New Diver Technologies are Slow to Evolve

[cool_hardware52]

High pressure compressors that are small, quite and lightweight capable of 6000psi on a standard 110v circuit.

Easily portable compressors that could be plugged in anywhere would be neat. The problem is simple physics.

A typical 115 VAC outlet is fused at 15 amps. That means you have about 1725 watts available.

1 HP = 746 watts, so you are limited in theory to about 2hp. In practice, due to starting loads, line drop etc. You won't often find any "plug anywhere" 115 VAC powered motor operated device much over 1 hp, maybe 1.5 hp.

Big efficient compressors get about 1.25-1.5 CFM per HP. The little compressors are often about 1 cfm / HP. (or less)

How useful is a 1 cfm scuba compressor? If your needs are modest and you have lots of time, maybe, as it will likely require about 2 hours to fill an 80.

Is there really much demand for a easily portable compressor that takes 2 hrs to fill a single tank? Apparently not.

Tobin

 

[Stu S.]

There is plenty of product development going on, just not for recreational divers. There are hundreds of people down the road at EA Sports developing video games. That is the future, although maybe not for each of us.

Participation in outdoor sports continues to decline. Golf, hunting, and fishing are all losing participants. SCUBA is tougher to track, but does not look like it is on a growth spurt.

I don't see SCUBA companies hiring new college graduates. Those game companies certainly are. With profit as a motivator, there are products that will offer higher returns than SCUBA.

As an outdoor type, this bothers me. As the first generation of kids to grow up on video games are now young adults, it looks like the trend to couch-type games will continue. If SCUBA had more sales potential, the number of new products would certainly increase.

 

[Teamcasa]

....How useful is a 1 cfm scuba compressor? If your needs are modest and you have lots of time, maybe, as it will likely require about 2 hours to fill an 80.

Is there really much demand for a easily portable compressor that takes 2 hrs to fill a single tank? Apparently not.

Tobin

You may very well be right Tobin. However, I do think an quite, affordable compressor that would re-fill my tanks, even if it took 3-4 hours would be on my shopping list.

Maybe I'll just have to build my own.

 

[MikeFerrara]

You may very well be right Tobin. However, I do think an quite, affordable compressor that would re-fill my tanks, even if it took 3-4 hours would be on my shopping list.

Maybe I'll just have to build my own.

There are some inexpensive compressors out there that would be just fine for filling tanks at home. I would guess that most run on single phase 220v but most people in the US have this available in their homes. You might have to change some wireing around to get it in your garage or something but it isn't a big deal.

 

[Teamcasa]

There are some inexpensive compressors out there that would be just fine for filling tanks at home. I would guess that most run on single phase 220v but most people in the US have this available in their homes. You might have to change some wireing around to get it in your garage or something but it isn't a big deal.

Thanks Mike, I have a 100amp subpanel that runs several machines/welders/air compressors in my shop already. It's not the voltage that I'm aiming for, it's the noise. My current compressors (both for shop air and a in-ground automotive hoist) make enough noise.

If I had a small compressor that hummed quitely away while slowly filling a few tanks, I'd be a happy guy.

 

[cool_hardware52]

There are some inexpensive compressors out there that would be just fine for filling tanks at home. I would guess that most run on single phase 220v but most people in the US have this available in their homes. You might have to change some wireing around to get it in your garage or something but it isn't a big deal.

Many garages have an 220 Single Phase outlet for the dryer. You can rig your portable compressor with the same cord as the dryer, plug and play.

Keep the cord to the compressor short. Use large conductors. Check the breakers on the circuit. 20 amps at 220 will provide 4400 watts or in theory over 5 hp. This makes ~3.5 hp, ~ 3 cfm garage pumps feasible.

Tobin

 

[Web Monkey]

Lights that produced sun like power without carrying around a 10lb battery canister, for less than $500.

I have a really nice LED light that runs about 20 hours on a set of C cells and is as bright as my UK Light Cannon HID.

Terry

 

[Teamcasa]

I have a really nice LED light that runs about 20 hours on a set of C cells and is as bright as my UK Light Cannon HID.

Terry

I think LED tech will only continue to improve. Soon, I think it will become the dive light standard.

 

[Stu S.]

removed

 

[Matt S.]

I have a really nice LED light that runs about 20 hours on a set of C cells and is as bright as my UK Light Cannon HID.

Terry

What is the LED light model? I am taking a guess, is it a C8 eLED Plus? If you compare the figures it is NOT as bright as the HID (170 vs 500 lumens). It may appear to be in many circumstances, which makes it a fair option, but there are others where it won't compete.

I'm not saying you're dumb for using it. The things you do with a light, it does as well as the HID. Good. But I doubt you are toting a 500 lumen LED light. And even if that beast existed, there's nothing LED that competes with the 1500 lumens from the 20+ watt HIDs--as far as I know.

In my pea soup I need as many lumens as I can get, and I need to focus the light into a spear for signaling. I have never seen an LED that competes with an HID in these conditions. My next major gear upgrade will be moving from a 10W HID to something brighter.

However, I cannot wait for the day when LEDs are a no-brainer for everyone.