Hi Group,
Both my Aladdin Air Z Nitrox and Suunto Vyper are in need of battery
changes. The UWATEC site suggests that they will only carry out battery
replacements via your local authorised dealer. Given the lack of one (or
even an unauthorised dealer), I'd like to deal with them directly to save
time and hassle. They also predict a 3-4 week backlog which sounds
inconvenient.
I've been unable to find any info on Suunto's support services.
Are there any 3rd party companies out there in cyberspace undertaking this
kind of work. I appreciate this is likely to invalidate warranties etc, but
given the cost of a replacement for either on eBay is so low, I'm not
particularly worried about that.
Also, does anybody have a source of replacement transmitters for the Air Z?
I never got around to replacing my stolen one and they must be getting
cheaper by now.
Any thoughts/suggestions gratefully received...
Andy Cox
psmvsl@yahoo.co.uk - 23 Aug 2006 20:07 GMT
>I've been unable to find any info on Suunto's support services.
Suunto is a DIY job providing your are reasonably competent at such
things, I've done four or five now. Instructions in the manual
Neil - 24 Aug 2006 22:02 GMT
>>I've been unable to find any info on Suunto's support
>>services.
>
> Suunto is a DIY job providing your are reasonably competent at
> such things, I've done four or five now. Instructions in the
> manual
The worst computer in the world for having a supposedly user
exchangable battery must be the Buddy Nexus. It has a battery
compartment cover which is not retained by itself against its
o-ring. You have to poke your finger through the back part of
the case and hold the cover (which you then can't see) in place
while you screw the case down and fold the rubber strap into
position. An awful, awful design. I changed mine once
successfully, but the second time must've unseated the o-ring
while screwing the cover down. I noticed the battery nearly
flat light come on while diving the next time, so checked at the
end of the weekend. The battery compartment had flooded and the
battery exploded, cracking the lid. It carried on working for a
whole weekend, which was nice, but I reckoned that I'd be going
through batteries like nobody's business if I carried on using
it like that. I now have an Apeks Quantum which looks like a
doddle to change (which is one of the reasons I got it) though I
have yet to do it.
Ken - 23 Aug 2006 21:57 GMT
> Hi Group,
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Any thoughts/suggestions gratefully received...
You can do the Vyper yourself. I forget what cell it takes, but this and
details of how-to are all in the instruction manual. You should be able to
pick up the cell you need from places such as Maplin or Boots. OTOH you
might prefer to take it with you to a place such as Stoney or Capernwray
when you next visit. They will do it for you AND pressure test it in the dry
before you wet it again - but this will set you back considerably more than
just a replacement cell.
Can't comment re Uwatec.
K
Nick Harrison - 24 Aug 2006 10:49 GMT
>> Hi Group,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>
>> I've been unable to find any info on Suunto's support services.
Had my Viper in for new battery in Spring at my local supplier as
they sold it to me & they charged £25.00. Thought this was quite
reasonable. I would rather pay a bit more to have it done right & tested
than a DIY job which may cause damage if I had boobed when replacing
the old battery.
Jason - 24 Aug 2006 20:49 GMT
> Any thoughts/suggestions gratefully received...
Not got around to having mine done but someone on YD recommended these
guys:
http://www.divequip.co.uk/
Jason

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Ian Blakeley - 24 Aug 2006 21:49 GMT
> Both my Aladdin Air Z Nitrox and Suunto Vyper are in need of battery
> changes.
No idea regarding the Aladdin
> I've been unable to find any info on Suunto's support services.
>
> Are there any 3rd party companies out there in cyberspace undertaking this
> kind of work. I appreciate this is likely to invalidate warranties etc, but
> given the cost of a replacement for either on eBay is so low, I'm not
> particularly worried about that.
There's a good write up on the Bristol University Club site which I
used when changing my Vyper a while back.
URL:http://www.ubuc.info/e/q/u/Equipment_Computers_9a95.html#Replacing_batteries_in_
Suunto_Dive_Computers

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Ian
Andy Cox - 25 Aug 2006 14:09 GMT
Thanks for the replies all.
I ended up looking at Steve Chaplin's useful guide for the Vyper once your
suggestions set me googling:
http://steve.codekey.co.uk/diving/batteries.html
Have ordered the relevant battery so will give it a go. I can't really
justify 2 computers for the amount of diving I'm likely to do any time soon,
so the Aladdin can probably go into the pile of things I might get around to
using again one day in the attic.
Thanks,
Andy Cox