Trimix analyser, Divesoft or Analox?

erikradstrom

erikradstrom

Deep Pursuit 001
Im going to buy a trimix analyser and have more or less decided on the Divesoft.

It has no helium sensor so it will cost less in the long run and we will not have it in or nearby a engine room on a boat so the cons I heard about does not apply to our use.

If I have missed something I ask anyway to be 100% certain, wish one would you have bought?

Ill pay the same for both of them so don´t use price as an argument.
 
I use the Divesoft, but you have to ensure you get the deluxe flow restrictor or the Helium will fail to read at high flow rates.

I've been very happy with it. Easy on batteries and I now have converted it to take the Vandergraaf cells from my JJ-CCR. It works well and is very well built. Purchased from Narked@90.
 
divingtactics said:
I use the Divesoft, but you have to ensure you get the deluxe flow restrictor
Click to expand...

+1, don't go cheap on the flow restrictor, the deluxe version with a proper reduction valve is the only way to go, making it a solid tool. Combine that with vandagraph cells and you're golden. :)
 
I have no personal experience with the Divesoft, but I have had several issues with my Analox over the years. Finicky electronic connections, expensive proprietary cells to replace, and a jeweled orifice in the restrictor that clogs often. I wouldn't buy another one.
 
erikradstrom said:
Which one is the deluxe restrictor?
Click to expand...

I assume they mean the one you screw into the DIN valve of the cylinder as opposed to the piece of plastic you simply hold tight against the valve.

I love the divesoft, It's a little sensitive to flowrates (hence the need for a testrictor) and I find that it eats batteries a bit quick. Other than that it is great.

-Jacob

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2
 
The Divesoft needs a flow rate of around 0.2l/min to register the helium whilst the gas is flowing. Much higher than that and it won't read out until you stop the flow. No great problem, but a little inconvenient.

Most flow restrictors designed for analysers provide around 2l/min and this will swamp the Divesoft (OK for the O2 though)

Also, the Divesoft uses R17 cells so if you have a Sentinel/Boris or know some poor soul that does, you'll be golden for replacement cells :)
 
Divesoft has three different flow restrictors;

El Cheapo (link)
This one is just a plastic "knob", not very reliable readings

Standard (link)
This one is ok, but very dependant on tank pressure, as in; the readings will vary on a 200 bar fill from a 50 bar fill, with exact same gas on board.

Deluxe (link)
This one has a proper reduction valve which provides a constant .2 l/min regardless of tank pressure.

I had the Standard version included in my kit when I bought it 3-4 years ago. I upgraded it about a year ago by purchasing the reduction valve (link) and mounting it on the standard version, making it identical to the deluxe version. Best investment ever.
 
I too have used the standard (not cheap plastic) flow restrictor for a few years with no issues but having just come through a very cold winter in my shed it stopped working properly recently. Gas was either pissing out too fast for the He sensor to measure or if I adjusted the grub screw to reduced rate (which I had never touched in 2 yrs!) the gas stopped flowing. Contacted the excellent N@90 and did the same upgrade to delux by buying adjustable valve output block so if rate too low or high it is a simple twiddle to fix in a second or two.

Divesoft is a great little unit and very user friendly but beware the software bug in some like mine that tell you the battery is dead when it isn't. Just keep a spare handy and keep using until it dies. Apart from this little annoyance I like it alot and would buy it again in a heartbeat.
 
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I have used both on extended dive trips. I liked the Divesoft but found that the yellow display can be a bit difficult to see in sunny conditions. Also it seemed that you need to be careful with how much you tighten down the thumb screw on the standard and deluxe flow restrictor or it will quickly malfunction. These are not major issue just something to be aware about.

The Analox worked fine and I had no issues with it.

If I needed to replace my current analyser I would buy the Divesoft.

John
 
opheim said:
Divesoft has three different flow restrictors; [...]
Click to expand...

I have the standard one, it's the one that came with it. It's a bit annoying allright, but really it's just a matter of tightening the valve until the analyser can get a stable He reading.

That's the only problem I have with the Divesoft.

It works, it's stable, it's solid. And there's a few freebies: MOD, END (if you like the way it does it), mixing calculator/simulator (never used it). Nothing vital, but they're there should you need them.

Matthieu
 
emmbee said:
It works, it's stable, it's solid. And there's a few freebies: MOD, END (if you like the way it does it), mixing calculator/simulator (never used it). Nothing vital, but they're there should you need them.
Click to expand...

Another detail would be the optional voltmeter and ohmmeter, nice addon for travel, easy battery measurement and troubleshooting. It's in my kit, but I've only used it a couple of times.
 
Most are saying that Divesoft is good but also that they have had some issues with it and no issues with other units?
So Divesoft is good but all the others are better?

Jukka
 
I have used old Oxycheq, new Oxycheq, Analox and MixCheck.
I like the old Oxycheq most as I can just press it against the valve and get a sample, close the valve and the result will be seen soon while I have the unit in my hand or I can take a look a bit later. And plain He unit is very small.
Analox is showing only He or O2 at the time and it has no box. I have modified those to use R-22 molex O2 censors. MixCheck is in a box that is smaller than Divesoft.
I have never changed any He sensor. All have done the job fine.
Divesoft has many features but I like simple things that are reliable.

Jukka
 
I use the analox and have no complaints. The results are repeatable and consistent with a couple of other analysers I've compared it with.
 
I have been using my analox for a couple of years now with no problems to report.

I have very limited experience with the divesoft one.
 
jkaterenchuk said:
I liked the Divesoft but found that the yellow display can be a bit difficult to see in sunny conditions. Also it seemed that you need to be careful with how much you tighten down the thumb screw on the standard and deluxe flow restrictor or it will quickly malfunction.

If I needed to replace my current analyser I would buy the Divesoft.

John
Click to expand...

Mine has a blue display, which is quite bright but like any backlit screen, you have to shade it a little in direct sunlight.

For my thumb screw, I removed the sealing material and replaced it with a 003 standard SPG spool o-ring and it's been going strong for the last few years.

Opheim, thanks for pointing out the new restrictor, I've just ordered the new part from Narked@90. Not that I've had any issues but ending readings are a whisker different from starting readings, so pressure is possibly a factor here as you suggest.
 
Hi
I have a divesoft analyser which I use on my boat, the same one John mentioned on a previous post, it was supplied with a standard flow limiter, which works fine as long as you have a full or near full tank, if not then it's possible that there will not be enough pressure to lift the ball of the seat when you unscrew the pressure release screw, which then makes it difficult to get the DIN fitting off the tank valve, I bough a professional flow limiter which has placed the inline flow valve on the other side of the pressure release, which should overcome this problem, however when it was delivered to Thailand, it had been opened and someone had screwed out the release screw losing the ball and teflon buffer, so although I have owned it since the middle of last year, I have not used the professional flow limiter, I have contacted Divesoft, however they are unfortunately one of these companies with a good product that does not answer emails.
The later version analysers have an OLED screen which makes them easier to read.
Now then I bought a S/H Analox analyser earlier last year as a second unit, I haven't used it as it was needing new cells. I emailed analox about a missing plastic retaining nut that holds the cell in place, and guess what, NO REPLY, and that just pisses me off.
On the other hand I ordered 2 Vandagraph 02 analysers for my liveaboard operation last year and these guy could not have been more helpful, top company with the best after sales support I have ever experienced, highly recommended.
Cheers
Stuey
 
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