caveseeker7
Contributor
DC,
that's an intresting question, and, after giving it some thought, quite a tough one to amswer.
Manufacturer's point of view is likely that most any change means it's not their unit anymore. Understandable, especially from a liability point of view.
At first I figured it's a clearcut situation, whenever you change a substancial part of you RB, such as the loop, position of the lungs, operating principle or electronics.
For example if you bolt a Hammerhead to your Inspiration it's not an Inspiration anymore. The Hammerhead electronics are considerable different, the layout of the head likewise (3 or 4 O2 cells, batteries out of the loop). Or changing a Jetsam KISS into an eCCR. The KISS valve is the reason for the name, by adding electronics the unit becomes more complex.
Yet no one would think twice of replacing the old analog electronics of a MK design rebreather with something more current ... you probably have to to keep it diving reliably. On the other hand the most noticable design feature of those rebreathers is the center section with the backmounted counterlung. Changes to either would certainly turn it into something other than a MK design.
So to the substancial part I would add the substancial design feature.
In case of either the KISS valve (which has been added to an Inspiration or two, and replaced the electronics and solenoid on a MK15.5 and converted several SCRs) and the Hammerhead (which is currently available as an aftermarket part for the Inspiration and KISS) I'm sure most divers will referto their respective units with both names: HH Inspiration, MK15.5 KISS, KISS Dolphin etc. Every once in a while you'll come across someone with enough creativity to find a new (and good) name like Weenie's XCR (an EDO-04 SCR with a KISS valve CCR mode which can be change from one operating principle to the other within a couple of minutes, the 'x' denotes either 'S' or 'C').
Small changes in my opinion don't really change the rebreather, such as adding a larger case to an Inspiration to hold 7 ltr. tanks or changing from a factory BC to an aftermarket bp/w combo.
Stefan
PS: Joe, have a great time at Sunset House. Dive safe.
that's an intresting question, and, after giving it some thought, quite a tough one to amswer.
Manufacturer's point of view is likely that most any change means it's not their unit anymore. Understandable, especially from a liability point of view.
At first I figured it's a clearcut situation, whenever you change a substancial part of you RB, such as the loop, position of the lungs, operating principle or electronics.
For example if you bolt a Hammerhead to your Inspiration it's not an Inspiration anymore. The Hammerhead electronics are considerable different, the layout of the head likewise (3 or 4 O2 cells, batteries out of the loop). Or changing a Jetsam KISS into an eCCR. The KISS valve is the reason for the name, by adding electronics the unit becomes more complex.
Yet no one would think twice of replacing the old analog electronics of a MK design rebreather with something more current ... you probably have to to keep it diving reliably. On the other hand the most noticable design feature of those rebreathers is the center section with the backmounted counterlung. Changes to either would certainly turn it into something other than a MK design.
So to the substancial part I would add the substancial design feature.
In case of either the KISS valve (which has been added to an Inspiration or two, and replaced the electronics and solenoid on a MK15.5 and converted several SCRs) and the Hammerhead (which is currently available as an aftermarket part for the Inspiration and KISS) I'm sure most divers will referto their respective units with both names: HH Inspiration, MK15.5 KISS, KISS Dolphin etc. Every once in a while you'll come across someone with enough creativity to find a new (and good) name like Weenie's XCR (an EDO-04 SCR with a KISS valve CCR mode which can be change from one operating principle to the other within a couple of minutes, the 'x' denotes either 'S' or 'C').
Small changes in my opinion don't really change the rebreather, such as adding a larger case to an Inspiration to hold 7 ltr. tanks or changing from a factory BC to an aftermarket bp/w combo.
Stefan
PS: Joe, have a great time at Sunset House. Dive safe.