O ring upgrade on new version of CTX 3030 ?

[Bilwnh]

Hi everyone,

Curious what the experts think ? I just received my new CTX 3030 which is the new improved version with the battery compartment mods. Do you feel it is still necessary to upgrade the O rings and use silicone grease ?

Thanks
Bill

 

[GKMan]

I am not a heavy water user, and would defer to some of our diving or wading Forum members. Personally I would probably use the stock rings. Which I have for a long time without any problems. That is in lakes and streams. I believe I had read about some people being concerned using the Silicon since it could have particles sticking to it. At the very least I would definitely not send it in for repair with any aftermarket rings installed.

 

[Bilwnh]

Thanks, I'm not a heavy water user either(yet) and it would be mostly freshwater. Just checking if it makes sense to use heavier duty O rings on both the battery and USB ports...

 

[Jason in Enid]

The upgraded o-rings are the same thing we were switching to from the old originals. You are better off with what you have, so leave it as is. DO NOT put silicone on the o-rings. Silicone does nothing to improve water proofing, and is completely pointless in this style of o-ring system. In fact, any type of silicone like subject will make it more likely to leak because the grease holds onto sand, dirt, hair, and everything else that gets on it.

 

[Champ Ferguson]

I haven't seen a new one, but as Jason says, the grease is more apt to do harm than good by collecting grit/etc. I always thoroughly wash off my replacement O-ring with fresh water when I am done for the day.

 

[GKMan]

The Silicon would be used more in a system that requires some sort of lubrication where the O-ring is sliding past something else. Also where you would like to preserve the O-ring. Being that this is a compression type system it really would never have been required. I don't recall why people in the past said they were using it.

 

[Jason in Enid]

The Silicon would be used more in a system that requires some sort of lubrication where the O-ring is sliding past something else. Also where you would like to preserve the O-ring. Being that this is a compression type system it really would never have been required. I don't recall why people in the past said they were using it.

Good explanation. People recommend using lube because they don't understand it. They see it used on something for underwater application (camera housing, lights, etc. that use a sliding, radial seal design) and think every underwater system should have it too.

 

[JamesBondaka]

The reason is that people use silicone is......that it works. All underwater equipment or seals that require as absolutely air tight or life saving seal....mandates it. I have been diving for years and I know how important the proper seal is ......when it comes to needing air underwater. Sure you can probably be ok....most of the time but I would not bet money on it....or my life. The O rings used in diving are almost identical as the ones used on the usb port. You can argue the point that its two different types of seals but you would have to be a physics majors to explain the actual difference of the sealing properties and there is probably pros and cons to both seals....or lack of one.

It makes the rubber more pliable, easier to work with and tends to fill in any minor imperfections in the rubber that might prone to leak. Minelab even uses the molecote 111 silicone and recommends it

As far a keeping the o rings clean....just takes a second to clean.

 

[Jason in Enid]

..... You can argue the point that its two different types of seals but you would have to be a physics majors to explain the actual difference of the sealing properties and there is probably pros and cons to both seals....or lack of one.

.

No it doesn't. There a 2 types of O-ring seals. One type has the O-ring stretched (mildly) around a "post" and it sits into a groove on that post. The post then SLIDES inside of a housing. This type of seal requires lube for the rings to stay in place. If everything were dry you run a large risk of the O-ring being pushed out of position, pinched, and failing.

The other type of O-ring seal is what we have in the CTX. It's a flat-faced seal. The O-ring sits loosely on one face, often in a channel. Another flat face pushed down on top of the O-ring to form the seal. This is the same as the O-ring on the face of your K-valve SCUBA cylinder, and just like that, it requires zero lube.

 

[JamesBondaka]

You can ask Minelab if they recommend silicone....they will tell you yes......but its up to you.