Discuss: gas analyzer before second Shearwater?

[Bob DBF]

..the longest coastline...

second longest.


Bob

 

[broncobowsher]

Was at DRIS today and chatted with my instructor (he also works full time in the shop). He suggested a Trimix analyzer would be a good idea. He reminded me I often get air fills at a shop by my office. If I’m taking partially used Trimix tanks to get topped off with air, I’ll need my own analyzer - unless I decide to always get fills at DRIS.

For your situation, yes, trimix analyzer should be very high on your list. Because you can get a fill and not know what it is and the shop doing the fill can't tell you either. (topping off a trimix fill with air).

Still comes down to what level are you at. Doing trimix, sometimes getting an air top off, you need to know.
But just doing Nitrox, any shop doing a nitrox fill better have a good tester. Or get an inexpensive O2 analyzer.
There just isn't a single answer when you are mixing apples and lemons. Are you talking about $100 for a little O2 testing, or $700 for a second computer or a trimix analyzer? Can't lump those together.

 

[Marie13]

second longest.

Bob

My beloved Michigan has the longest coastline of any US state.

 

[Bob DBF]

My beloved Michigan has the longest coastline of any US state.

That would be the second longest shoreline, not coastline.


Bob

 

[Marie13]

For your situation, yes, trimix analyzer should be very high on your list. Because you can get a fill and not know what it is and the shop doing the fill can't tell you either. (topping off a trimix fill with air).

Still comes down to what level are you at. Doing trimix, sometimes getting an air top off, you need to know.
But just doing Nitrox, any shop doing a nitrox fill better have a good tester. Or get an inexpensive O2 analyzer.
There just isn't a single answer when you are mixing apples and lemons. Are you talking about $100 for a little O2 testing, or $700 for a second computer or a trimix analyzer? Can't lump those together.

It’s on my list. But I don’t need to get it now. Class deco dives won’t be until next June-July. Another deco bottle and a Thermolution heated vest are higher on the list. I can always just get all air fills at DRIS after class until I have an analyzer. It’s just an hour each way (minimum with no traffic, 90 min with traffic).

 

[NAM001]

What if the cylinders started with some other gas in them but were not labeled before you filled from the 32% banks?

True story.. Six years ago I was teaching an AN/DP course to a guy that worked at a scientific diving program. He was the equipment manager, the dive locker had a few sets of doubles. Their fill station could only fill air, they didn't have the ability to mix nitrox. I made the student analyze his doubles, the analyzer came out to 26%. He was convinced my analyzer was wrong, we calibrated it against a couple of other bottles and confirmed the analyzer was correct.

It turned out another staff member had checked out a set of doubles, got them filled with 32% so he could go cave diving, but didn't label the doubles (or tell anyone).

Bottom line, you always need to analyze your tanks.

<My process works for me when it is MY TANKS NOT LOANERS. I should have said that from the start. My fault.

 

[CuzzA]

second longest.


Bob

Haha. Correct. I always forget about our brothers to the north. Probably not a lot of divers up there. I'll restate, longest in the CONUS.

 

[KenGordon]

If I’m taking partially used Trimix tanks to get topped off with air, I’ll need my own analyzer -

Say you have 90bar of 18/35 and get an air top to 230 bar, you will end up with something like 20/13 or 20/14. I claim that is essentially air.

Having said that, I like having a trimix analyser.

 

[Marie13]

Haha. Correct. I always forget about our brothers to the north. Probably not a lot of divers up there. I'll restate, longest in the CONUS.

You mean in Michigan? I thought I read somewhere that Michigan was early with adoption of the diver down flag.

 

[Marie13]

For entry level, an O2 analyzer is $100. That's less than a 10% topper on a couple Shearwaters. Add in that your going to need another 3 regs as well and it's almost nothing relatively. I was another 3 to 5k into dives and training fees before I needed the He analyzer so the additional $600 was once again not significant. I don't see any excuse to not have one.

What three more regs? I’ve already got a set for my doubles and a deco reg. I’m pretty much fully equipped already. All I need is a heated vest, another AL40, and a primary light (forgot to mention that in a previous post). I’ve been very careful with my purchases and bought what would work for tech.