Sestrel fluid and lighting

[sarabande]

I think I have sorted the fluid as being ethanol and water after taking it into the local pharmacy and doing a sniff test. "Not baby oil".

The illuminant continues to puzzle. I know it is a tritium capsule whose half life is long expired, but there are a number of replacements on ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...1.TRC0.A0.H0.TRS0&_nkw=tritium+light&_sacat=0

The existing (dead) capsule is approx 18mm by 7mm, and I look to using 2 or 3 of the 20 by 3mm replacements.

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What adhesive to use please to secure the glass vials to the underlying metal platform ? It must be resistant to dilute ethanol.

TIA

 

[Topcat47]

Mine has a torch bulb inside the handle and takes a couple of batteries, I can't remember the size as it's on the boat. Anyway it's not a tritium light (which does not mean yours isn't).

 

[sarabande]

Just remembered. One website says that the existing fluid will be radioactive....


Should I disregard this, or wear my full NBC suit ? (I do not intend to drink the old fluid BTW )

 

[penberth3]

Just remembered. One website says that the existing fluid will be radioactive....


Should I disregard this, or wear my full NBC suit ? (I do not intend to drink the old fluid BTW )

The Tritium is radioactive but that doesn't meant the fluid is. The real nasty is Radium paint which you're unlikely to find, only on really old stuff.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

I restored mine four years ago, and the best advice I could find at the time was that the contents are 'white oil'. AKA Johnsons Baby Oil. Works perfectly, damping perfect and no reaction with the print on the card. I only used one of the eBay Tritium units and it's fine, three might be better but it didn't occur to me! (Could be too much though). I wanted to keep the red of the original goop, so used RTV, which has stood my short test of time with no leaks/bubbles.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Sestrel used both oil (Bayol) and alcohol fluids. SIRS (the current incarnation) advised me to sniff, and suggested gin as a top-up for the alcohol version. They sell a replacement for Bayol.

Likewise, older ones use battery lighting and later ones use beta lights, I buy the lights from www.betalight.nl, who are friendly, fluent in English and cheap. If you email Tristan Mooij he will send you a current catalogue and price list: here's a shot of a five year old one in sizes which might interest you:

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Sestrel used both oil (Bayol) and alcohol fluids. SIRS (the current incarnation) advised me to sniff, and suggested gin as a top-up for the alcohol version. They sell a replacement for Bayol.

Thanks - you've reminded me of the trade name - Bayol = white oil = Baby Oil.

 

[sarabande]

Thanks JD, that Betalight site has lots of desirable kit ! I have emailed as suggested.

Esso's Bayol seems to have disappeared off the market completely, and SIRS and others are reluctant to say what their replacement is. Surprise !

 

[Skylark]

May or may not be relevant but I’ve recently replaced the battery in my diving computer. There were many YouTube videos to help and I used Baby Oil to flood the insides before resealling the outer membrane. It seems fine (and only took me 3 attempts to eliminate the hidden bubble )