Thermalution use and care for a newbie

[divenski]

I just bought a Thermalution Compact vest and have questions about use while diving and care of it. It was quite difficult to thread the battery wires through the little holes in the bottom of the battery pockets, so I'm wondering about the need to pull the batteries out to charge them. I'm worried I'll pull something else loose. I understand that i should rinse the vest and lay it flat after diving - and I'm not sure if I will get 2 dives out of one charge (Galapagos) - so I'd love some tips, explanations of how you manage that while on a liveaboard. I'm a newbie Thermalution user, not a newbie diver, but I'd like this to last as long as possible, since the company apparently is no more. Thanks!

 

[Marie13]

I have a different Thermolution model, but everything is probably essentially the same. I've had mine for two years.

Did your vest come with the caps for the wire ends? If so, make sure those are on the ends you're trying to thread through the holes at the bottom of the battery pockets. Makes a big difference.

Hang your vest up. That's what I do between uses when it's not traveling with me (in my car). Yes, take the batteries out of the pockets to charge them. I have left the batteries when charging the vest laid flat on the floor, but they're too heavy to leave in the vest when hanging it.

 

[tursiops]

I just bought a Thermalution Compact vest and have questions about use while diving and care of it. It was quite difficult to thread the battery wires through the little holes in the bottom of the battery pockets, so I'm wondering about the need to pull the batteries out to charge them. I'm worried I'll pull something else loose. I understand that i should rinse the vest and lay it flat after diving - and I'm not sure if I will get 2 dives out of one charge (Galapagos) - so I'd love some tips, explanations of how you manage that while on a liveaboard. I'm a newbie Thermalution user, not a newbie diver, but I'd like this to last as long as possible, since the company apparently is no more. Thanks!

You don't need to take the batteries out of the pockets to charge them, but the plugs will go through the hole with a little twisting and stretching of the fabric. I've always just hung mine on a fat hanger to dry it after rinsing...don't wash or squeeze or anything, just rinse it and hang it up preferably where there is a breeze. The batteries are pretty heavy so I'd take them out (for charging) before hanging. Rinse the control box very well...warm water for a while. I use mine towards the end of a dive, in short spurts to warm up.

 

[Marie13]

Hanging it up with the batteries still in the pockets, but it seemed to stretch the vest out some so I just took them out.

 

[divenski]

I have a different Thermolution model, but everything is probably essentially the same. I've had mine for two years.

Did your vest come with the caps for the wire ends? If so, make sure those are on the ends you're trying to thread through the holes at the bottom of the battery pockets. Makes a big difference.

Hang your vest up. That's what I do between uses when it's not traveling with me (in my car). Yes, take the batteries out of the pockets to charge them. I have left the batteries when charging the vest laid flat on the floor, but they're too heavy to leave in the vest when hanging it.

Yes, I've got the caps, thanks for the reminder. It might be a challenge to keep track of the 4 little things, but I'll try. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Gary miyakawa]

Yes, I've got the caps, thanks for the reminder. It might be a challenge to keep track of the 4 little things, but I'll try. Thanks for the advice.

Add some, very bright colored, cord to the end caps to help reduce the chance of losing them.

 

[tangfish]

I don't take my batteries out when I charge them, but I do make sure to be around and check how hot they're getting once or twice while it's charging.