nitrox analyzing question

[Jimmer]

I second Perrone's suggestion to check each post. I found that if the tanks are Partial Pressure mixed, and they are rushed, the two cylinders dont seem to mix well. They seem to settle over time, but a nice slow mix always works out.

 

[UndrWatrDan]

Please analyze your own tanks. Do not trust the analysis of someone else as your life could depend on your personal analysis. On one dive trip, we stressed to our students the importance of analysing their own gas. On two seperate occassions, one tank marked as 32% was actually 58% and another tank was 80%. Both of these mixes could have been deadly for the diver if he/she had made a dive based on 32%.

 

[TSandM]

I always analyze my own gas -- My point was simply that I haven't yet had the need to own my own analyzer to do it.

 

[stever2002]

Lets not confuse the original query: I think she is asking "Should she buy her own sensor" not "Should my tanks get checked".

Of course they should be checked - now trusting the sensor and the person using it is the issue. You will learn that calibrating the sensor is very important. Owning your own, may give you a nice warm and fuzzy feeling. Its on my list of toys, but behind many other items I need (like Regs, BC, etc.)

Just my $0.02.

...steve...

 

[WeekendDiver]

I guess I just have had a series of trips where nobody had their own analyzer, and that is what brought me to get one (actually, ask for one)..

 

[Fordan]

or let's say you're on vacation in the caribbean on an island for example.........maybe they've already loaded the tanks on the boat when you arrive at the dock or whatever.........then you would need your own analyzer on hand? right? let me know what most of you do ok? thanks,donna

If they're offering Nitrox on the boat, chances are they'll have an analyzer on hand to allow you to check. However, having your own would work as well. Even better would be to check with both, since it's possible one is off, due to a low battery or the like.

Didn't have one for my last vacation trip, so I used the one on the boat. I let the DM analyze the tank on that trip since he seemed to want to, but I was closely watching him calibrate and use it. The time we got a result we weren't expecting, he tried, I tried, and he tried again and came up with similar answers (what was supposed to be EAN32 was analyzing as EAN23 or so). That was a point I wished I had a second analyzer, since you couldn't be sure of a bad mix vs a bad analyzer (or battery).

 

[Live2Dive22]

I would also recommend having your own analyzer. Although you will find many situations where they are commonly available for use, you are responsible you yourself as a nitrox diver. I travel with my analyzer and I ck it regularly for accuracy. If you you rely on someone else's analyzer they may have a bad sensor and not know it. It is best to have your own, even if it is only to verify the one being used at a destination or dive center is accurate.

 

[PerroneFord]

I second Perrone's suggestion to check each post. I found that if the tanks are Partial Pressure mixed, and they are rushed, the two cylinders dont seem to mix well. They seem to settle over time, but a nice slow mix always works out.

Those two tanks may not mix in a month. We've done experiments with this just to try it out.

Analyze both posts and be safe...

 

[Lone Frogman]

I always analyze my own gas -- My point was simply that I haven't yet had the need to own my own analyzer to do it.

If the shop checks it with their anlyzer and then hands it to you to test your tanks. Who is to say the analyzer is good. Both you and the shop are going to get the same result. By using your own anlyzer to retest, you are doing a double check.

 

[mynamehere]

my first nitrox dive - outside of the class - i was unable to analyze or witness my tanks being analyzed - they just showed up at the dock already labeled.

my dive buddy was fuh-reaking out, after realizing there would be no analyzing our own tanks. I asked for an analyzer and the guy said, 'I marked 'em all, they're right'. He was also the Instructor that coordinated the trip ***not my instructor btw*** so i just didnt know what else to do.

i guess i thought it was acceptable....no one else seemed to mind. But now that i am reading all of these replies...i am looking for an analyzer.