The big BC guide
BC care
A checklist for the diver who wants to keep his BC in tip-top condition
September 1996
How do you look after your BC? You must take care that the inflatable bag and the ambient-pressure corrugated hose stay unpunctured and that the direct-feed mechanism continues to work reliably.
- After use, wash the BC with fresh water while it is inflated and, with the regulator hose attached, give the direct-feed control a few applications while it is submerged. The inside of the bag will have taken in some sea-water, so be sure to empty all that out and flush it through with fresh water.
- The nipple which connects the medium-pressure direct-feed hose to the corrugated hose is screwed in and made air and watertight using a small O-ring. This is normally done up tightly but not enough to distort the plastic. Check to see if this nipple has come loose (in which case it will leak in use) and if it has remove it and lubricate the O-ring with a small amount of silicone grease before you reinstall it. Replace it if it is broken. The ambient-pressure corrugated hose normally has a large washer at the point where it is mounted to the buoyancy bag. If you take this item apart, be careful not to omit the washer or to cross-thread the retaining ring when you reassemble it. Flush fresh water through the dump-valves
- The pressure-relief valve is a very important item and you must be sure it works. As with the other valves, it is a good idea to remove it and flush with fresh water, leaving to dry thoroughly before you reassemble it.
- Check to see if the cam-band and its buckle are in good condition, and make sure nothing has broken off any other parts.
- If you have been away on a long trip with no opportunity to rinse your equipment, it is often a good idea to soak it in a weak solution of ordinary vinegar to leach out the salt, before rinsing well in fresh water.
- If you use a 400ml auxiliary cylinder, be aware that this is subjected to the same stresses and pressures as your full-size aqualung cylinder. These cylinders are not normally subjected to periodic testing and because they are often lined with plastics it is very hard to inspect them internally.
- The only solution is to replace the 400ml cylinder every time you send your main cylinder for inspection or testing. If you have damaged it externally, by dropping it for, example, replace it immediately.
- Before you store your BC for any length of time, rinse the interior of the buoyancy bag with a weak solution of sterilising liquid, as sold in chemists for babies' feeding bottles. This will help stop the growth of any unwelcome fungus. Store your BC, partially inflated and hung in a dry, well-ventilated place. It may damage a BC to leave it in direct sunshine. A BC with integrated weights should not be stored with the weights installed.
A BC is an expensive item but it is quite low-tech. Treat it with respect and it will last you for many years.
BC SUPPLIERS
- Beuchat Solent Divers, 122-128 Lake Road, Portsmouth, Hants PO1 4HH (tel. 01705 814924)
- Buddy A.P. Valves, Unit D, Water-ma-Trout Ind. Est, Helston, Cornwall TR13 OLW (tel. 01326 561040)
- Dive Rite/Seapeks Sea & Sea Ltd, Philip House, Aspen Way, Paignton, Devon TQ4 7QR (tel. 01803 663012)
- Hydrotech Seaform Hydrotech, Sapcote Road, Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire LE9 4DW (tel. 01455 274106)
- IDI Simpson Lawrence, 218-228 Edmiston Drive, Glasgow G51 2YT (tel. 0141 427 5331)
- Mares Blandford Sub-Aqua, Blandford House, Holly Industrial Park, Imperial Way, Watford, Herts (tel. 01923 801572)
- Oceanic Oceanic UK, Pelagic House, Mink Bridge Estate, Dunkeswell, Honiton, Devon EX14 0RA (tel. 01404 891819)
- Poseidon UWI Circle Ltd,
12-13 Newman Lane Ind. Estate, Alton, Hants GU34 2QR (tel. 01420 544422)
- Scubapro Scubapro (UK) Ltd, Vickers Business Centre, Priestley Road, Basingstoke, Hants RG24 9NP (tel. 01256 812636)
- Seac Sub/Mirage SEAC Direct (UK) Ltd, Provincial House, Solly Street, Sheffield S1 4BA (tel. 0114 270 1234)
- SeaQuest/Technisub Aqualung UK Ltd, 57 Sparkenhoe Street, Leicester
LE2 OTD (tel. 01162 514200)
- Sherwood Sherwood UK, 1 Giltway, Giltbrook, Nottingham NG16 2GQ
(tel. 0115 945 8634)
- Torpedo Ocean Quest Distribution, Cliff House, Cliff Road, Salcombe, Devon TQ8 8JW (tel. 01548 842210)
- Zeagle DUI Ltd, The Conge, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 1P
(tel. 01493 332676)
Appeared in DIVER -September 1996.
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