O2 analyzers

[allen]

Once in a while I run into an operation that has had its nitrox blended elsewhere and doesn't have an analyzer. I'm thinking about getting my own O2 analyzer. :?: Does anyone have any advice about whether or not to get one and which one to get?

[Jordan]

i like maxtec max 02 plus

[curtschu]

I just picked up one from TDL during their crazy sale Thursday for just 169.00 I resisted buying one and was going to build one from the El Cheapo kit but for $69 bucks more I get a factory one. Couldn't pass it up.

Curt

I admit I'm "old school," but I have to throw a couple of thoughts your way:

1) When I got nitrox certified, the directive from my instructor was to ALWAYS analyze gas before using it. This means every diver, or at least every buddy team, would own an analyzer.

2) If I went to buy nitrox from an operation that didn't have an analyzer, I would back away slowly . . .

[DeWayne]

Even if you get your fills from a reputable source and watch it being analyzed when you pick it up, it is still a good habit to get into to analyze prior to going into the water. Some may call that anal, but many call it being safe. If you dive anything other than air, you should own an O2 analyzer or at least have easy access to one.

[MengTze]

If you are DIY inclined you can make one yourself. There are 'kits' out there, with a bit of work and shipping costs, you could be done for about $100.

And yes, everyone diving mixed gass, should analyze themselves.

[firedawg226]

I own a maxtec and love it. Easy to calibrate and use and very accurate down to 1/10 of a percent.
As for sludge's comment, i couldnt agree more and that goes for Dewayne's as well. We as divers need to be vigilant in knowing our mix and even though i blend my own mix i still check it before going in the water. It is just a safety thing with me and im not willing to jeapordise my life or any one elses that i dive with. As Dewayne said, if where you are geeting your nitrox fills does not analize the gas for you, i would politely not use thier establishment and find someone who will give the service you deserve.
I am fairley certain that they (the shop) has to keep a log of what they fill and for whom the fill is for per DOT standards where you the consumer has to sign the book that you got the mix you wanted and that it was analized while you wre there.
As in class you wre told to beware of " trust me dives" i would also beware of "trust me gas". :-D

My opinion of course, for what its worth....

I'm almost certain the log book thing is voluntary (an open-water shop thing; I've never seen a cave shop that does it).

If someone knows a DOT statute that deals with it, please enlighten us.

Russell

[CaptainSpeleo]

I admit I'm "old school," but I have to throw a couple of thoughts your way:

1) When I got nitrox certified, the directive from my instructor was to ALWAYS analyze gas before using it. This means every diver, or at least every buddy team, would own an analyzer.

2) If I went to buy nitrox from an operation that didn't have an analyzer, I would back away slowly . . .

I agree that every diver/team should have their own analyzer.
It should not fall on the "operation" to provide analyzers to the diver. If they do it is a customer convenience.
The operation analyzes the gas as it is made and test their banks to verify
proper mixes as needed. If the diver has doubts about the mix they should test it at time of fill and on site prior to diving the gas. If they never doubt their mix they probably shouldn't dive mix ever...call me paranoid but I never totaly trust a mix unless I test it at least twice.

[CaptainSpeleo]

I'm almost certain the log book thing is voluntary (an open-water shop thing; I've never seen a cave shop that does it).

If someone knows a DOT statute that deals with it, please enlighten us.

Russell
The purpose of the log is to try to train divers to be responsible for
themselves and the gas they breath. The log stated that the signer has tested his fill for smell, pO2, and pressure and that it was satisfactory prior to leaving the fill station. No DOT mandates involved.
Lee

I got a PM that said the log requirement is somewhere in OSHA's regulations. I got on their site and did searches on every key word I could think of (oxygen, mixing, log, 21%, gas, . . . ). There's about a bajillion regulations on that site.

Maybe I can get a job as a regulation writer for OSHA. That way I could write all day long and never say anything. Kind of like what I do here, but get paid for it.

[CaptainSpeleo]

I just turned on my computer at 9:00 A.M. and checked E-mail and was made aware of this post. When I clicked the link in the message and it brought up the webpage, it had 2 entries in it with MY username and photo and which were posted at 6:07 A.M. and 6:10 A.M.(before I even turned on this computer). Those entries were not written by ME. Is this someone's idea of a joke? :!:

[DeWayne]

I have always been led to believe (by those who enforce it in their shops) that logging fills has more to do with agency recomendations and personal liability concerns. By having the diver verify the mix and signing for it, it protects the fill station should something happen after the cylinder leaves their posession. I think it just makes good common sense to verify the contents prior to paying for it; call me anal but I also like to recheck the contents when I am gearing up, prior to going into the water and breathing it. There is a corollary to Murphy's law that states, "Nothing ever got so bad that it could not get worse." Being a bit anal can help to minimize the effects of Murphy.

The post made at 6:10am is signed Lee.

[CaptainSpeleo]

DeWayne:

I didn't notice the name "Lee" at the end of that reply.

It still doesn't explain why MY username and photo are in it.

Thankfully, nothing profane or derogatory was said which would've reflected negatively on me by those who thought I wrote it.

Those posts were made from IP address 71.16.144.151. Specifically, uslec-71.16.144.151.cust.uslec.net .

Those were the only two posts ever made to this forum from that address. You have posted from 83 different IP addresses, but none are related to the above.

That's all I can deduce. TJ?

[firedawg226]

I stand corrected on the dot requirements and i stated that based on a shop owner that i worked for, as he said that it was dot regs to keep a log and that they could come in and audit him if they chose to do so. It could have been a" cya" thing to make sure that he was covered in case there ever was an issue.
I did search the dot regs and could not find the rules governing this issue. The osha regs i believe are more in tune for commercial diving although they mention recreational in the same paragraph so it is up for interputation.
I still agree with DeWayne in i check my gas mix prior to leaving the shop or if i blend my own, and further check it prior to entering the water.
Having an analizer at your disposal is a good thing as it is one more thing to make a trip safe.

[DeWayne]

The official DOT stance is the industry has done a fine job of self regulating ourselves to the point they see no need to intervene. Despite there being no law mandating annual inspections, DOT has stated that the industry standar as practiced is acceptable so why fix something that apparently works. I would wager that a large number of LDS owners are in the dark about what is actually a carved in stone law and what is merely an industry best practice, so they treat everything as law just to cta. OSHA standards for recreational diving are a bit hazy as it first depends upon the number of employees involved before they even take precedent.

[CaptainSpeleo]

Sludge:

Thanks for your reply. I found out what happened. No harm done.

Note to everyone:

When you use someone else's computer to log into this site (or others), be sure and log out when you're done.

:-D

[swadiver]

check out the oxycheq expedition. samishdivers.com has them for $225. get the bc adaptor for $30. hook it to your reg, get O2 and pressure at the same time. good little unit with a case. KNOW WHAT YOU BE BREATHING!