When your computer gets stored in cargo bay at 30,000'

[Centrals]

8 yrs old computer is pretty YOUNG by any standard.
My work horse Uwatec Aladin Pro Nitrox is 18yrs old and still work perfectly albeit the display is a wee bit dim(fading)! And I am waiting for the appearance of the Deep 6 computer.

 

[Edward3c]

I have a Gekko with nearly a thousand dives on it and still going strong after 13 years. I change the battery every 400 dives.

 

[oldschoolto]

I think your LDS did a little Salesmanship on you.... Dive Computers are a really simple micro-processor with sensors.. The biggest thing they need to do is keep the water out... Battery life is the next thing in line of failure... It has no real moving parts to wear out... It's a lot like a TV set, Some last years and years and then you'll get one that just starts screwing up for no reason... Because yours went bad does not mean your husbands would soon follow...

That said, The cost of a new computer and have matching gear is a small price for piece of mind.. Knowing how your teammates gear works and were it is on their kit is part of a good buddy team... Glad you found a new computer you like..

Jim...

 

[John Bantin]

The ambient pressure in the cargo bay is the same as that of the passenger compartment. When in 1974 a Turkish Airlines DC10 (flight 981) leaving Paris did not have its cargo door shut properly, losing pressure, the floor of the passenger compartment collapsed at altitude causing a famous air disaster.

 

[KeithG]

I think your LDS did a little Salesmanship on you.... Dive Computers are a really simple micro-processor with sensors.. The biggest thing they need to do is keep the water out... Battery life is the next thing in line of failure... It has no real moving parts to wear out... It's a lot like a TV set, Some last years and years and then you'll get one that just starts screwing up for no reason... Because yours went bad does not mean your husbands would soon follow...

That said, The cost of a new computer and have matching gear is a small price for piece of mind.. Knowing how your teammates gear works and were it is on their kit is part of a good buddy team... Glad you found a new computer you like..

Jim...

Agreed. On the brightside, you are now just 1 computer short of being "properly equipt" with a redundant computer for both of you.

As a vacation diver I feel that having a backup computer is worth the cost (but then I buy used computers, so cost is not an issue for me).

I suggest that you think about and pre-plan your next shopping spree so that you know what you want to do when your next computer dies. Will you buy 2 more? Or do nothing....

 

[Flutter]

Giffenk,

Good point. My birthday is Jan 7th.

 

[Tracy]

Update - we ended up replacing my computer with 2 new Suunto Nuovo computers, one for each of us. Our lds advised us that 8 yrs (nearly 300 dives) with my previous Suunto Gekko computer couldn't really be faulted by care, maintenance (done annually by them), or warranty. They called it eventual wear & tear - specifically, "death via a self-diving" re-occurrence (the depth sensor had simply worn out). Apparently, it occurs somewhat frequently with "older" computers & they recommended replacement of my entire dive computer (rather than attempt repair). Since it seems only a matter of time before my husbands "old" computer also dies, we also purchased a simple, "old-school" analog depth gauge, as well. We hope to be proactive, hopefully with a simple, reliable instrument to compare our 3 computer depth gauges that we might pick up any future Significant depth discrepancies earlier, rather than later. . .

While they didn't lie to you, in actuality, it happens with a lot of suunto computers and very rarely with any other brand.
I have a drawer full of suuntos with faulty pressure sensors, I don't have any other brands failed in that way.

 

[KeithG]

While they didn't lie to you, in actuality, it happens with a lot of suunto computers and very rarely with any other brand.
I have a drawer full of suuntos with faulty pressure sensors, I don't have any other brands failed in that way.

I have always wondered if there is a "best design" for pressure transducers that some manufacturers eschew (yes i had to look that word up) due to cost reduction? This cost cutting may make them more prone to failure and / or limit their life span.

The one design i am fairly familiar with is the uwatec aladin line. The electronics and pressure sensor is sealed inside essentially a "baggy full of non-compressible oil". This design does not require the computer housing to be pressure proof.

It also does not expose the pressure transducer to the external environment. No need to worry about salt or other nasty bits in the water getting at the pressure transducer.

My experience has led me to expect a 20+ year lifespan for a dive computer.

 

[Scubagolf]

FYI, here is a stocking stuffer suggestion, 2 day Prime shipping and Oceanic still supports and warranties them:
https://www.amazon.com/AERIS-Person...TF8&qid=1481884589&sr=8-2&keywords=Aeris+a300

I bought this Aeris A300 last summer to replace my 10 year old Aeris Atmos II. It covers all my needs for rec dives and Nitrox, with large digits.

 

[Tracy]

I have always wondered if there is a "best design" for pressure transducers that some manufacturers eschew (yes i had to look that word up) due to cost reduction? This cost cutting may make them more prone to failure and / or limit their life span.

The one design i am fairly familiar with is the uwatec aladin line. The electronics and pressure sensor is sealed inside essentially a "baggy full of non-compressible oil". This design does not require the computer housing to be pressure proof.

It also does not expose the pressure transducer to the external environment. No need to worry about salt or other nasty bits in the water getting at the pressure transducer.

My experience has led me to expect a 20+ year lifespan for a dive computer.

While the uwatec computers are very robust, I have never cared for the non replaceable battery. I have had many uwatec bottom timers over the years and while I have never had one fail on a dive due to a battery dying, it was always a concern beings that you had no idea how much life was left.