Test Depth Gauge in Swimming Pool?

[davidbaraff]

I ordered an air-pressure/depth-gauge console. Luckily, it was a redundant backup for my computer because, ironically, on my first dive i discovered the depth-gauge was completely non-functional, though the air-pressure gauge worked.

Question: when I get a replacement, I'd like to test it ASAP, but I won't be scuba diving till August unfortunately. Can I just take the gauge, unattached, to the bottom of a 12' swimming pool to test it?

I assume that the depth-gauge doesn't need to be hooked to a tank to work, and that 12' of swimming pool is enough to see if it registers? (I can test the air-pressure gauge by just visiting my LDS.)

 

[mike_s]

I'm thinking that 12' of sea water will measure slightly differently than 12' of fresh water. but at that depth the difference should be very marginal and nothing to worry about.

but to answer your original question, an analog depth gauge does not not connect to a tank, only the pressure gauge does. so you can take the depth gauge down to the pool for testing. (take the depth gauge out of the console and don't take the pressure gauge with it not hooked to a tank/first-stage in the pool.... otherwise you're just asking to get water in it.).

 

[spectrum]

I ordered an air-pressure/depth-gauge console. Luckily, it was a redundant backup for my computer because, ironically, on my first dive i discovered the depth-gauge was completely non-functional, though the air-pressure gauge worked.

Question: when I get a replacement, I'd like to test it ASAP, but I won't be scuba diving till August unfortunately. Can I just take the gauge, unattached, to the bottom of a 12' swimming pool to test it?

I assume that the depth-gauge doesn't need to be hooked to a tank to work, and that 12' of swimming pool is enough to see if it registers? (I can test the air-pressure gauge by just visiting my LDS.)

If you take the depth gauge to the bottom of the pool you will see that if functions. Being on the order of 12 feet deep you will be in the low end of the scale and as such not terribly accurate. The slight delta caused by being in fresh water will be over shadowed by being at the low end of the scale so don't even try to account for that.

Like others said, just bring the puck, not the whole console including the pressure gauge.

You might ask the LDS if they have a pressure pot with a view port as well.

Alternatively 99.9% of divers get a gauge that works so you could just pack it away till you're ready to dive but your desire to test it is understandable.

Pete