Recharging an auto lifejacket.

[joe17]

One of my lifejackets inflated itself, so I need to recharge it. The lifejacket is branded as marinepool.

The mechanism looks like this. Anyone know if it is a salt tablet or hydrostatic?

Any tips on how to recharge?

The clear plastic part looks like it should unscrew, but it is a bit stiff and I dont want to force it if I dont need to.

Thanks for any help or Info.

 

[Dave_Seager]

That looks like the usual salt or paper bobbin type.

The clear part should unscrew. It is stiff because it compresses the spring to arm the lifejacket.

 

[Martin_J]

It looks like the yellow Halkey Roberts bobbin.

You will also need the 33g cylinder..

Just seen, on the Aspli website they also do a re-arming kit that includes the cylinder and the bobbin.
Re-arming pack

If pulled manually then you will need the Green indicator retaining pin

They are quite tight to screw back together because it is pushing against a strong spring. Worthwhile having spares on board for when this happens again.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Google Marinepool Lifejackets. Loads of info!

 

[john_morris_uk]

I think that the instructions are printed on the waterproofed plasticised paper rolled up to the right of the mechanism! Looks like a variation of the standard HAMAR mechanism. Needs water pressure to allow water in to dissolve the paper tablet.

 

[Martin_J]

The HAMMAR automatic inflator is the Hydrostatic one. It looks very different to the one in the original post and inflates once submerged 10cm.

hammar.com

The OP photo looks like a bobbin (not hydrostatic) inflator where the bobbin is contained within the top half of the clear screw on unit. Once activated by water disintegrating the bobbin, the green part will presumably raise with the spring, leaving the red indicator part visible.

There are various different bobbin manufacturers and they all have slightly different slots on the side (like a key way).

A phone call to Aspli would confirm if theirs fit..

 

[john_morris_uk]

The HAMMAR automatic inflator is the Hydrostatic one. It looks very different to the one in the original post and inflates once submerged 10cm.

hammar.com

The OP photo looks like a bobbin (not hydrostatic) inflator where the bobbin is contained within the top half of the clear screw on unit. Once activated by water disintegrating the bobbin, the green part will presumably raise with the spring, leaving the red indicator part visible.

There are various different bobbin manufacturers and they all have slightly different slots on the side (like a key way).

A phone call to Aspli would confirm if theirs fit..

Yes, I agree. (I was having a senior moment).

The various l/j devises are illustrated here: http://www.lifejackets.co.uk/Lifejackets-Automatic_Inflation_Devices.htm

 

[joe17]

Yes, it is the halkey roberts bobbin one. I jad a closer look today and now i could see the name.

Thanks for the info and the links.

 

[Martin_J]

john_morris.. Thank you - lifejackets.co.uk do show a good set of pictures.. Not sure how they compare on prices though.

Actually well worth comparing - the green retaining pin is £0.23 at the Aspli site.. and £2.99 at lifejackets.co.uk

 

[john_morris_uk]

john_morris.. Thank you - lifejackets.co.uk do show a good set of pictures.. Not sure how they compare on prices though.

Actually well worth comparing - the green retaining pin is £0.23 at the Aspli site.. and £2.99 at lifejackets.co.uk

Good point. I hadn't compared the prices... It's certainly worth shopping around.

 

[joe17]

I managed to do this and it was fairly straightforward.

This youtube video was very helpful, especially the bit at the end about the different types of green pins to indicate if the jacket had been manually inflated or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G-W1CK6eAE

The original bobbin had only disintegrated slightly, but it was enough to let the pin through. It certainly looks like the bobbin is more likely to fire than not.