AI transmitter on stage cylinder?

[halocline]

I still have an SPG that is always off by 50 bar. Perfectly usable in a pinch.

It’s funny, I’ve been using an old SP SPG on my stage reg for years, because it has a knurled ring and is very easy to ID by touch. But it also reads about 10% high when full, and tapers down to accurate at about 600 PSI. Recently I ended up replacing it so that a teammate could also read it and know more accurately what’s in the stage.

This is the beauty of SPGs, that decision cost me about $60.

 

[matt9122]

Never put one on a stage bottle. I bump them around a bit more, and also want to keep them as streamlined as possible. I'm sure it would be fine though.

 

[Rebreather Rabbit]

Only a button gauge on my deco bottles. Thought about maybe using a TX, but then if it needs to go to a team-mate there's no way for them to check/monitor.

I do have TX's on my CCR for O2 and Dil/out. I have the readings on the main screen on my backup computer. They're configured on my primary computer, but not visible on the main screen.

 

[rddvet]

Stage? I say its an expensive non-necessity. I use one on my ccr oxygen but that's it. AI is very nice, but a stage is going to be your most beat to hell tank along with your deco bottle. I think being unnecessary since stages are easily accessible in most cases and theyre going to get banged together a bunch, I wouldn't put a $200 transmitter on my stage. But that's just me.

 

[Mr_C]

Only a button gauge on my deco bottles. Thought about maybe using a TX, but then if it needs to go to a team-mate there's no way for them to check/monitor.

I do have TX's on my CCR for O2 and Dil/out. I have the readings on the main screen on my backup computer. They're configured on my primary computer, but not visible on the main screen.

Great point about handing off to a team mate! Signaling "hey you are low" does not sounds like a great move

 

[mr_v]

OP, I think you meant that the course will involve an additional cylinder. Technically speaking, a stage bottle is something different. Regardless of the definition, the answer is the same - keep it simple. Bottles used for deco, stage, safety benefit from large 2" brass-and-glass SPGs which are easy readable in bad conditions. Lay these gauges flat against the cylinder. Done.

Transmitters are useful in other cases, but in your case it is largely a wast of money. If you have extra cash to burn, spend it on more training or dive trips.

Cheers~

 

[LanceRiley]

a transmitter on a staged cylinder would mean it's not shareable. Meaning you can't give it away ... as the other diver woudnt' know how much is in it.

 

[mr_v]

a transmitter on a staged cylinder would mean it's not shareable. Meaning you can't give it away ... as the other diver woudnt' know how much is in it.

So there is truth to that, and there are ways to migitage the issue. But first, we need to agree on the cylinder definitions.

A stage cylinder is not the one you should share. It is your bottle that you breathe down to a certain pressure and then leave. The idea is to have gas on the way back. The amount of gas consumed depends on your RMV and dive plan; what works for you, may not work for other folks. If the transmitter is fails after you drop the bottle, you should know how much gas was in there and you should be okay using the bottle, provided that no gas escaped.

CC divers may share bailout bottles if things _really_ hit the fan. You'd ask for a buddy's bottle after breathing your bottle(s) down to some pressure. You pass your used bottle to the buddy, the buddy passes the full bottle to you. The idea is that both of you have bailout bottles with some gas. That's an extreme scenario because in theory you should have enough bailout to get you out. You also don't want to do "team bailouts" -- it is a spicy practice that may leave you w/o necessary gas if your team separates.

Safety bottles contain gas that is not a part of the dive plan. It is really extra gas that you can lose and still be fine.

So what do you do if you need to share a bottle with a transmitter? Well, the best answer is not to use a transmitter. Other options:

- Use the bottle and stay close to your buddy, so the buddy can inform you about gas pressure.
- Pair the bottle with your computer, if possible.
- Get the bottle and the buddy's computer, if possible.
- Use the bottle's weight and your dive plan as proxies for gas pressure.

These scenarios are so out there, that I am outlining them only for academic purposes. Use a good SPG and stay safe out there.

 

[tursiops]

So what do you do if you need to share a bottle with a transmitter? Well, the best answer is not to use a transmitter.

It is completely possible to have an SPG and a transmitter on the bottle. Problem solved.

 

[mr_v]

It is completely possible to have an SPG and a transmitter on the bottle. Problem solved.

Yes, you can even have a splitter so that you have multiple SPGs, multiple transmitters, and a button gauge. But why would you want to complicate things?