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#15
 Reliable self-made Rebreather viability
francisconqn - 1/02/2023 9:43 AM
Replies: 1
Hi, I’m an open water diver, aerospace engineering student and also an electronics technician.

I am really interested in rebreathers but I’m also conscious of the complexity and the reliability they MUST have in order to be "safe" (even a perfectly working rebreather could lead to death due to human error). I know there is a lot of physics involved too.

The question is simple. Is there any possible way to design and build a PROPER AND RELIABLE rebreather? the materials need to be scuba grade, double redundant O2 and CO2 sensors, counter lungs, O2 tank, filler tank, valves, pipes, cables, ALL!!

I have electronics, mechanical, chemical and materials engineering professors at my disposal.

Disclaimer: I am very aware of the dangers like narcosis, hipoxia, hiperoxia, barotrauma, etc. I am also aware that I know very little of this things, also you need training in order to operate them. This will be a looong and scheduled project, with proper, step by step safe testing.

Thank you for your time
#483
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UnderwaterMartini - 1/10/2023 3:50 PM
Not really. Rebreathers are finally coming around full circle. Now they’re simple again.

No electronics. ADV’s are generally removed. And oxygen solenoids are set to a minimum level, on eCCR’s so that they never kick in if the CCR is being controlled manually, properly. eCCR’s are obsolete.

mCCR’s with a needle valve have surpassed the eCCR. Especially in reliability. The electronics on an mCCR are just there to monitor the O2 levels, and apply them to a dive computer. It doesn’t control anything.

mCCR like the Fathom mkIII are the future. I’d suggest that you certify and master one of those before building your own.

Hopefully I’ll be able to switch over to a Fathom CCR in the next few years. Have to do all the nitrox and trimix, deco training first. For now I’m after longer NDL’s, quicker deco’s, and free custom nitrox. I won’t be cave diving.