Smallest Halcyon DSMB with an OPV

wilbo · July 4th, 2006, 12:00 PM

All,

I am looking for a small 'H' Closed Circuit dsmb with an Over Pressure Valve.

As I understand it - the 3.3' Closed Cirecuit model does not have an OPV - and therefore does not vent gas as maximum pressure is reached on the way up to the surface. Consequently it bends like a banana on the surface! Question: Is this not a design flaw?

So - who uses the 3.3 Closed circuit version and how do you get on with it? Any problems on the over inflate?

thanks in advance.

Mal Bridgeman · July 4th, 2006, 12:20 PM

OK so I might be being dumb here .......

I have the Halcyon 3ft dSMB with the drysuit type inflator which has a spring loaded dump vavle attached. Isn;t the springloaded dump the OPV as well?

Mal

wilbo · July 4th, 2006, 12:27 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman)

OK so I might be being dumb here .......

I have the Halcyon 3ft dSMB with the drysuit type inflator which has a spring loaded dump vavle attached. Isn;t the springloaded dump the OPV as well?

Mal

Mal - I think I have been given duff information by an employee at a certain DIR shop on the coast.

You're not dumb. the CC version does have have an OPV. the Oral inflate version has a different deflate mechanism.

fraser · July 4th, 2006, 12:31 PM

Wilbo,

There are two versions of the 3.3ft bag. Both are closed circuit, one is drysuit inflate and the other is oral inflate only.

The drysuit inflate bag has a separate dump, the oral inflate bag dumps on over pressure through the oral inflator.

The oral inflate bag is very nice (in good conditions!), one decent puff inflates it at 21m, unless it is about 4 degrees C as my team will testify (embarrassingly

).

HTH,

Fraser.

wilbo · July 4th, 2006, 12:35 PM

Fraser,

thanks.. quite bizarre that the suit inflate version doesn't have an OPV then - yet the Oral inflate version does (kind of)..

so buying the 3.3 suit inflate just isn't worth it then..

ok..

Jecowling · July 4th, 2006, 12:42 PM

AFAIK, the 'oral inflate' version doesn't dump through the valve - hence the possibility of getting a banana shaped SMB at the surface as there's no pressure relief mechanism. The 3.3ft 'drysuit inflate' does have an OPV and can also be inflated orally - but is it much wider than the oral inflate version (not sure about that though) and therefore is takes more breaths to inflate orally .

I have the 3.3ft oral inflate and like it - if you're sending it up from depth, just put less air in to start with.

Cheers
Jen

**jb2cool** · July 4th, 2006, 12:47 PM

I use the 3' 3" CC bag with the drysuit inflator and OVP dump.

I actually orally inflate this through the drysuit inflator. I bought this version as i wanted the ability to pop it up from depth and not worry about over expansion.

I didn't think there was any size difference between the 3' 3" models. Thought they were both same size.

I'm happy to take pictures/measurements for you.

wilbo · July 4th, 2006, 01:02 PM

LOL..

different people, different takes on the 3.3 and its features.. exactly the problem I've had finding out information about it in the first place..

I'll get me hands on both versions and make a choice from there..

thanks all for your time

davy · July 4th, 2006, 01:30 PM

I have a 3.3 with suit inflation valve, and that one definately has an OPV...
It's still very small and can be easily fully inflated with one breath.

It would be interesting to know if the oral inflation version does vent from the oral valve? I choose the other one because of this although I never inflate with an inflator hose...

On the topic of SMB's.
does anybody know if the "halcyon semi closed surface marker" the sausage that is, is selfsealing when full?
The halcyon website states it has a "baffled opening" but my semi closed lift bag is definately not self sealing.

With self sealing I mean a system like AP valves and dive system which fills like an open bag but closes off completely when full so you can even take the bag out of the water and squeeze it and it wil not deflate...

vid · July 4th, 2006, 01:47 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo)

Consequently it bends like a banana on the surface! Question: Is this not a design flaw?

whether you have
1) oral inflate (with no OPV - vents via the oral inflator) or
2) dry suit inflate (which can be orally inflated too and has an OPV)

I think they both bend like a banana

i don't think it's a design "flaw", just that the bag's small and thin with stitching down one side.

on other small / thin bags that I have, they have used heat sealing down the side seam rather than stitching - that method doesn't cause the banana bend - but it does mean extra material, so the bag won't roll up as well / compact as the halcyon

vid

July 4th, 2006, 12:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 872	Smallest Halcyon DSMB with an OPV All, I am looking for a small 'H' Closed Circuit dsmb with an Over Pressure Valve. As I understand it - the 3.3' Closed Cirecuit model does not have an OPV - and therefore does not vent gas as maximum pressure is reached on the way up to the surface. Consequently it bends like a banana on the surface! Question: Is this not a design flaw? So - who uses the 3.3 Closed circuit version and how do you get on with it? Any problems on the over inflate? thanks in advance. __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

July 4th, 2006, 12:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mal Bridgeman(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 662	OK so I might be being dumb here ....... I have the Halcyon 3ft dSMB with the drysuit type inflator which has a spring loaded dump vavle attached. Isn;t the springloaded dump the OPV as well? Mal __________________ Opinions and beliefs are correct at the time of posting but are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the author.

July 4th, 2006, 12:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 872	Quote: (Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman) OK so I might be being dumb here ....... I have the Halcyon 3ft dSMB with the drysuit type inflator which has a spring loaded dump vavle attached. Isn;t the springloaded dump the OPV as well? Mal Mal - I think I have been given duff information by an employee at a certain DIR shop on the coast. You're not dumb. the CC version does have have an OPV. the Oral inflate version has a different deflate mechanism. __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

July 4th, 2006, 12:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
fraser(Offline) "I'm only late on your timescale" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 463	Wilbo, There are two versions of the 3.3ft bag. Both are closed circuit, one is drysuit inflate and the other is oral inflate only. The drysuit inflate bag has a separate dump, the oral inflate bag dumps on over pressure through the oral inflator. The oral inflate bag is very nice (in good conditions!), one decent puff inflates it at 21m, unless it is about 4 degrees C as my team will testify (embarrassingly ). HTH, Fraser. __________________ Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

July 4th, 2006, 12:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 872	Fraser, thanks.. quite bizarre that the suit inflate version doesn't have an OPV then - yet the Oral inflate version does (kind of).. so buying the 3.3 suit inflate just isn't worth it then.. ok.. __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

July 4th, 2006, 12:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jecowling (Online) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 120	AFAIK, the 'oral inflate' version doesn't dump through the valve - hence the possibility of getting a banana shaped SMB at the surface as there's no pressure relief mechanism. The 3.3ft 'drysuit inflate' does have an OPV and can also be inflated orally - but is it much wider than the oral inflate version (not sure about that though) and therefore is takes more breaths to inflate orally . I have the 3.3ft oral inflate and like it - if you're sending it up from depth, just put less air in to start with. Cheers Jen

July 4th, 2006, 12:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
jb2cool(Offline) Padawan learner Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire Posts: 796	I use the 3' 3" CC bag with the drysuit inflator and OVP dump. I actually orally inflate this through the drysuit inflator. I bought this version as i wanted the ability to pop it up from depth and not worry about over expansion. I didn't think there was any size difference between the 3' 3" models. Thought they were both same size. I'm happy to take pictures/measurements for you. __________________ http://jb2cool.bulldoghome.com

July 4th, 2006, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
wilbo(Offline) Chimp 4 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Swindon, UK Posts: 872	LOL.. different people, different takes on the 3.3 and its features.. exactly the problem I've had finding out information about it in the first place.. I'll get me hands on both versions and make a choice from there.. thanks all for your time __________________ Cheers! Wilbo DIR explorers: DIR Yorkshire Divers: YorkshireDivers One of the Foxturd chimps

July 4th, 2006, 01:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
davy(Offline) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 274	I have a 3.3 with suit inflation valve, and that one definately has an OPV... It's still very small and can be easily fully inflated with one breath. It would be interesting to know if the oral inflation version does vent from the oral valve? I choose the other one because of this although I never inflate with an inflator hose... On the topic of SMB's. does anybody know if the "halcyon semi closed surface marker" the sausage that is, is selfsealing when full? The halcyon website states it has a "baffled opening" but my semi closed lift bag is definately not self sealing. With self sealing I mean a system like AP valves and dive system which fills like an open bag but closes off completely when full so you can even take the bag out of the water and squeeze it and it wil not deflate...

July 4th, 2006, 01:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
vid(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: london/surrey border, UK Posts: 353	Quote: (Originally Posted by wilbo) Consequently it bends like a banana on the surface! Question: Is this not a design flaw? whether you have 1) oral inflate (with no OPV - vents via the oral inflator) or 2) dry suit inflate (which can be orally inflated too and has an OPV) I think they both bend like a banana i don't think it's a design "flaw", just that the bag's small and thin with stitching down one side. on other small / thin bags that I have, they have used heat sealing down the side seam rather than stitching - that method doesn't cause the banana bend - but it does mean extra material, so the bag won't roll up as well / compact as the halcyon vid Last edited by vid; July 4th, 2006 at 02:06 PM.