WHY OMS VALVES DO NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH RUBBER KNOBS

OMS manifold valve knobs are manufactured from medium durometer plastic to prevent wedging and accidental turning should the manifold come in contact with the overhead environment such as those encountered while cave diving or wreck diving.

Rubber has many drawbacks. It is subject to rapid UV deterioration and sudden failure, is usually a low durometer material, has a high coefficient of friction (it s grabby), and is therefore more prone to being turned by anything it comes in contact with. For example on a set of manifold doubles, the Divers left side valve knob (rubber) would wedge and turn to the closed position (unexpectedly shutting off the gas supply) more so than plastic. On similar note Cave divers discarded rubber cylinder boots long ago, after they discovered that they had a tendency to wedge in restrictions, causing the diver to become stuck.

OMS valve to crossbar interface measures a strong .85" diameter and is machined from solid brass.

OMS Valve to cross bar interface

OMS manifolds at the valve to crossbar interface utilize an extrusion resistant, captured *Viton^® O-ring design, just like the captured O-Ring used on the first stage of your DIN regulator.

The manifold, and bands are engineered to work together in harmony to avoid stress to the area where the valve body, O-Ring and the crossbar join. That is, no adjustment should be necessary other than tightening down the crossbar nuts to the valve body and a torque down of the cylinder bands. It should be this simple and is with the OMS manifold and matched band sets.

What kind of cell does the OMS Oxygen Analyzer use?

The new OMS Red colored, High Output, extended life Oxygen sensor is a partial pressure oxygen sensor (solid membrane sensor) and consequently will not be affected by exposures to helium.

OMS does not use automotive "capillary hole" (concentration oxygen sensors). Capillary sensors will tend to show enhanced signals if they have been calibrated with oxygen in a background gas that is significantly different in molecular mass to that of helium. This is known as the carrier gas effect and is well documented.

Partial pressure oxygen sensors, like the one utilized in the OMS Oxygen Analyzer do not show this carrier gas effect and are relatively unaffected.

Can I have my OMS Oxygen Analyzer serviced by another company?

Yes, as long as they are an authorized OMS dealer or service center. Please call OMS with any questions. Otherwise servicing of any OMS product other than by authorized OMS dealers will immediately void all warranties.

Can I use a Teledyne replacement sensor in the OMS Oxygen Analyzer ?

No and for 2 reasons

1. We have fully tested a broad range of Teledyne cells and find that the error is unacceptable at 3-5%. The OMS analyzer equipped with the OMS cell has a measured error of +/- .5%! OMS has purposefully kept the price low on the replacement cells so that owner can maintain the most accurate Oxygen Analyzer in the world

2. For the reasons outlined in point 1 the use of any cell other than an original equipment OMS cell is considered capable of producing erroneous readings and therefore voids the OMS warranty.

What Can Happen if I use an oxygen sensor other than the OMS?

Dangerous Readout Errors may result. For example a verified 100% O2 gas can read as low as 97% or a low percentage Oxygen gas mix with a verified analysis of 8% may read as low as 5%. Hypoxia or Hyperoxia could be a consequence.

Your competition says that you are requiring me to use the OMS Red sensor just to corner the Market

No, in fact we have priced our new high output, extended life sensor to compete price wise with the Mail Order Companies that sell the Teledyne R-22 or other non authorized sensors. Visit your OMS dealer for details.

      So what is next?

Keep your eyes peeled for the most accurate Helium Analyzer ever offered.