Mounting Argon + Canister

[scubakat]

Hi all, I am looking for ideas for mounting an argon bottle for drysuit inflation and a canister light. My ideas so far are to sling one item at the hip on each side. The other would be to use straps attached to the tank bands with again, one item on each side of the tank.

I am just a regular diver who wants to be warm & have a big light to see cool stuff. I am not a tech or DIR diver, I'm a "do what works" diver. I don't aspire to penetrate wrecks or caves.

I use a Zeagle Ranger with single tanks only & I want to stay as streamlined as possible while keeping the gear & tank changing tasks quick & easy. Will the above ideas work and be safe? Any other suggestions?


Thanks as always!

-kate

 

[Green_Manelishi]

assuming the "Ranger" has a "cummerbun(d?)" arrangement
you might have difficulty placing either the argon OR
light cannister in that location.

downside to placing the light cannister on your primary
tank is that IF the cannister floods you will not easily
be able to examine the light.

 

[scubakat]

Thanks GM, If I could see the canister & confirmed that it was flooding, is there anything that I could do about it? Also... is your light/battery ruined if it floods?

Yes, the Ranger does have a cumberbund. I need to look more closely at the places where people rig stuff. Do you have links to any pics of a diver rigged with a canister at the hip?

-kate

 

[Green_Manelishi]

if it leaks in salt-water .. sayonara whatever the SW
contacts. fresh water is not *usually* such a problem.

make certain the cable between the light head and cannister
is non-wicking (there is another term for that but i do
not recall) so that IF the light head breaks the s-w is
unlikely to flow through the cable and into the cannister
and vice-versa.

if you can see that it is flooded and is still functioning
i'd abort the dive. if it is not functioning the dive is
over so you will have to switch to backup light and "beat feet".

I do not have handy pics but you can "surf" around http://www.gue.com, http://www.wkpp.org, http://www.DIRQuest.Com and http://www.northeastdir.com. Those sites have many links and beaucoup information.

I probably should not say anything but i will:

if you were using a BP/wing you'ld find that it is EXCELLENT for just what you are trying to do: non-tec diving with 'tec' gear (like cannister lights and argon). You now have to try and rig a 'looks-tech' BC with gear it was not intended to support.

I wish you much success.

 

[TexasMike]

Kate--

I've seen in some magazine or website some sort of "quick release" setup for pony bottles that should work with your smaller argon bottle.

Or even better, send an email to my friend Marc Thompson, mbt@ticnet.com (VP of the Scubadillo dive club, and tech diver extrodinaire). He is very familiar with the Rangers and I'm sure he'd love to provide some advice.

 

[scubakat]

Thanks GM, you know what they say about hindsight . My Ranger satisfies the criteria that I used to select it. Four months ago I wouldn't have dreamed that I would want all this extra gear. But at the same time there are other things that I need to aquire more desperately than a BP/W setup.

Thanks for the contact TM, I'll check in with him!

-kate

 

[TexasMike]

Kate...while perusing the printed version of the LeisurePro.com catalog, I came across several items that assist you in mouting pony bottles.

If you don't have a copy, get one, and then look at the "Tank Accessory" pages.

 

[scubakat]

My Canister light finally arrived!

I don't know if you can see it, but in image 43-t, I've attached a quicklink to the plastic & metal coupling where the bladder attaches to the body. Then the bolt snaps are clipped to the quicklink.

Imagine it with the bolt snaps attached to the canister bands. In 44-t you can see the wing buckled over the canister. I think that will minimize the "dangly" effect as long as it does not interfere with bladder inflation or weights.

So does anyone see any major problem with this rig? I need to figure out how to attach the bolt snaps to the canister bands. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Kate

 

[Iguana Don]

Get some stainless steel hose clamps from a boating supply store. This should work just fine.

ID

 

[scubakat]

Iguana Don! Where have you been? Did the Swamp Diver's kidnap you?

-kate