Long Term Care of DAN O2 Kit

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MikadoWu

Contributor
Messages
371
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Location
Florida
# of dives
200 - 499
Hello all,

I recently offered to help a new Dive Instructor, as his DM. He purchased a used dual tank DAN O2 kit and asked me to do what was need to ensure it was in good shape for classes. For the most part, the Kit looks like it has never been used. It has definitely been sitting on a boat, as it has a nice fresh fish smell.

I have been trained as an o2 provider, but no one ever discussed long term care of the equipment. Wondering if anyone would pass on some best practices.

Questions I presently have, -

1. Do you treat this kit like your normal gear? I am hoping not.
2. How long should you let the O2 sit in the tanks, before draining it and having it refiled?
3. What is the best way to clean the Regulator and Demand Valve?
4. Do you have the Regulator rebuilt at anytime?
5. How many years do these tanks last? They are presently 8 years old.
6. Anything else I may be missing?

Thanks....
 
Following this thread.
 
1. I treat my O2 kit the same as if not better than my scuba gear. It will save a life someday.
2. I don't know of a limit but 8 years is quite a long time. See number 5, it will need to be drained.
3. Our EMS service cleans regulators with disinfectant wipes. Make sure you don't use any oil based products or silicone on them. They don't need to be lubricated anyway. The demand valve does come apart, at least the mask adapter can be taken off to be cleaned. Also, inspect the hose on the demand valve for cracks or splits. Theses tend to get a bit brittle as they get older. Especially the older green hoses.
4. We have never had them rebuilt. I am not sure if there is a standard on that but in my 30+ years in EMS I have never heard of them being rebuilt. We will take them out of service for repair if needed.
5. I know of welders having steel tanks from the 1930's and still use them. Tanks should be hydro tested at least every 5 years. They should have markings on them similar to scuba tanks so you should be able to tell when it was lasted tested.

I would replace any of the masks and tubing in the kit. That stuff breaks down and gets sticky with age. Also make sure you get a new seal which goes between the tank and the reg. You can probably get that at a medical supply company or wherever you have the tank tested.

I have had my O2 kit for over 10 years and I bought it used. Had to service to reg once because the pressure gauge busted off it, other than that it has been fine.

Hope this helps.
 
1. Do you treat this kit like your normal gear? I am hoping not.
2. How long should you let the O2 sit in the tanks, before draining it and having it refiled?
3. What is the best way to clean the Regulator and Demand Valve?
4. Do you have the Regulator rebuilt at anytime?
5. How many years do these tanks last? They are presently 8 years old.
6. Anything else I may be missing?

Demand Valve and Oxygen First Stage Maintenance Policy | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

ta da, just follow NOAA's guidelines and you'll be fine.

1. yes I treat it like my normal gear because it is part of my normal gear. What are you hoping that we do differently?
2. Sometime less than 5 years since that's when hydro is due. I have an O2 generator and compressor so I will use mine for training purposes. Usually goes about 6 months between needing refilled.
3. this one is a bit complicated. I don't recommend use of a demand regulator, only the MTV-100. If the person just needs O2 and is breathing, they get a non-rebreather mask that gets thrown away. If they aren't breathing, don't use a demand valve.... Most people don't practice enough to use them safely and you can seriously kill someone with them if you aren't careful. Cleaning them is complicated to do fully, but I use alcohol swaps to clean them if they get used.
4. no, they get tested on the regular though. 1st stages are dirt cheap and are disposable, MTV-100's not so much but we have several that are 10+yrs old and are still fine.
5. as long as any other tank out there? They're no different than AL scuba tanks, just lower pressure with a different valve thread. Same alloy, same design specifications.
6. masks and tubes need to be replaced relatively frequently, the O2 hose from the DISS on the first stage tends to get crumbly with time, so that may need to get replaced. Only about $40 though and should easily last 10+ years. Nothing else really to it, they're really simple systems
 
I would replace any of the masks and tubing in the kit. That stuff breaks down and gets sticky with age. Also make sure you get a new seal which goes between the tank and the reg. You can probably get that at a medical supply company or wherever you have the tank tested.

I have had my O2 kit for over 10 years and I bought it used. Had to service to reg once because the pressure gauge busted off it, other than that it has been fine.

Hope this helps.

Demand Valve and Oxygen First Stage Maintenance Policy | Office of Marine and Aviation Operations

ta da, just follow NOAA's guidelines and you'll be fine.

. masks and tubes need to be replaced relatively frequently, the O2 hose from the DISS on the first stage tends to get crumbly with time, so that may need to get replaced. Only about $40 though and should easily last 10+ years. Nothing else really to it, they're really simple systems

Thank you Both for your Information, it is most helpful.

Adding, a dive shop told me today, DAN recommends only a few places to service the regulators, one being close to me in Titusville, FL. Does this sound right?
 
My O2 kit is so old, I consider it more or a decoration than anything. I always have a fresh 80 of O2 on board for emergencies. I have no idea where I'd get the O2 reg serviced. I'm pretty sure my O2 is O1 now. :(
 
we take our MTV-100's back to DAN if they need servicing but the MTV-100 is a very unique device so it wouldn't surprise me if there was a limited number of places to service

@Stoo while I have an MTV-100 on normal medical bottles and they live in the truck, Home (Desktop) this stays in my gear bin with a nonrebreather mask for actual dive emergencies. Gives me access to any bottle I have with an inflator hose on it
 
@Stoo while I have an MTV-100 on normal medical bottles and they live in the truck, Home (Desktop) this stays in my gear bin with a nonrebreather mask for actual dive emergencies. Gives me access to any bottle I have with an inflator hose on it

That looks interesting. Thanks for the link @tbone1004
 
I have one of these in my kit too:

upload_2018-9-11_10-33-54.png


That way a DECO mix can be used.......
 
I have one of these in my kit too:

View attachment 479297

That way a DECO mix can be used.......

Where did you find this adapter? Global made on at one time but its discontinued as far as I know.

NVM I found one at NSS!
 

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