I'm doing longer dives and thinking of a heated vest. The Santi looks like a nice option but what else is available?
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I'm doing longer dives and thinking of a heated vest. The Santi looks like a nice option but what else is available?
I've been using this one for several years now. Well not this one, as I have the smaller battery pack. I can do 2+ hour decos with no problems, although I do carry neoprene gloves when I deco over an hour. You can use other batteries, but this one comes with 3 heat settings + off. Turn it on low when I start to deco (or have a long scooter ride back to the entry after a hard swim), and turn it up if and when I need it. Works flooded (wires are encapsulated in rubber)
http://www.golemgear.com/p-663-q-ves...o-version.aspx
Here's how I attach it to my backplate:
Page 27:
http://www.nsscds.org/files/uws/v39n...llprintweb.pdf
FYI... Next I setup a dry suit for this I will use Golem Gear's bulkhead that fits under dry suit inflator. The rest I'll keep the same. Low cost and very effective. Hours of heat with good battery pack.
Another alternative is a sodium acetate heat pack. I used to use one under my wet suit when I dived Dutch Springs in spring (48 F). You charge the heat pack by boiling for 15 min to dissolve the sodium acetate as a supersaturated aqueous solution. To get heat, snap the clicker inside the pouch, and the heat of crystallization of the sodium acetate will warm you for an hour. You have to keep the heater in a cloth pouch because it is too hot for bare skin.
Amazon.com has a 5x9 inch one for $22. Onlinesciencemall.com has an 8x8 inch one for $15 plus shipping.
I have the Santi vest and suit valve. I thought that one of the positive features of the vest would be the crutch strap, but have found that feature mostly just complicates plumbing options. The vest is warm and comfortable and a good thermal layer even if off.
The suit valve electric connection combo is wonderfully low profile but the valve is really slow. Too slow! You can't just give your suit button a shot and expect to stop short as if on a leash. I am not sure what to do about that, I expect that I will have a separate wiring thru suit connection on the next suit so as to allow for a faster suit valve.
For my diving I use it mostly for deco. I share the battery with a light and simply unplug the e/o plug from the light and switch it to the suit. I am careful to switch off the battery and keep the e/o connectors greased up.
I am very happy to have this set up.
Peter
keep in mind that pressure is often a factor in reaction speed. There have been bad burns caused by these, sometimes even unnoticed for sometime, because most body parts were in contact with cold water at the same time.Quote:
Originally Posted by allen
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The Santi is pretty good, but like Peter says it can interfere with pee valve plumbing - I have modified my vest to get around that.
Many of us have used the Tourmaster Synergy motorcycle vest with quite some success. Its main disadvantage is that if you fold it and bend the wires, eventually they develop hot spots and the vest effectively becomes useless.
The other good motorcycle vest option is the Heat Demon, which uses pads rather than wires, and they are removable. Unfortunately it doesn't get as warm as the Tourmaster or the Santi (about 30W vs 50W). The size is very easily adjustable which is a nice feature when you are using different undergarments.
DUI have a thin heated full body undergarment but it uses a different voltage (6.9V), only heats the torso and the battery pack is the size of a small submarine.
Light Monkey have just started making a controller for heated vests that can be used with any E/O cord 12V battery pack and any heated undergarment. Have a look at their website.
I personally use the Golem integrated inflator connector, but many more options for the through-suit connection have appeared in the 5 years or so since I started using it. I have not used the Golem vest but I have only heard good things about it.
For your kind of diving you do not want any kind of chemical pack inside your suit, or a battery pack for that matter.
Andy
As an avid adventure motorcycle rider that rides year round may I recommend Gerbing heated gear and their thin wire technology.
http://www.gerbing.com
Clay
Kimberton,Pa
BMW R1200GS/A
I'm glad it's worked for you in the past but that is an exceptionally dangerous way to get a very bad burn. Especially in a Drysuit where your ability to surface is limited by the overhead or deco obligation. Not only does pressure affect their heat, it's possible it could move to a position where it gets pushed tightly against the skin and even with a protective cloth bag could burn you.Quote:
Originally Posted by allen
I just signed us up as a UTD Dealer because of this product right here. Works wet or dry. http://www.utdequipment.com/new/page...ies/solar.html
With standard EO cording it will work with any canister battery. The unit pulls the equivalent of a 35 watt light, so if you are going to use it for a full dive, you would likely need an EO'ed 10 amp canister. If, on the other hand, you want it just for deco, then you could plug it in to your primary light canister, provided that you EO'ed that. Myself, I'm opting for the stand-alone canister. Good-bye drysuit, at least for around here!
I always thought that meant Urinary Tract Disorder??? I knew a girl once that was a dealer for those.Quote:
Originally Posted by stickydeco
That's a very good reason for knowing her once....Quote:
Originally Posted by OFG-1
Hey Jack, lLet me know how that works out in a wet suit. Bill
Do any of these vests work in a wetsuit? I'd be interested too if there were good, safe options. My last dive in these here parts was 24mins in 51 degree water and I was near the popsicle stage when I surfaced. Unfortunately dry suits aren't an option where I dive.Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman
-Jon
No, none of these is designed to be operated submerged, but Thermalution makes a heating system for wetsuits. I don't know anything about it except that it exists.
I have a Santi vest, and I absolutely love it. I can't imagine using it in water much warmer than Puget Sound, though -- it throws a TON of heat!
I will also chime in and say the santi vest is very poorly designed with that crotch strap. it's worthless and makes the p valve a nightmare to hook up.
but it's very warm
I saw a video about that Thermalution device. The guy was swimming around in 40 degree water for 15 minutes, and was warm when he got out.Quote:
Originally Posted by jlillest
Been using a Gerbing vest several years in Missouri springs. Works very good.
I've been very satisfied with the Golem vest and battery pack combo.
Check out this link here. The UTD system DOES work with wetsuits. http://www.utdequipment.com/new/page...ies/solar.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by LCF
Hmm the utd one looks interesting. Does anyone has any experiance with this system?
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I thought it was reasonably priced until I just added the battery pack!
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Has anyone tried DUI's offering? Seems to be awfully expensive. I still worry about the dependability factor of this type of equipment.
$1600 seems a little expensive. That's the price for the golem gear heated vest. I guess if it works and the battery is replaceable it would be with it
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That's the price for the one with the largest battery. If you look thru the site you will see other models. The one I have is currently on sale for half that price. Also, if you don't need the battery you can save a lot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diverlee
I think I paid about $1200 when I bought mine. I've used it on every dive - almost every dive - for several years so the cost per dive is pretty low. However, it paid for itself on the 1st long deco, IMO.
Thanks.
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I realize many of you dive in cold water, but the thought of someone who only dives in caves getting cold in a drysuit is mind-boggling. Almost as much so as the thought of someone saying they'd rather wear a wetsuit than a drysuit.
To each their own...
My dives are in the 7 hour range right now. I'm planning on a 12 hour dive shortly. 70 degree water that long you get cold.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
I understand where you're coming from, but some of us get cold and some don't. Wish I were in the "don't" column, but I'm not.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slüdge
I did go to the heated vest for cold ocean dives, but Jakub told me he was using his for some cave dives and I tried it.
First, my heater battery canister is now part of my overall weight system, so the battery is going to go along for the ride regardless. Since it's always there anyway, I figure I might as well use it.
My dives, like MedCop, last a min of 3 hours and typically go much longer (5-7 hours), meaning decos are starting at more than 30 minutes. On deco, with drysuit & thermals alone (no heater), I start shivering after about 45 minutes, and start noticeably shaking after an hour. Decos between 1 & 2 hrs are much harder for me to manage, even when I put on neoprene gloves and a second hood.
The vest heater has changed all of that. Now when I return to the cave sign I'll turn the heat setting on low. If I start to get chilled later I'll turn it up to medium. And if I get cold later on I'll turn it up to high.
When's the last time any of you did a 2-hour deco in a FL cave and left the water warm?
The rebreather is a great machine, but with it I traded looking at my SPG for looking at my deco obligation, as the criterion for turning my dives. I wish I were like those of you whom can go into a cave without a hood and stay as long as you like without getting cold. I get cold, so I use the heater.
Even if you don't feel cold you can still suffer from hypothermia.
Do all of them have an option to turn on and off while under water?
I start getting cold after 30i minutes. I can wear thicker under garments but then I can hardly move! I really considering a heater but want to make a wise choice
Plus I do occasionally dive in water 40 degrees.
I don't dive in the ocean much in the winter because I freeze. Looking for a heated best I can use wet or dry. If I have to by two different ones then so be it.
Thanks for any suggestions
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I think Golem Gear is the only one with an external - to the drysuit - battery that has On/Off + Low/Med/High settings. Many, including GG, come with EO electrical plugs which allow you to unplug to turn off and plug-in to turn on, giving you one heat setting. Many of us have tried, and still use, the heated vests designed for motorcycle use, which have to be turned on before you zip up your suit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diverlee
Light monkey has a controller that allows various settings a high, med, low if you will.
The old standard was just unplug via wet mate cord to turn off / on.
I cut out the controller on my motorcycle vest. I use the switch on my can to turn on or off the vest. 2 cans with e/o's.Quote:
Originally Posted by w ripley
Thanks for the input
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For drysuit divers: http://www.lola.cz/en/eshop/heating
TK
Thanks. What country is this company in?
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Lola.cz is in Czech Republic, Europe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Diverlee
I have used Lola heating vest, drysuit inflator with electric wire and primary light.
Positive things: On/Off, Low-Med-High -power setting of vest is on top of battery canister, the light head is compact, reasonable price.
Negative points: drysuit inflator can freeze open in subzero conditions, metal shell battery canister is heavy, you might experience language barrier with the company.
As a summary I have dived quite happy with it.
TK
Thanks you I have a good friend from Czech Republic. I can have her do the talking for me!
Thanks!
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