[PSUBS-MAILIST] Leak, pressure and life support test

[hank pronk]

Hi James,
I always do a vacuum test before my test dives.  I use a compressor as a vacuum pump and draw out as much air as possible.  Then I have a valve on the hull and a vacuum gauge.  I let it sit for 24 hr.  If it holds the vacuum your set.  
Hank

From: James Frankland <jamesf at guernseysubmarine.com>
To: personal_submersibles at psubs.org 
Sent: Monday, September 2, 2013 3:45:27 AM
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Leak, pressure and life support test



Hi All,

I did some tests at the weekend.  Very small pics attached as i havent updated my site yet.

First i tested the battery pods and seals with old inner tubes.  Managed to pump them to about 5psi.  Not much but i think it was ok to indicate any leaks.  I couldnt see or hear anything and pressure remained steady.

Then i did the very sophisticated "saucepan test" over the hatch viewport.  I was just a bit suspicious of this one as it has no gasket, the lense seats directly to the face.  No leak, but agreed, not much test pressure although the saucepan was full despite the spillage out the sides.

Next i did a life support test.  I filled and ran the scrubber and then sat inside for an hour with the hatch sealed.  CO2 seemed to level out at about 5500ppm and i topped up O2 when it got to 19%.      

i also dropped half a psi of internal pressure and that seemed to hold, so i am hoping the boat is tight.

I was going to do a leak test in a local fresh water resovoir, but as im a bit more confident its not going to leak now and its such a logistical fuss, im going to go straight in the sea.  Next week.
Kind Regards
James

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