All about Oxygen O2 Analyzers, including DIY

[JamesK]

lucid once bubbled...
www.oxycheq.com

If this is the same one as the kit they are talking about, I have it also. I like it a lot. It is very simple to use, and gets the same readings as my freinds mini-ox and OMS analyzers. However, mine is much quicker to setup and check tanks with. Love it.

 

[ericfine50]

Patrick has some great stuff for sales. The El Chepo's are great. He is great to deal with.

Regards,
eric

 

[Epinephelus]

lucid once bubbled...
www.oxycheq.com

Thanks...
Looks great.
E. itajara

 

[joens]

today at work I used the label printer and printed some labels for the analyzer ,on, off ,calibrate, stuff like that .can't wait to get home and stick them on.

 

[omar]

cheaper and better

http://www.oxygenanalyzer.com/YOUDOIT.htm

omar

 

[salty]

"Better" ?????

Not exactly it looks from the pictures to be exactly the same as the El Chepo.

Reverse engineered my ass
It looks like a clone to me

 

[mddolson]

I have built a total of 3 el cheapo O2 analysers.

First the original el cheapo and then 2 more el cheapo II's, with linear pot (variable resistor), and have converted the original to an el cheapo II.

They are great. They work well and are every bit as acccurate and reliable as the $300 unit at the dive shop.

I am a mechanical dude with very little electrical knowledge.
The kit takes about 3 hours to complete.

I'd recommend the El Cheapo II to anyone who's looking for a personal nitrox O2 analyser.

Mike D
:blfish:

 

[omar]

RC Dive Technologies has been around longer than oxycheq.
They made the original spectrum oxygen analyzer sold by Dive Rite. If anything the el cheapo are the clones.

omar

 

[salty]

I did not know that:bonk:

 

[SDAnderson]

omar once bubbled...
cheaper and better

http://www.oxygenanalyzer.com/YOUDOIT.htm

omar

Cheaper, yes. The el Cheapo kit is $100.00, the You Do It kit is $90.00.

Better, how? Having looked at the schematics, I'll tell you that any difference in the performance or durability lies in the component parts, not in the design - these just aren't complicated devices.

There isn't a substantial difference between one cheap rocker switch and another, or one cheap plastic box or another, etc. The only critical component is the oxygen sensor. Any reason to believe that the Teledyne R-17D Oxygen Sensor (at $65.00) used in the OxyCheq el Cheapo II is better/worse than the Analytical Industries PSR-11-39-JD (at $60.00) used in the RC Dive Technology You Do It? As posted on the respective websites, the Teledyne is stated to have a +/-10mv rating and the AI is listed as 9mv - 13.5mv - probably not significantly different but not sufficient information to make an evaluation. Otherwise the specs are very similar: 6 second response times, hydrophobic membranes, long-lived, etc.

I don't know much about this issue, but OxyCheq has something to say about it on their website. Admittedly a partisan source, but I've always found Patrick to be reliable and forthright. I also consider it a plus that the Teledyne sensor seems to be the standard for much of the industry, including for the U.S. military. I couldn't find much on the RD Dive Technology site about the issue and would love some more input.

My el Cheapo is over a year old now and has probably analyzed a hundred fills, it's still going strong and I haven't had any issues with accuracy at O2% ranging from mid-teens to 100%. Eventually, I'll have to replace the sensor and I'd like to educate myself ahead of time...

Thanks for any information you (or anyone else) can provide.

Steven