Cobalt Dive Computer

[Scrawny12]

If there is anybody out there who has an Atomic Cobolt Dive Computer, I would very much like to hear from you. I am considering buying one but have heard that there have been problems with the batteries not lasting. If anybody has any opinions at all please email me at pig10973@gmail.com.

[CajunJosh]

If you haven't already, check this thread for TONS of information: Atomic Aquatics Cobalt Dive Computer

[oly5050user]

Atomic claims battery good for 5 years.it is rechargeable and can be replaced by atomic or your lds.

[RonR]

If there is anybody out there who has an Atomic Cobolt Dive Computer, I would very much like to hear from you. I am considering buying one but have heard that there have been problems with the batteries not lasting. If anybody has any opinions at all please email me at pig10973@gmail.com.

There were a few problems with early production where the battery compartment leaked (it's separated from the rest of the electronics). As you can imagine, water decreases the battery life quite a bit. And out of thousands sold, a very few have ended up with batteries that didn't last as well as they should- Atomic has replaced them.

But batteries not lasting is not a complaint we have had. You will get 40 to 60 hours of actual diving time or six months of standby time out of a fully charged battery, and the batteries themselves (typical Lithium Ion) should last 500-700 charge/ discharge cycles before gradually losing capacity. The battery is easily replaced by a dealer (where you need to go to get it anyway), but for most users the battery will never need replacing. It takes about two hours to charge fully from the wall charger, and about four hours from USB.

[Dr. Lecter]

Bought mine new several months ago, and haven't had any trouble with it holding a charge in storage (though I'm careful to only store it dry as water can cause it to not go into sleep mode). Have found that I burn through around 20% of a battery per each full day of diving, though I use the compass regularly and keep the screen within a notch or two of full brightness. YMMV Recharging is simple, usually done while I'm logging the dives on my computer.

Aside from not noticing any battery issues, I'm also happy with the buttons' function and the compass's accuracy (calibrating it was tricky for me the first time), and because I use a Mac I haven't had to deal with the software issues that have dogged Atomic's attempt to provide a bundled Winblows dive log program.

Like everyone else, the lack of a case for a $1200 computer annoys me. That said, this gives a custom fit, is a better case than anything Atomic would ever put out (see, e.g., their $20 regulator bag with a $45 Atomic logo on it), and is only about $25: Pelican case 1120 shipping & carrying cases airtight & watertight

[MKelley808]

Fellow Cobalt Users- I have been reading the threads on the battery problems on the Cobalt and have had a similar experience. I have had my Cobalt for 6 month, have used it 15 times and have noticed that my computer battery will be drained after as short as 2 months of inactivity. This weekend I charged my Cobalt and dove on Saturday once. On Monday I went diving again and the Cobalt registered 90% battery charge. The Cobalt performed well on my first dive. On my second dive I checked my computer after 30 minutes and it was performing normally without any warnings of a low battery. After about 35 minutes I checked my computer again and it was dead. Luckily I was on a shallow dive and the dead computer was a minor irritation rather than something more serious. I came home charged the Cobalt, looked at the logbook and it had not registered my second dive of the day. Anyone heard of this problem before?

[RonR]

Fellow Cobalt Users- I have been reading the threads on the battery problems on the Cobalt and have had a similar experience. I have had my Cobalt for 6 month, have used it 15 times and have noticed that my computer battery will be drained after as short as 2 months of inactivity. This weekend I charged my Cobalt and dove on Saturday once. On Monday I went diving again and the Cobalt registered 90% battery charge. The Cobalt performed well on my first dive. On my second dive I checked my computer after 30 minutes and it was performing normally without any warnings of a low battery. After about 35 minutes I checked my computer again and it was dead. Luckily I was on a shallow dive and the dead computer was a minor irritation rather than something more serious. I came home charged the Cobalt, looked at the logbook and it had not registered my second dive of the day. Anyone heard of this problem before?

What you are seeing should not happen- the rapid discharge indicates something is definitely wrong. There are a couple of possible explanations. One is that there is a leak into the battery compartment allowing water to short contacts and drain the battery- possibly intermittently. The other possibility (most likely) is a faulty battery with an excessive rate of internal discharge. Li Ion batteries do sometimes fail- my first iPhone did exactly that. In either case the battery needs to be replaced. This can be done by Atomic, by your dealer, or by you if you want to give it a try yourself- I can send you another battery. But if the problem is a leak rather than a faulty battery, you may want Atomic to evaluate the computer. PM me with an email and I will send instructions if you want to check the battery yourself. But please don't try diving with it again until it is repaired, even if it charges up- something is not right.

If the computer went dead during a dive, it won't show that dive in the log, since the dive did not complete.

Ron

[Scrawny12]

Firstly, thanks for all the replies. One more question though. Does the Cobalt have connectivity to Windows based computers, in particular Windows 7, because I heard there were problems and how does this computer compare with the Liquivision X1?

[RonR]

Firstly, thanks for all the replies. One more question though. Does the Cobalt have connectivity to Windows based computers, in particular Windows 7, because I heard there were problems and how does this computer compare with the Liquivision X1?

To answer the 1st question, yes, the Cobalt connects with Windows 7. If you are talking about for downloading dives, dive logging, then there is Atomic's program which is pretty minimal, but also 3rd party applications like Diving Log Diving Log 5.0 - scuba logbook software for diver - dive log, scuba log that support the Cobalt- and I know more are coming. Atomic has been very supportive of 3rd party developers. The problems (and the reason the Atomic Windows software is down from the site now) have been around the compatibility for updating the firmware in the Cobalt. There were some issues with older Windows versions, when they needed to connect with a newer memory chip in some recent Cobalt computers. I've just received a new package that hopefully will solve these issues, and the software will go back up on the Atomic site.

As to the Liquivision X1 and Cobalt, they are very different. The X1 is a small wrist mount, the Cobalt a big console. The Cobalt is air integrated and very much for the recreational EAN/ air diver, the X1 is aimed much more at the technical diver, with the algorithm software available separately and trimix capability. For most X1 customers, a Cobalt would simply not do what they are looking for. See Liquivision : Scuba : X1 for info- they are very responsive to customer questions and are on ScubaBoard. Just noticed a thread on their new recreational computer here: New Liquivision Lynx Recreational Computer

Ron

[Joebelanger]

There were a few problems with early production where the battery compartment leaked (it's separated from the rest of the electronics). As you can imagine, water decreases the battery life quite a bit. And out of thousands sold, a very few have ended up with batteries that didn't last as well as they should- Atomic has replaced them. But batteries not lasting is not a complaint we have had. You will get 40 to 60 hours of actual diving time or six months of standby time out of a fully charged battery, and the batteries themselves (typical Lithium Ion) should last 500-700 charge/ discharge cycles before gradually losing capacity. The battery is easily replaced by a dealer (where you need to go to get it anyway), but for most users the battery will never need replacing. It takes about two hours to charge fully from the wall charger, and about four hours from USB.

Ron, I have had my new Cobalt completely die on me from battery issues. It wouldn't even take a charge. Took it back to Atomic and they did something to it, but certainly didn't fix it. I charged it four weeks ago and didn't use it at all until today when I was getting camera and dive gear ready for a trip next weekend. However, it is completely dead again and all dive data is gone, but it is charging. It shouldn't die like that. It should be at about 80-80% charged. I am having to use my old Edges as back ups. As much as I know and like Doug Toth, I am very disappointed in the Cobalt and wouldn't recommend it to anyone at this stage of its design performance and reliability. It first died in August when I charged it the night before a dive. I then checked it out on my tank and everything was cool. Got on the boat the next day and it was completely dead and would not take a charge. Luckily I had an old bourdon tube SPG back up with me and one of my Edge computers. Since then it has been repaired. Today it failed again, one week before a dive trip. I am completely unhappy with it. If you have any suggestions they are most welcome. But come Monday I am taking it straight to Atomic and asking for a new one. Joe Belanger