BCD.....auto inflation?

[-red-]

i was wondering what the possible cause for bcd auto inflation were and all the possible ways to prevent and deal with this potentialy dangerous situation if it were to occur underwater in the middle of a dive.

thanks alot.....i have an oxy cheq extreme wing so i cant stab it.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

The valve in my inflator is a Schrader type valve (with a rubber/plastic cover) so it could get stuck open causing an uncotrolled inflation of the BC. Cleaning gear properly I would think would be the best prevention. If it happens disconnect your LP hose to get it to stop and Vent!

Oh and welcome to Scubaboard!!

 

[-red-]

thanks for the welcome.

what if the bcd starts indlafting while in 80ft of water and is shooting me to the surface?

 

[neil]

thanks for the welcome.

what if the bcd starts indlafting while in 80ft of water and is shooting me to the surface?

Most, if not ALL modern BC's that I am familiar with will empty faster than they will fill. I demonstrate this to students in every class by simultaneously holding down both buttons while UW, and staying there. Try this in a pool with yours so you'll be confident of that fact.

If your BC is filling while UW, the easiest and fastest thing to do is dump air in the usual way or hold the dump valve open. THEN, if you want, disconnect the hose. The "runaway inflator" scenario is overstated, IMO.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

thanks for the welcome.

what if the bcd starts indlafting while in 80ft of water and is shooting me to the surface?

If it happens disconnect your LP hose to get it to stop and Vent!

VENT and Fast!

 

[TSandM]

Your rear dump valve will dump faster than the inflator can inflate the wing. You can pitch a little down, fin down, hold the dump open, signal buddy, buddy can disconnect hose. Or, if you recognize the problem really fast, you can disconnect the hose. There is also the school that says get head up and use the inflator dump while you disconnect, which at least has the advantage that your dry suit (if you are in one) will vent at the same time, and you have both hands in front of you.

My leaking inflator wasn't a wild rush of air, but a slow leak where I kept wondering why I was getting light, until I realized what the problem was. I had plenty of time to disconnect the hose.

 

[kidspot]

As to the cause - I've found it is often a little corrosion, crystalized salt or sand in the inflator mechanism -

 

[-red-]

thanks alot all very good information.

have a good dive.
-red-

 

[boomx5]

The "runaway inflator" scenario is overstated, IMO.

That is, until it happens to you while in 200' of water with a 45 minute deco obligation. I used to think the same thing once, until it happened to me. Now I don't have such a cavalier attitude. Training scenarios and controlled pool sessions with OW students is a lot different than real life when it's your *** on the line.

 

[String]

All the automatic inflations ive seen have been very slow rare - i've not seen one to rival the speed of someone holding down the button. As a result people just tend to notice they're dumping more often than normal and eventually disconnect the hose.

As for how to deal with it - you disconnect the hose while dumping as you should have been trained in entry level course.

Dry suit auto inflate worries me more than BCD. Particularly on the shallow stop of a deco dive, put some gas in for warmth and if the button chose that team to stick you could be in trouble, suits dont dump anywhere near as fast as BCDs and at only 6m to start with you could end up on the surface before its fixed.

Its a good reason to maintain kit, wash in fresh water, strip things down to remove sand and grit etc.