EANx

[reactive]

I'm taking the PADI Enriched Air Diver course, and the book keeps recommending that I should have my own O2 analyzer. How many of you actually purchased one of these and is it really a cost worthy investment at 250 bucks?

[mwhities]

I never bought one. I would recommend that you not buy one unless you are going to do your own Nitrox fills. The LDS or filling station will have (are supposed to) an analyzer you can use. Most require you to write down the tank number, fill pressure, MOD/PO2, date, and your name, ohh and then sign your name.

I hope this helps.

[skdvr]

I too do not have one... I would like to have one at some point but that will be down the road. I think they are a must have only if you are Mixing your own EANx or if you are getting your tanks topped off somewhere that does not do EANx fills and you need to know what the new O2% is...

Phil

[CompuDude]

It comes down to trust. If you can honestly trust the analyzer in use at the shop or boat, you probably don't need one.

If you have ANY reason to suspect the analyzer is not being well maintained, it makes sense to own your own.

I have one, and I'm glad I do, but I don't use it all that often, since I actually do trust the shop's analyzer. I usually use mine on boats, however, since those are often exposed to pretty harsh elements, and having my own and not having to use the boat's analyzer can come in handy. Plus there was that one time that the boat's analyzer died and mine saved the day...

[TRACI]

Luckily one of our guys in our group purchased one that everyone can use, our LDS recommended purchasing one, especially for use in Cozumel, where alot of the dive ops may be a lil shady.

[cummings66]

I have one and found a time I needed it. The shops analyzer broke and if I didn't have mine there would have been no fill.

If you own steel cylinders you NEED one, or don't dive those cylinders. You don't even need Nitrox in it, get some water in it and you may find your O2 levels so low that they won't support life.

A university did a study with a steel cylinder and a cup of salt water. In 60 days it was low enough that you could not survive on the air in it. There has been a few diver deaths attributed to low O2 in a cylinder due to rust in it.

So, to me, if you don't dive all the time, if you store your steel cylinders for 6 months without refilling it, then you need an analyzer for your own safety, even if you don't get Nitrox fills.

[Athena2c]

My husband and I don't have one. We've used the ones that the boat/shop has with no problem so far.

[Charles R]

I have my own only because I like the fact that I can go in and verify with an analyzer that I know has been taken care of. I Guess I don't trust my LDS.

[Dive-aholic]

Originally Posted by Charles R

I have my own only because I like the fact that I can go in and verify with an analyzer that I know has been taken care of. I Guess I don't trust my LDS.

And you're getting fills there? Time to look for another LDS. There are plenty in your area...

I own an analyzer and will be building a second one when I find the time. But I dive nitrox almost exclusively (except when I'm diving trimix), and I dive a few times a week. I always analyze my gas right before the dive when I'm setting up my gear, especially when diving trimix. My wife and I were also the only ones who didn't have to wait for the only analyzer available on the liveaboard we did a couple of years ago.

[reactive]

Originally Posted by Dive-aholic

And you're getting fills there? Time to look for another LDS. There are plenty in your area...

I own an analyzer and will be building a second one when I find the time. But I dive nitrox almost exclusively (except when I'm diving trimix), and I dive a few times a week. I always analyze my gas right before the dive when I'm setting up my gear, especially when diving trimix. My wife and I were also the only ones who didn't have to wait for the only analyzer available on the liveaboard we did a couple of years ago.

Interesting. What is involved with building your own oxygen analyzer? Is it more cost effective or is it a quality assurance thing?