All about Oxygen O2 Analyzers, including DIY

[ericfine50]

Sodering is involved, so is some cutting. You could get most of the parts from Radio Shack. The most expensive part is the sensor. Go to his site and check out the El chepo 1, I think Patrick has the plans on the site.

Eric

 

[Mo2vation]

I have an OxySpy - and I keep it in a ziplock in my drybox. I think I read or heard someplace that this will improve the life of the oxygen sensor - keeping it out of the air.

Am I being a big ninny or is this true? Sort of makes sense, provided the bag is sealed (!)

Now that I think about it - my Pelican drybox is likely airtight...

Maybe I am being a big ninny.... :bonk:

Thanks -

Ken

 

[Uncle Pug]

Go ahead and bag it... or buy one of Oxycheq's sensor savers for $3.50

 

[dmdalton]

Make sure you keep it in a relatively cool place. High heat kills the sensors in short order. I keep mine in the fridge.

Dave D

 

[madmole]

Be careful doing this, when you go to use it you need to give it a while to wake up. The cells reaction speed slows down if its not used for a while

New Inspiration cells take a good 2-4 hours to wake up fully after being let out of their sealed bags!!!!

I used to close of my O2 meter cells for many years, now I dont bother and life is the same

So my 2p's worth is its not worth the hassle

 

[Mo2vation]

It took awhile to wake up. Usually it wakes up, hits 21% on the money...I had to calabrate every time this trip, as it was slow to wake, and then was a little funky.

It scared me at first - but after it got in the groove it yielded the same reading as the boat's OMS...so I'm confident its accurate - just slower this time out.

Thanks -

K

 

[madmole]

I learnt the hard way

Had a cell fail on the Inspiration 5 mins before a dive, binned it, ripped open a new cell packet stuck it in, flushed with O2 to wake it up, calibrated and jumped in

Spent the rest of the dive watching that cells reading go higher and higher until it set off the cell warnings (0.1 bar difference) and the dreaded Buzzer (really annoying to swim with it sounding!!!!!)

I have a VR3 with a sensor as well, so with 3 other cells telling me the same reading I was pretty certian it was this cell that was the problem

Was still going up 60 mins after being opened!!!!!

 

[Doof]

Anybody have any recommendations for a good O2 analyzer? I'm primarily interested in ease of use and accuracy. Price is kind of secondary in importance, but obviously if I don't have to pay huge bucks for one, I'd prefer not to. ut:

 

[JamieZ]

http://www.oxycheq.com/el_cheapo_II.html

 

[LUBOLD8431]

I have to recommend the Oxycheq also. I would say go with the Expedition though, unless you want to put it together yourself.