GEMMA TECHNICAL HELIOS STELLAR, User Manual

Page: 24 / 76

24 | G E M M A T E C H N I C A L
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
With proper & right care, preventative maintenance, your HELIOS buoyancy compensator (BC) will provide
reliable service for many years. Please read and perform the following procedures to extend the life of your
BC.
CAUTION: Clean you buoyancy compensator thoroughly after each dive with clean fresh water. Prolonged
cleaning may cause corrosion
BEFORE EACH AND EVERY DIVE

Make sure your buoyancy compensator is working properly

Connect the power inflator via Low Pressure (medium pressure) inflator hose to a clean air source

Depress and release the power inflator button periodically to make sure power inflator is working
properly

Check the oral inflation by blowing air into the inflation mouth piece while depressing on the deflator
button. do not inhale from the mouthpiece

Check for leaks at connections of the LP inflator hose, power inflator, and corrugated inflator flex
hose

Fully inflate the BC and check for leaks or if the bladder begins to deflate within 5 to 10 minutes

Fully inflate the BC until the dump valve (O.P.V.) vents

Check for leaks on Over pressure valve or dump valve and pull dump valve cord repeatedly to
ensure air is release easily

Check the tank/cylinder straps or adapter harness tensions are secured properly.

Make sure the webbings of the tank/cylinder straps are wet when securing the tank/cylinder. Re-
tighten securely.

Check weight pockets are securely fastened
WARNING
LOSS OF INTEGRATED WEIGHTS AND WEIGHT POCKETS MAY CAUSE RAPID
UNCONTROLLED ASCENT THAT MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH
TAKE CAUTION NOT TO CHAFE THE BC AGAINST SHARP OBJECTS OR ROUGH
SURFACES THAT COULD ABRADE OR PUNCTURE THE BLADDER. DO NOT SET HEAVY
OBJECTS ON TOP OF OR DROP HEAVY OBJECTS, SUCH AS BLOCK WEIGHTS, ON THE
BC.
AFTER EACH DAY OF DIVING
Avoid repeated and prolonged usage in heavily chlorinated water such as swimming pools. Chlorine can
damage the BC’s fabric and materials (including the Aluminum Backplate).
Always rinse the BC inside and out with fresh water only after every use, using the following procedure:

Pressurize the power inflator with low pressure air. this may prevent foreign debris and contaminants
from entering the valve mechanism

Using a garden hose through the inflator mouth piece, fill the BC one third full with fresh water

Pressurize / inflate the BC fully with the power inflator

Rotate and shake the water inside the bladder, ensuring a thorough rinse

Hold the BC upside down and completely drain the water through the inflator mouth piece

Repeat this step a second or more time for a cleaner rinse

Rinse the outside of the BC with fresh water only

After rinsing, inflate the BC to dry inside and out

Completely drain all water from bladder through the inflator mouth piece and (over pressure) dump
valve