Helium Analyser

***Fiona*** · April 9th, 2008, 08:30 PM

I am hoping to get myself trimix qualified sometime this year.

I have had a Vandangraph O2 analyser for about 10 years, so it has served me well. At the weekend the cell failed so I need to buy a new cell.

My question is do Helium analysers ever come up forsale secondhand ? I don't remember seeing one in the forum personal ads.

Seydlitz · April 9th, 2008, 08:53 PM

More to the point why...I can think of better ways to spend money than an He analsyer..

If you mixed your own gas ....Maths + 02 analsyer how far ccan you be wrong..not far just double checking figures ...Shop bought mixes ...they have analsyers.....So let them carry the costs

***Fiona*** · April 9th, 2008, 09:03 PM

Andy I won't be blending my own, I even gave up on home blending nitrox last year.

Must say I hadn't banked on getting that response, I guess because I have always had my own O2 analyser then I assumed I would do the same when I got trimix qualified - don't most people have their own analyser or maybe one between a small team who regularly dive together.

Bardo · April 9th, 2008, 09:09 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Fiona)

I am hoping to get myself trimix qualified sometime this year.

I have had a Vandangraph O2 analyser for about 10 years, so it has served me well. At the weekend the cell failed so I need to buy a new cell.

My question is do Helium analysers ever come up forsale secondhand ? I don't remember seeing one in the forum personal ads.

The answer is very, very rarely and even then, they tend to demand a high price simply because everyone wants one and they're so rare! Two models tend to pop up - the Analox ATA and the Vandagraph, both of which are very good (personally I prefer the Vandagraph but others swear by the Analox - each to their own).

Personally I wouldn't bother getting one, though - unless you're blending your own gas and do a lot of expedition diving (I mean expedition in the true sense of the word - ie. ordering a boat-full of Js and blending your own 'in the field'), just pop into a dive shop that provides a trimix service and use theirs...

NickB · April 9th, 2008, 09:11 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Fiona)

- don't most people have their own analyser or maybe one between a small team who regularly dive together.

No.

I've had my trimix ticket for two years and whilst I'd buy a He analyser if the price was right, I'd never spend £500 on one. O2 analysis is critical, but helium can be way off without making much difference.

When I've blended my own mix and had the opportunity to analyse it, it's always been 'there or thereabouts' even when I've been blending on top of left-over mix.

As long as my calculations are correct, if the O2 comes out right; the He will be right too.

I know you seem to have money to burn Fi, but I can think of better ways to burn it

***Fiona*** · April 9th, 2008, 09:26 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by NickB)

No.

I've had my trimix ticket for two years and whilst I'd buy a He analyser if the price was right, I'd never spend £500 on one.

I know you seem to have money to burn Fi, but I can think of better ways to burn it

Which is the reason I was asking about second hand ones Nick. I suppose I have just been in the habit of checking things for myself and it's a hard habit to break.

It isn't about having money to burn you know I haven't but I tend to break things down into the lifetime of an item.

Maybe it's female logic I have had the nitrox analyser about 10 years, cost a couple of hundred quid, certainly more than they are now, so over it's lifetime it has cost pence per dive

Right so they don't come up second hand and I don't need one anyway.

Ta.

daviddem · April 9th, 2008, 10:13 PM

A He analyser may not be absolutely necessary. However, after topping up leftovers 5 or 6 times, you start wondering how much He there really is in there...

I ended up getting one. Those sold by Tech Diving Limited in the US are good and compact and more often on sale than not, so reasonably priced. I just looked now and at the moment they are at $809. I got mine for much less than that though (I think $650 or so).

The older Atomox models may seem tempting (low price), but there have been lots of problems with orders not being delivered or being massively delayed. Beware. More info from disgruntled customers on the deco stop.

aleksi · April 9th, 2008, 10:17 PM

If we are talking about 21/35 or 18/45 as standard gas or more hypoxic mixes (not triox), if the O2 is right the helium should be about right as well. It is quite hard to unintentionally pp-mix a trimix very wrong so that the O2 would still match.

daviddem · April 9th, 2008, 10:28 PM

What I am saying is that if you systematically reblend on top of leftovers and make the same "error" by adding a little too little helium to a mix that is already a little poorer in helium than you think, in the end, after doing that several times, the helium will end up being much less than what you think...

Seydlitz · April 9th, 2008, 11:21 PM

Fiona ...Nick B is on the button ..exactly why I wouldn't buy one ....spend your money on something more practical like a Cocaine fueled dwarf throwing party

April 9th, 2008, 08:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,203	Helium Analyser I am hoping to get myself trimix qualified sometime this year. I have had a Vandangraph O2 analyser for about 10 years, so it has served me well. At the weekend the cell failed so I need to buy a new cell. My question is do Helium analysers ever come up forsale secondhand ? I don't remember seeing one in the forum personal ads. __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member Last edited by Fiona; April 9th, 2008 at 08:57 PM.

April 9th, 2008, 08:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Seydlitz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Never Far from a good Belgian Beer and a Crackwh*re Posts: 455	Why waste money More to the point why...I can think of better ways to spend money than an He analsyer.. If you mixed your own gas ....Maths + 02 analsyer how far ccan you be wrong..not far just double checking figures ...Shop bought mixes ...they have analsyers.....So let them carry the costs

April 9th, 2008, 09:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,203	Andy I won't be blending my own, I even gave up on home blending nitrox last year. Must say I hadn't banked on getting that response, I guess because I have always had my own O2 analyser then I assumed I would do the same when I got trimix qualified - don't most people have their own analyser or maybe one between a small team who regularly dive together. __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member

April 9th, 2008, 09:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bardo(Offline) New Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Not close enough to the sea... Posts: 38	Quote: (Originally Posted by Fiona) I am hoping to get myself trimix qualified sometime this year. I have had a Vandangraph O2 analyser for about 10 years, so it has served me well. At the weekend the cell failed so I need to buy a new cell. My question is do Helium analysers ever come up forsale secondhand ? I don't remember seeing one in the forum personal ads. The answer is very, very rarely and even then, they tend to demand a high price simply because everyone wants one and they're so rare! Two models tend to pop up - the Analox ATA and the Vandagraph, both of which are very good (personally I prefer the Vandagraph but others swear by the Analox - each to their own). Personally I wouldn't bother getting one, though - unless you're blending your own gas and do a lot of expedition diving (I mean expedition in the true sense of the word - ie. ordering a boat-full of Js and blending your own 'in the field'), just pop into a dive shop that provides a trimix service and use theirs... __________________ Honourary member of the Tufty Club...

April 9th, 2008, 09:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
NickB(Offline) Always lowering the tone Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 340	Quote: (Originally Posted by Fiona) - don't most people have their own analyser or maybe one between a small team who regularly dive together. No. I've had my trimix ticket for two years and whilst I'd buy a He analyser if the price was right, I'd never spend £500 on one. O2 analysis is critical, but helium can be way off without making much difference. When I've blended my own mix and had the opportunity to analyse it, it's always been 'there or thereabouts' even when I've been blending on top of left-over mix. As long as my calculations are correct, if the O2 comes out right; the He will be right too. I know you seem to have money to burn Fi, but I can think of better ways to burn it __________________ SnowHeads / BreastFriends / Free Money!

April 9th, 2008, 09:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,203	Quote: (Originally Posted by NickB) No. I've had my trimix ticket for two years and whilst I'd buy a He analyser if the price was right, I'd never spend £500 on one. I know you seem to have money to burn Fi, but I can think of better ways to burn it Which is the reason I was asking about second hand ones Nick. I suppose I have just been in the habit of checking things for myself and it's a hard habit to break. It isn't about having money to burn you know I haven't but I tend to break things down into the lifetime of an item. Maybe it's female logic I have had the nitrox analyser about 10 years, cost a couple of hundred quid, certainly more than they are now, so over it's lifetime it has cost pence per dive Right so they don't come up second hand and I don't need one anyway. Ta. __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member

April 9th, 2008, 10:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
daviddem(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 111	A He analyser may not be absolutely necessary. However, after topping up leftovers 5 or 6 times, you start wondering how much He there really is in there... I ended up getting one. Those sold by Tech Diving Limited in the US are good and compact and more often on sale than not, so reasonably priced. I just looked now and at the moment they are at $809. I got mine for much less than that though (I think $650 or so). The older Atomox models may seem tempting (low price), but there have been lots of problems with orders not being delivered or being massively delayed. Beware. More info from disgruntled customers on the deco stop.

April 9th, 2008, 10:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
aleksi(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 88	If we are talking about 21/35 or 18/45 as standard gas or more hypoxic mixes (not triox), if the O2 is right the helium should be about right as well. It is quite hard to unintentionally pp-mix a trimix very wrong so that the O2 would still match. __________________ "If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water." Loran Eisley, The Immense Journey, 1957

April 9th, 2008, 10:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
daviddem(Offline) New Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 111	What I am saying is that if you systematically reblend on top of leftovers and make the same "error" by adding a little too little helium to a mix that is already a little poorer in helium than you think, in the end, after doing that several times, the helium will end up being much less than what you think...

April 9th, 2008, 11:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Seydlitz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Never Far from a good Belgian Beer and a Crackwh*re Posts: 455	Spot on Fiona ...Nick B is on the button ..exactly why I wouldn't buy one ....spend your money on something more practical like a Cocaine fueled dwarf throwing party