bands running through the tank adapter. Is this how it works? Can the cam bands be threaded through the backplate instead of the tank adapter (would seem to be more stable)?

Otherwise, there's the Jet flat backplate--in which case my LP95 (round) would be braced right up against my back--which is great. I know there are other threads on the Jet, but people seem mainly concerned about the comfort of a flat plate. This does not concern me. What concerns me is having no curved tank mount. Would an LP95 hold firmly to the flat backplate without a fitted mount? Would this work with the ABS backplate?

Any feedback would be most welcome.

Thanks.

 

[jonnythan]

double post, please delete.

 

[jonnythan]

Having the tank directly on your back isn't necessarily a good thing.

I used to dive a Halcyon Pioneer with its integrated STA rods. The tank is indeed "perched" on the ridge in the middle of the backplate, but it's rock solid. I recently added an STA to the setup, which moved the tank an extra inch or so away from my back, and I prefer it that way. It's not instable by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm not at all sold on the flat backplate. The only possible advantage is it puts the tank closer to your back, but IMO that's not a benefit.

If you want a lightweight backplate, get an aluminum one, not a plastic one.

 

[mahjong]

Thanks for the reply...but even Dive Rite, on their web site, warns people that their backplates are not ideal for single tank mounting "because" the tank will be perched a "few inches" away from the diver's back. They urge single tank divers to consider their Transpac instead, where the tank is closer to the diver.

I'm a little less concerned about the distance of the tank from my back than I am about it's stability (esp an LP95) on such a slender mount--but you suggest it's rock solid. How about the cam bands--can these be threaded through the backplate instead of through the tank mount? Do people do this?

 

[The Kraken]

Depending on the particular back plate, yes, the tank bands can go through the back plate and around the tank.

With regard to the STA, the diametric differences between an 80 and a 95 aren't great enough to make any difference regarding the security of the tank to the back plate. All force is generated through the straps to the surface of the tank which contacts the back plate or STA. If fact an STA is more stable because the tank is in contact with 2 ridges of resistance as opposed to one which would be the case in attaching the tank directly to the back plate. Imagine if you were to lay the tank down on a flat surface, you'd see that there is only one small area tangent to the surface. Now if you were to take a piece of channel iron and placed it on that flat surface with the legs pointing up and placed the tank on it, you would see that you have two contact surfaces. You would also note that with only one contacting surface you would be able to roll the tank. With two contacting surfaces the tank is held in place.

And I can assure you that the two bolts holding the STA to the back plate are more than sufficient to provide a secure fitting.

 

[jonnythan]

Thousands of single tank bp/wing wearers, including probably hundreds on SB alone, will vehemently disagree with Dive Rite's web site.

Tons of people use backplates with STA's with heavy steel tanks and love them.

With a Pioneer wing, you can thread the cam bands through the wing, through the backplate, and secure the tank that way. With an STA the cam bands thread through the STA itself and not the backplate.

 

[Warren_L]

I've used my steel OMS backplate and oxycheq wings using a SS STA with a variety of tanks, both AL and steel without any stability issues. Always rock solid.

 

[mahjong]

Thanks for all the assurance--that's all I needed to know!