Why aren’t scrubber monitors (aka TempStick) standard on all rebreathers?

[grantctobin]

Are you suggesting that there are more batteries in my rEvo than there are in a rEvo that does not have rMS?

No. SavageSeaCow suggested one should go into the Gemini, to which I quoted and responded that it would require an additional battery (and conversion from analog to digital), to which you errantly responded it wouldn’t.

For those not aware, the rMS scrubber electronics systems are driven by the 9V that also drives the solenoid.

 

[SavageSeaCow]

You can get sorb to Chuuk, Bikini, and even other places with a bit of planning. Where are you imagining that has oxygen but sorb can't be flown in or shipped or brought with you?

Sidenote, I'm much happier not having another battery or thing to break and warrant unit return to mfg.

It’s not that you can’t get it, but it may be in short supply. Rangiroa or fakarava are examples where sorb is available, but it’s not plentiful and the operators who support rebreather divers are keen to make it stretch as far as they can. Or there are places where I have bring my own sorb, such as Bimini. Anyone who plans on exploring caves from an inland base camp will want to use as little as safely possible because everything needs to be packed in. This is where rms shines. Heck, even this summer when DGX and everyone else ran out of sorb people in south Florida were left high and dry because they ran out. The more economically a unit handles its sorb needs the better. Outside of major tech diving hubs sorb is just not as plentiful.

 

[stuartv]

No. SavageSeaCow suggested one should go into the Gemini, to which I quoted and responded that it would require an additional battery (and conversion from analog to digital), to which you errantly responded it wouldn’t.

For those not aware, the rMS scrubber electronics systems are driven by the 9V that also drives the solenoid.

My bad. He also mentioned rMS in that post and I got confused. Apologies.

 

[Tracy]

It’s not that you can’t get it, but it may be in short supply. Rangiroa or fakarava are examples where sorb is available, but it’s not plentiful and the operators who support rebreather divers are keen to make it stretch as far as they can. Or there are places where I have bring my own sorb, such as Bimini. Anyone who plans on exploring caves from an inland base camp will want to use as little as safely possible because everything needs to be packed in. This is where rms shines. Heck, even this summer when DGX and everyone else ran out of sorb people in south Florida were left high and dry because they ran out. The more economically a unit handles its sorb needs the better. Outside of major tech diving hubs sorb is just not as plentiful.

People that were left high and dry never thought to ask anybody else where they were getting it. I shipped almost a pallet of individual kegs to Florida this summer. Most of them were surprised it was cheaper than they were used to paying locally. I'm sure there were a lot of shops really enjoying the fact that DGX couldn't supply.

 

[rddvet]

They're definitely not a gimmick! The probes work and here's a paper on the subject: The performance of ‘temperature stick’ carbon dioxide absorbent monitors in diving rebreathers

"These data represent the first publicly reported demonstration that temperature sticks can reliably warn indirectly of CO2 breakthrough before it occurs."

To each their own. To me it's a gimmick. It's an unnecessary cool toy that doesn't add real valuable information to the dive at hand. It's more something a couple ccr manufacturers offer to attract buyers but isn't necessary (which is the definition of a gimmick)

 

[Tracy]

To each their own. To me it's a gimmick. It's an unnecessary cool toy that doesn't add real valuable information to the dive at hand. It's more something a couple ccr manufacturers offer to attract buyers but isn't necessary (which is the definition of a gimmick)

This, I see it like the co2 monitoring.
Except the temp sticks actually do something. Just nothing I find useful.

 

[boriss]

To each their own. To me it's a gimmick. It's an unnecessary cool toy that doesn't add real valuable information to the dive at hand. It's more something a couple ccr manufacturers offer to attract buyers but isn't necessary (which is the definition of a gimmick)

Going in the water is unnecessary, but we do it.

When you use the word gimmick the implication is that it has no value other than to attract attention and to have someone buy an item. I posted a scientific study which shows it has real value. It "can reliably warn indirectly of CO2 breakthrough before it occurs." Among other pros which I didn't even mention.

Since when do we not care about safety information? I understand that this shouldn't be the primary reason for choosing a rebreather, but it's a useful feature if already buying a rEvo or AP for example. Similar to how Poseidon has had Solid State O2 Sensors for years. Is it a reason to buy their CCR? Nope. Can you dive without them? Yes. However, do I wish for other CCR's I'm looking at to support SSS? Yes!

I'd take any reliable CO2 breakthrough information in my CCR.

 

[rjack321]

Outside of major tech diving hubs sorb is just not as plentiful.

If you say so. Anyplace with tanks and a booster to support O2 and dil/BO fills seems to have sorb available nowadays. Sure there's the occasional OC only recreational facility - but a temp stick doesn't solve much since they can't support CCR sorb nor the needed fills either.

 

[Wibble]

Can’t think of any dive shop in the UK that stocks Sofnolime.

After a search found one in Nottingham which is miles from the sea.

Need to organise your own lime for a trip.

 

[Tracy]

Can’t think of any dive shop in the UK that stocks Sofnolime.

After a search found one in Nottingham which is miles from the sea.

Need to organise your own lime for a trip.

That is weird, I found 7 shops with a 10 second google search.