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Programmable, Submersible Live Vest User Manual copyright Oceanic Safety Systems LLC., 2014
III. INTRODUCTION:
The Programmable Submersible Life Vest (PSLV is designed to deliver the operator, who exceeds self-
set parameters, to the surface in a face-up position where self recovery and rescue attempts by buddies
may be possible. The system provides two new, unique, patented, protective features found in no other
PFD. The device allows the user to change the mode of protection on the fly, from surface protection to
subsurface protection.
SURFACE ACTIVATION:
This feature causes the PSLV to inflate immediately upon detection of the
user entering the water. The PSLV does not use the dissolvable bobbin used in every other so-called
“automatic” life vests. These chemical pills are notoriously prone to false fires when they become wet by
weather, wave splashes or excessive humidity. In contrast the PSLV relies on electronic sensors, which
accurately detects entry into a body of water, and will never fire otherwise. This mode is called
Immersion (Auto) mode
. In contrast to all other automatic life vests, there is no dissolvable element to
replace after inflation, simply install new CO2 cartridges and re-cock the piercing mechanism. Using the
Delay (dELy) mode
, users may set a delay after which if they have not exited the water, the vest will fire.
SUBMERSION ACTIVATION:
This mode is called
Submersion (Dive) mode.
Instead of inflation
immediately upon entering the water, the PSLV starts monitoring the duration and the depth of the time
spent under the water. Users select the maximum time they want to be underwater, for example, 30
seconds. When the PSLV has been submerged, deeper than the activation depth of one meter, for
exactly 30 seconds, it will deploy. Similarly, the user selects his maximum depth. The PSLV will deploy
exactly at that depth (set in meters.) It is important to understand that in submersion/dive (Sub) mode, the
PSLV will not start counting time and depth until the unit is at least 1 meter under the water. Setting the
unit in Submersion mode will allow the user to operate on the surface of the water (swimming) or in
shallow water (crossing a stream) without worry of the vest inflating. The two trigger settings are
independent—exceed either and the PSLV fires.
DEPTH-ONLY ACTIVATION:
In this mode called
SCUBA mode
, the actuator only responds to the
trigger depth setting. It ignores any time trigger. In other words, in contrast to Submersion mode, only the
maximum depth trigger is respected, which when exceeded, causes inflation. This mode is designed for
very shallow scuba operations with an indefinite submersion time. This mode is potentially very
dangerous to the operator because of the problem of embolisms and the deleterious effects of the
release of absorbed gases during duration diving and due to the rapid ascent rate of the PSLV.
PROGRAM PAUSE:
Using the remote button, users may cause a one-minute pause in the program
allowing, for example, escape from an over turned, sinking helicopter. Program pause works in the Delay
and SCUBA modes.
HAVING SUFFICIENT CO2 IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION OF YOUR PSLV.
Setting your maximum depth trigger to achieve 8 kilos of lift is based on the number of grams of
CO2 contained within the cylinders:
Before setting your maximum depth use this rule of thumb—With
CO2 weights of 136 gm or more (two 68s), simply divide by 2 and add 10% of the gram weight for the
maximal depth in meters. For example, with two 68 gram CO2 cylinders, the maximum weight of CO2 is
136 grams (2 x 68.) 10% of 136 is 14. Add 68 plus 14 to arrive at 82, which is the maximum depth in
meters that will allow the PSLV to provide a minimum lift of 8 kilos (18 pounds.) At this depth, the PSLV
will provide at least 8 kilos (18 pounds) of flotation at the maximum depth. For CO2 weights of 136 gms
or less, just divide the total by 2 .
IV. HAVING SUFFICIENT CO2 IS ESSENTIAL
