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From: Matt Broze <mkayaks_at_oz.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD's
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 00:50:43 -0700
I once did this to a Rescue float I was testing that had an added CO2
inflator and no safety valve. I pulled the cord and pushed it to the other
side of a car. it didn't explode like I had expected it might but for a week
every time I taped it, it rang like a bell.
Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Mel Lammers <mslammers_at_earthlink.net>
To: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu>; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
<PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Date: Monday, August 30, 1999 2:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD's


>I wonder what happens if you have it mouth inflated and then get tossed and
>forgetting, pull the CO2 inflator tab.
>
>Does it have a safety valve or do you hear a loud bang?
>=^..^=
>--Mel--
>Mel Lammers
>mslammers_at_earthlink.net
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu>
>To: <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
>Sent: Monday, August 30, 1999 3:46 PM
>Subject: [Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD's
>
>
>
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From: Gary Pewitt <gpewitt_at_execpc.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD's
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 07:45:12 -0500 (CDT)
Since your lungs can only produce about 3 1/2 psi, filling the pfd
by mouth will make very little difference in the final inflation
pressure when you trigger the high pressure CO2 bottle.
In other words "it don't ammount to a fart in a wirlwind".
73  Gary


On Wed, 1 Sep 1999, Matt Broze wrote:

> I once did this to a Rescue float I was testing that had an added CO2
> inflator and no safety valve. I pulled the cord and pushed it to the other
> side of a car. it didn't explode like I had expected it might but for a week
> every time I taped it, it rang like a bell.
> Matt Broze
> http://www.marinerkayaks.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mel Lammers <mslammers_at_earthlink.net>
> To: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu>; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
> Date: Monday, August 30, 1999 2:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD's
> 
> 
> >I wonder what happens if you have it mouth inflated and then get tossed and
> >forgetting, pull the CO2 inflator tab.
> >
> >Does it have a safety valve or do you hear a loud bang?
> >=^..^=
> >--Mel--
> >Mel Lammers
> >mslammers_at_earthlink.net
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Elaine Harmon <eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu>
> >To: <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
> >Sent: Monday, August 30, 1999 3:46 PM
> >Subject: [Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD's
> >
> >
> >
> >***************************************************************************
> >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
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> >Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
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> 
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-- 
gpewitt_at_execpc.com  N9ZSV    414 355 8147
Gary Pewitt 6120 W. Calumet Rd. Apt 204 
Milwaukee, WI  53223.    Boatanchor buff
Sturgeon's Law: 90% of Everything is crap.


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From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Inflatable PFD's
Date: Fri, 03 Sep 1999 16:45:27 -0700
Gary Pewitt wrote:
> 
> Since your lungs can only produce about 3 1/2 psi, filling the pfd
> by mouth will make very little difference in the final inflation
> pressure when you trigger the high pressure CO2 bottle.
> In other words "it don't ammount to a fart in a wirlwind".

I believe this is misleading.  Though mouth inflation is done at relatively
low pressure, it is possible to fill the inflatable PFD by mouth.  The *very
small* (in volume) CO2 cylinder has to have an *initially* very high pressure
so that it can contain the necessary number of air molecules to fully inflate
the PFD.  When exhausted, the CO2 cylinder does not exert its full initial
pressure.

Consequently, if you inflate the PFD to fullness with your mouth, *and then*
the CO2 cylinder is triggered, it will endavor to *add* its molecules to the
ones your mouth put there -- possibly causing the pressure to rise to
(roughly) twice what the CO2 cylinder could achieve alone.  This might exceed
the ability of the PFD to hold air -- in other words, it might pop.

My guess is that mfrs anticipate someone doing this and build in a safety
factor of two or three so it probably would not leak.  Anybody tried this?

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
chemist


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