Anyone have any input on the new SS Magnus 950 scooter?
http://www.silent-submersion.com/Pro...us/Magnus.html
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Anyone have any input on the new SS Magnus 950 scooter?
http://www.silent-submersion.com/Pro...us/Magnus.html
Yes, its damned fast, and if you want one, I know of a clinic in Indonesia that will pay you enough to buy one for only one kidney and a small lobe of your liver.Quote:
Originally Posted by deanme
I agree, they are fast, and well balanced. They have several speeds, so you don't have to go real fast, and can conserve battery power.
Great machine. If someone wanted to subsidize one I'd get it in a heartbeat, but I can't justify the price to myself. Hope you like diving solo cause if you use the speed no one else will be keeping up.
Put it this way: would anybody like to buy a 1986 Camaro IROC-Z in very, very good condition, with 72,000 miles? I can e-mail pictures...
Anyone know how many they have sold so far? I'd be curious to know. Sounds like a great machine, but damn it's expensive.
The word I heard from Edd was that they made a limited run (of 25 or 50, I think) because they were afraid that the Magnus wouldn't sell well, due to price. According to Edd, the entire first run is spoken for.
Brian
I'm sharp enough to know that looks don't mean anything, but in the pictures posted at the Magnus link that sure looks like the same DC brushless motor that is in a Dive-X Cuda. Right down to the machining in the case and the connector to the battery.
wowQuote:
Originally Posted by Benthic
And how much do those Megs cost? If I had a choice between a Magnus and a Meg, I'd go for the Magnus.Quote:
Originally Posted by Benthic
But that's just me.
We usually have one at CEE on display, if Jim or myself aren't riding it..... :)
Feel free to come take a look, they retail new for $6500. We'd also be more than happy to show y'all the ins and outs of it since it's a tad bit different than the UV's.
As for speed, Jim made the Hinkel in 12 mins on an RB, I was the slowpoke at 13 mins on OC..... ;)
Safe diving,
Rich
P.S. Yes, the first run was sold out and I believe the second run (May?) is either sold out or close....
Wonder how the scooter feels in the water? At the high speed, is there a lot of rotational velocity?
Really sounds fun.
Not really interested in selling body parts, but for a nominal contribution, I'll stop wearing speedos around the parking lot at Ginnie.
dean
It doesn't have a lot more torque than the N-19, since you can go up to full speed in three steps.Quote:
Originally Posted by deanme
Thanks for the input. So torque is not an issue of speed? I would think the faster the speed, the greater the torque? I'm clueless, so please forgive the silly questions.Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
dean
The torque is always there on any scooter. Once you get moving, you can counteract it by shifting where the tow cord goes through your bolt snap that connects to your crotch strap.Quote:
Originally Posted by deanme
I'll throw in a buck!Quote:
Originally Posted by deanme
The few times I ran it all out I didn't feel anything uncomfortable, other than thinking, "Don't look to the side or you'll lose your mask!"
ok, thanks for the input.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
dean
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
Don't forget Russell rides a crotch rocket, so his "uncomfortable" may be a little higher than most. I was constantly having to duck...Quote:
Originally Posted by deanme
yes, thank you.Quote:
Originally Posted by FW
My question was more directed to understand how the scooter feels at higher speeds. Specifically, was there more torque then at lower speeds.
The Magnus uses a generic motor which is manufactured to our specifications, with a proprietary winding and unique mechanical shaft dimensions. It will not fit into any other brand scooter.
The connectors you refer to (they are called Anderson connectors) have been used in Submerge Scooters since before the other company you mentioned, even existed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pwl4476
Ok, I spent a few days riding Edd's around sidemount stuff last week, so I'll throw my input here. I Normally I ride an N19- I was sure that I would hate the trigger thing (too much going on) but I have to say that is not the case. The first speed is nice and slow, about like an N19 on 3 or 4, and then the middle speed is more like an N19 on 9, and then the third speed is WAY too f'n fast. I suppose it would be nice if you just scootered around JB in 100 foot viz and 50 foot passages all day, but that's not what I do. If you scooter around on speed three (with the prop cranked to 9 of course) in limited viz, or small passage, you're gonna knock your head off sooner or later. Helmet might or might not help. But for you power cave suckers, yea, this is gonna be the ticket.
The best part of the three speed business is this- Switching speeds is effortless- you don't have to stop, put both hands in the shroud to twist the pitch dial, just wrist bump, and you are at a new speed. This is particularly nice if you are behind someone who is constantly on and off the trigger, you can just step down or up to keep up with them, rather than having to adjust your prop all the time. If you have to slow down for a tight spot to minimize silt, just kick it down, and motor through, then power up on the other side. Very smooth.
There are some quirks. First, the damn thing beeps. Not often. Not loudly, just enough to make you stand around and go "What the F was that beeping noise?" Took me two days to realize it was the scooter. Edd had never heard it. I think it only does it when the battery is plugged in out of the water, not sure what the deal with that is. It also plays music when you first plug it in. I think it wants to go swimming.
Second, it's loud. Like a harley. OK, that's not really true, but it is significantly louder than an N19 in the water. Interesting.
There is no more torque than an N19, and I don't notice any from that. If you are so weak your hand hurts from holding a scooter, hit the gym.
Burn time. Numbers look good, but I've not talked to anyone who rode it to a battery stop. I want to know where that is, and at what speed. I keep killing my N19s and I need something that really has the burn time they are advertising (5 hours?) Will that be true? Who knows.
So, yea. It's cool. $6500 worth of cool? If you are doing exploration and you need the burn time, yes. It is that cool. If you are tooling around JB every weekend? No, probably not.
I'll have one, as soon as I can slip one in on the wife- fortunately, they look very similar to an N-19 to someone who doesn't pay that much attention to her dive gear.
Hmmm...
Great input. Thanks.
I didn't hear any beeping, but I heard the voices telling me to go faster. :smt100
Interesting comment about no more torque then a N-19. When I demoed the Magnus, I found the faster the setting the greater the torque, which from a physics perspective only makes sense to me. But then again, I’m a scooter novice.
I agree the wrist bump to transition from one speed to another is very smooth and well designed.
I also agree the top speed is really only preferable when scootering up stream in high flow. I found the top speed to be perfect to get through those few spots in JB that have kicking flow. For me, the limiting factor with the top speed was the additional stress it put on my arm and wrist (and other body parts around the crotch strap) with the torque. But like I said, I’m a novice at the scooter, so maybe my technique is lacking?
When not in high flow I found the medium speed to be perfect for a comfortable ride.
I enjoyed my experience with the Magnus and plan to rent this scooter from Edd every time I dive JB until I can afford to purchase one of my own.
dean
NOPE!Quote:
Originally Posted by deanme
Downstream in high flow was the ticket. Going from the second breakdown (p800') to the first (p500') at JB was the funnest 4.8 seconds of the ride! I could really feel the wind in my hair. (How many things were wrong with that statement?)
Next time, try adjusting the tow line. If it is not centered properly where it goes through the snap link at the crotch strap, it will try to roll your whole body over. This is true for any tow behind scooter.Quote:
Originally Posted by deanme
You know, that is a strange comment to me. The tow line should be free-running through the snap attached to your crotch ring. There should be no adjustment necessary. If you are knotting the tow cord around the clip the scooters are almost unmanageable- you have to have that free running loop to slide back and forth (right to left) if you really want maneuver the scooter as it should be.
It is only a problem, if it *isn't* free running. Some people get the tow line stuck on their dry suits, etc, and it makes the scooter pull to the side, and it acts like really high torque.Quote:
Originally Posted by rchrds
After the first time I scootered my SM rig with the 1" crotch strap I put a 2" crotch strap on immediately after getting out of the water. :) :)
The Magnus motor electronics has a warning beep which can be heard even when the scooter is assembled. This is to remind you to disconnect the batteries from the electronics whilst in storage. Otherwise, the batteries will be completely discharged (down to the hard cut-off) after about 2 months from a fully charged pack.
It will beep during a dive, but not while the scooter is running. It's every 90 seconds or so.
So unlike a UV-42 that was left in a cave at 290 feet for 12 months in salt water and it STILL RAN, a Magnus battery pack would be discharged after such an ordeal.
Thanks for an excellent review!
Rodney
Are the metal plates mounted on the shroud supports standard or something that is being tested? What effect do they have on the scooter?
JL is trying something there, the torque of the scooter bothers his elbow and or shoulder, as he has thrown newspapers millions of times and worn it out!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bruceman
I had a question about the Magnus battery discharging; it does not "self discharge", but the motor speed control electronics do use a small amount of energy whenever they are plugged in. So unplug, and no discharge. If you look at the internal pic of the Magnus you can see an olive drab colored regtangular metal box; that's the electronic speed control unit. It's not part of the battery pack.
Batteries->BMS->[connector]->electronic speed control->motor
All batteries self-discharge, some just do it a lot faster than others. I'm guessing that they were seeing it go down faster than expected though from having the electronics still hooked up?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodney Nairne
No, not at all. You might have to wait 12 months to see any appreciable self discharge on a lithium cell.
Lithium batteries have a really low self discharge rate, but then so do Genesis Lead acid batteries... NiMH stand out in requiring a lot of maintenance.
It's just something to keep in mind, you can't stage a Magnus scooter in the cave for 6 weeks and expect a full battery... for this application you would need a UV or N-19 (brushed motor) scooter with a lithium or lead acid pack.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Webmaster