New rEvo BOV

[Valyngar]

While the ALVBOV has been designed to support significantly deeper diving than 40m; having been tested as quite safe for use to 350m. It also is injection molded and I’d argue that whilst most rebreather divers are use to seeing delrin machined BOVs, which are cheap to one off for prototype purposes, injection molding doesn’t equal cheaper. Until you sell enough to breakeven but it does offer a better product.

As a positive the sunk cost investment by Mares in the tooling means they intend to produce quite a number of identical BOVs.
As a negative, unless it is found to fail CE testing, you’re not going to see any improvements in WOB. And from the sounds of things they have no intention of actually testing its WOB. As the cost of the tooling is too high to make it economically feasible to redo. Which is why OSEL doesn’t supply a left to right gas flow option (ALVBOV is fixed right to left as required for CE) as the market simply isn’t there to justify the cost. The initial prototypes of the ALVBOV were 3D printed and went through many many variants to get the gas flow right. In addition to the flapper valve trials in regards to the CO2 bypass link above.

Now only if we could get it to JJ ccr. It doesn't go to other rebreather because of right to left flow, right?

 

[uwxplorer]

Is there a gag strap for the divesoft BOV, as thats the BOV I currently have?

Divesoft sells the Draeger gag-strap (or something very similar).
When asked specifically whether the rEvo gag-strap fits their BOV I was answered yes.

 

[Brad_Horn]

Now only if we could get it to JJ ccr. It doesn't go to other rebreather because of right to left flow, right?

Sorry, it's not economically viable OSEL offering a Left to Right version to individuals.
Though if JJ/ISC/Divesoft/Hollis etc put in a Purchase Order for a sufficiently large enough order it could be achievable inclusive of the CE cert for use to 100m and coincidentally lower the WOB of their rebreathers. However, probably something like a minimum two year time frame to step through the redesign, retooling, test, evaluation and certification process. And by the time they tacked on their profit margin it would be on the market for a lot more than the near cost price OSEL offer the ALVBOV at Open Safety Equipment Ltd

Not having a reversible loop flow is an EN14143 requirement for CE certification and just common sense as one of the Hollis Prism 2 test divers unfortunately discovered off Jersey in 2014.

The ALVBOV works out of the box on all professionally designed rebreathers that have a right to left gas flow. Inclusive Mk15/16, PRISM series and quite few other units. And accidentally the rEvo.

 

[Valyngar]

Sorry, it's not economically viable OSEL offering a Left to Right version to individuals.
Though if JJ/ISC/Divesoft/Hollis etc put in a Purchase Order for a sufficiently large enough order it could be achievable inclusive of the CE cert for use to 100m and coincidentally lower the WOB of their rebreathers. However, probably something like a minimum two year time frame to step through the redesign, retooling, test, evaluation and certification process. And by the time they tacked on their profit margin it would be on the market for a lot more than the near cost price OSEL offer the ALVBOV at Open Safety Equipment Ltd

Not having a reversible loop flow is an EN14143 requirement for CE certification and just common sense as one of the Hollis Prism 2 test divers unfortunately discovered off Jersey in 2014.

The ALVBOV works out of the box on all professionally designed rebreathers that have a right to left gas flow. Inclusive Mk15/16, PRISM series and quite few other units. And accidentally the rEvo.

Yes, that is what I thought. Your bov looks impressive at paper on your website (better than others). Btw your website has broken links and missing pictures (tested on 2 different computers).

 

[Brad_Horn]

Yes, that is what I thought. Your bov looks impressive at paper on your website (better than others). Btw your website has broken links and missing pictures (tested on 2 different computers).

Thanks. Personally and subjectively I'd say it performs even better in use but that is mostly because on paper you can't directly compare it to anything. As pretty much no other BOV manufacturers have done any testing, let alone R&D to improve what they first made.

Thanks also on the webshop feedback. It's shockingly obsolete but also about the lowest priority OSEL have. On the recreational side most of OSELs customers at the moment are coming from being let down by others, either from a simple lack of WOB performance or issues discovered from lack of any testing before sale. Either suits us fine, as we get motivated and informed customers whom have done some research and due diligence.
For rEvo users of the ALVBOV, we also add another issue in that they need to get adapters from another manufacturer like Tecme.de or others, to suit the various rEvo fittings, as we simply don't bother keeping track of their changes. Though the breathing hoses, LP hose, CL fittings for OTS users and pre-shipping testing documentation are all included as standard. We do a HUD fitting but that's often not wanted so is an extra.

 

[Heat Miser]

Thanks @stuartv for the detailed briefing, what did your instructor say about the QC4/6 and offboarding the BOV? I seem to be about 15 hours behind you in training, but miles in expertise, and was investigating BOV's and came across this thread, my rEvo doesn't have one but after seeing one on a JJ on w/e I started second guessing that decision.

Thanks @kensuf for explaining why you can't just attach a LP hose, seems obvious in hindsight, - I was honestly thinking if I can plum my offboard into the MAV that way .... why not the BOV ... alot more to learn!!

Did you sort out the tightness switching from CC to OC?

Can someone explain to me simply (think 10 year old) why rEvo recommend QC6 over QC4?

 

[stuartv]

@Heat Miser I have not yet been able to do my MOD 2 training, so I have not seen my instructor in person. Via email, she did not offer specific guidance on how to configure it. So, I have stuck with the config that my mentor (a very experienced, deep wreck CCR diver) uses and recommended.

The tightness of the switch between OC and CC has not gotten any better. I think it's just the nature of the 2 O-rings that are in there. I have taken it apart and lubed it thoroughly and it may be a LITTLE easier, but not much.

 

[happy-diver]

Did you use Molykote 111

 

[grantctobin]

Thanks @stuartv for the detailed briefing, what did your instructor say about the QC4/6 and offboarding the BOV? I seem to be about 15 hours behind you in training, but miles in expertise, and was investigating BOV's and came across this thread, my rEvo doesn't have one but after seeing one on a JJ on w/e I started second guessing that decision.

Thanks @kensuf for explaining why you can't just attach a LP hose, seems obvious in hindsight, - I was honestly thinking if I can plum my offboard into the MAV that way .... why not the BOV ... alot more to learn!!

Did you sort out the tightness switching from CC to OC?

Can someone explain to me simply (think 10 year old) why rEvo recommend QC6 over QC4?

There’s no real use for a QC4. QC4 is insufficient in flow rate to sustain open circuit breathing at depth. I think some of the older Megs and SF2? Maybe? Had QC4 to plumb in offboard dil or O2 but never to supply BOV.

 

[rjack321]

There’s no real use for a QC4. QC4 is insufficient in flow rate to sustain open circuit breathing at depth. I think some of the older Megs and SF2? Maybe? Had QC4 to plumb in offboard dil or O2 but never to supply BOV.

Older Megs has a QC4 for the O2 feed. ISC switched to a threaded LP hose connection because some divers were disconnecting the QC4 or not connecting it until in the water etc and that led to a drop of water getting to the solenoid which was bad news. The threaded LP connection designs out that mistake.

The QC4 was not used for dil or BOVs on a stock Meg configuration that I know of and mine is a pretty vintage unit.

Leon has always advocated for a QC6 for high flow connections like a BOV