New DPV - Dive Xtras

[Superlyte27]

I don't think people realize that the 12Ah 20V Dewalt batteries are not legal for airline travel because they are 240Wh. People can only travel with the 5Ah batteries (100Wh), which only have 50 minutes of cruise run time per their website.

 

[runsongas]

20V MAX* 8Ah XR® Lithium Ion Battery - DCB208 | DEWALT

160Wh each. still gives almost 3 miles of cruise range or so. that is the advantage of outsourcing the battery work. as dewalt comes out with newer batteries, the p1 and blacktip are getting upgraded too

 

[Dsix36]

I don't think people realize that the 12Ah 20V Dewalt batteries are not legal for airline travel because they are 240Wh. People can only travel with the 5Ah batteries (100Wh), which only have 50 minutes of cruise run time per their website.

I think you are mistaken on this point:

TSA wise, TSA will allow a battery with 100 watts maximum. That's a 5 Ah battery at 20 volts. But DeWalt gets around that with their 6 Ah, 9Ah and 12 Ah batteries as the protective travel cover on the battery activates a disconnect that separates the cells in the battery so that they are technically two separate batteries inside the case, each with less than 100 watts.

 

[rddvet]

Here's a question. I have so many drills that over the years I can't use anymore because battery packs died and when I searched for new ones you can't find the size or the right attachment point to fit the drill. So how does dive extras get around that. What if I have their scooter in 5 years and the battery packs die. How can I ensure I'll be able to find one that works with they attachment point fitting? I'm assuming just like a drill it's set up for the battery pack to just slide in

 

[taimen]

I think the product cycle with cordless power tools has changed over the years.
Now everyone is selling huge line of tools around a battery system instead of dedicated batteries for each tool. This should make long term availability of compatible batteries better.

 

[nickbutcher]

So who is doing the best battery for this scooter? And what does the 'Best' mean?? reliability, pure power, longer run-times etc.
For me reliability would be the key metric as I only need it for wrecks, so long run times and speed are not as important as reliability.

I've been using a Piranha P1 for hauling my arse around wrecks for the past 3 years and a DX Sierra for the 6 years prior to that. The runtimes have never caused me problems as I'm seldom on the trigger for long.

I'm gonna be trying the Blacktip as soon as I can get my hands on one and anticipate getting 4 5A DeWalt packs rather than 2 12A packs as they'll be cheaper and I can charge 2 whilst I'm using the other 2.

 

[rddvet]

I think the product cycle with cordless power tools has changed over the years.
Now everyone is selling huge line of tools around a battery system instead of dedicated batteries for each tool. This should make long term availability of compatible batteries better.

That's what I would hope, but am concerned it's not true. I bought one of those combo packs just over 2 years ago that has a couple batteries and several tools. One battery pack died. I couldn't find the battery pack anywhere. I even contacted one of the big online battery retailers and they were unable to get a new battery. So once my second battery dies, I've got to basically throw away the tools. I would hope that wouldn't be the case with a dpv, but with rapid technological advancements I'd be concerned.

 

[Andy in Gap]

I believe any good battery shop can rebuild the packs. The packs are getting bigger and more costly, I doubt they are considered throw away any more.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I would use it to blow sand and to pull me. Different dives. Different needs. But, for the things I have been doing, the published specs seem like they would be adequate for what I would use it for. Even if I carried extra batteries and swapped between every dive.

Specs are always misleading. I speak as a dive X Sierra owner

Fist it’ll depend on your config, drag from BM as a pony will be less than a rebreather or twins

Constant cruise can also be deceptive, I can get 1hr on and off the trigger from a battery. If the current is stiff, or I’m on the trigger more, then my margin goes out of he window.

We have 4 battery’s per scooter, which gets us 3 dives a day, putting one on charge after 1st dive and second overnight.

You need to wait for the batteries to cool before you can start charging

My point being make sure you fully cost up your battery requirement

I run my DPV’S twice a month, say 6-10 dives per month, so they get used fairly hard. The Sierra (as a baseline) is prob minimum spect I’d use for OW,

Speaking from experience, I wouldn’t travel with my scooter, I’d just rent at the other end, so the advantages of these batteries is moot

If your going to hit a half decent current, then 60Kn thrust means you’ll need to kick hard to try to break through if at all (personal experience)

My personal experience is that there are better units out there, depending on your needs and budget of course

/opinion

 

[tbone1004]

Here's a question. I have so many drills that over the years I can't use anymore because battery packs died and when I searched for new ones you can't find the size or the right attachment point to fit the drill. So how does dive extras get around that. What if I have their scooter in 5 years and the battery packs die. How can I ensure I'll be able to find one that works with they attachment point fitting? I'm assuming just like a drill it's set up for the battery pack to just slide in

couple of points.
First one is what do you do with any of the scooters that use proprietary battery packs and stop supporting them? I.e. you buy a Genesis and the pack dies, but Genesis goes out of business. You're f*cked. If you have an older DiveX you can't get the big NiMH packs anymore because those cells aren't made *contrary to what they're selling Cuda 650's for, the battery cells require to make a 650wh pack for that scooter haven't been available for years, so they're all 550's, fun fact*. DiveX is at least working around that with the PTB conversions for those which is nice, so at least this gives a reasonable option vs. all of the sketchy things that are done with other scooters to hack other batteries in there.
Second one is what tools are you buying? I use Bosch 18v and 12v and those have been using the same packs since at least 2011 when I bought mine and haven't changed. Ryobi has been committed to their battery packs for a long time, and I know Dewalt has been as well. I know quite a few designers in the power tool world and one thing that is mandated for them is to maintain the existing battery pack formats. It is very much not in their interest to change them and as big of a company as DeWalt is, I would truly be surprised if in the next 10 years they change the pack format, even with new battery technology, it's just not in their best interest to piss that many people off. Some of the smaller brands maybe, but the big boys aren't going to release new packs unless they release a new series. I.e. the "40v" series from each of those companies, but that's largely so you can't put the wrong battery in.

All that comes around to the fact that these are basically 3d printed adapters, and there is nothing that says you can't change the adapter out for a Bosch, or a Ridgid or something with a similar physical form factor *i.e. Ryobi is out because of the stem* and change the slide-in mount. I'm sure they went with DeWalt because it's the big boy with readily available batteries. If they change, they could release a $200 DIY adapter set and have you change them out quite easily.