Rebreather parts for DIY?

[bruehlt]

Before anyone starts to condesendingly tell me that only a fool would do this - yah, I've heard it already!

Anyhow, I am looking for sources for parts, and am having a difficult time finding any. Specifically, does anyone know of a source for oxygen compatible solenoid valves? I am curious to know where some of the users out there have obtained theirs.

What about different materials - such as the material for the scrubber canister, or the counter-lungs? Any takers?

 

[roakey]

You might be able to get some leads from this page:

http://diver.ocean.washington.edu/blackwidow.html

Roak

 

[padiscubapro]

bruehlt once bubbled...
Before anyone starts to condesendingly tell me that only a fool would do this - yah, I've heard it already!

Anyhow, I am looking for sources for parts, and am having a difficult time finding any. Specifically, does anyone know of a source for oxygen compatible solenoid valves? I am curious to know where some of the users out there have obtained theirs.

What about different materials - such as the material for the scrubber canister, or the counter-lungs? Any takers?

The most popular solenoids that are used are Wattmeiser, they are low voltage/current but be warned oxygen compatible are generallly not stocked and expect a wait of a month or more..

the are sold by many suppliers.. If I cn find my contact, I'll update this message..

or you can find an inspiration dealer thats willing to sell you the solenoid thats used in the inspiration.. its a custome solenoid thats fully serviceable..

for any reasonable canister design you'll have to do extensive machineing or get something molded.. stay away from lexan/poly carbonate..
acrylic is ok but it is not very impact resistant.. Your best bet is probably delrin (some glues will stick but not a permanent connection) or HDPE no solvents has to be thermally welded.

I would suggest neoprene, ultrasoniclly welded and glued..

If you are an experienced RB diver its a good execercise in learning,, If you don;t dive one already I would suggest against it since you probbably wouldn't know what works and what doesn't.

 

[bruehlt]

Yeah! If you could post your contact I would appreciate it. I contacted Snap-Tite about the wattmeiser earlier today and they said they don't sell them O2 clean from the factory, and gave me a contact of a Co in NY that cleans them......I seem confused here - can anyone clear this up?

 

[padiscubapro]

I ordered mine from van air hydraulic,
I don't know where thier 800# is but I have 856-779-7300 as an alternate number..

The salesman didn't know if they were cleaned or not.. I just made sure I purchased units that were stainless and had viton seals and cleaned the units myself.. If your not confortable doing the cleaning I would reconsider building a RB.. everything you do will have to be made free of contaminates...

I don't know what other people are using, I like the flow rate in the unit with the max psi of 110

2w136-1nr-v1a4 - 110psi

2w136-1nr-v2b4 - 125 psi

2w136-1nr-v0a4 - 150 psi

The higher the allowable pressure the smaller the orafice is and the lower the flow rate will be ..

the optimal interstage pressure is probably between 100-110 psi