Thread: Anyone using the Powered Respirator?

Thanks for the advice, David.

Fortunately I only have a few more pavers to trim, and think that I'll persevere with the fibre cutting wheels - I find that taking the cut in small bites wears the wheel the least, and I can trim 4 or five tiles per wheel. At $4 each, this is much cheaper than $149 for a diamond wheel from Magnet Mart - I was quoted $700 from a supposedly 'Discount' tool centre!

Somehow the thought of centrifically flinging even a minute amount of water anywhere near my submissively upside-down Makita gives me conniptions that I don't think any number of Earth Leakage Detectors would dispel!

Thanks anyhow...

Johnno

Hi All,

Been reading with interest on the dust mask issue. I purchased one last week from Bunnings, charged her up as per the book, put it on and was a bit disappointed in the airflow. Tried the tester and could not get it to reach the circle centre. I then discharged the unit and recharged and wore it for a messy job cutting up some swamp gum and found that the filter clogged quite easily and I was really quite hot from lack of airflow.

Just as I decided to push on, 1/2 way through a cut the respirator turned off. A brief inspection showed that a wire that is soldered on to the motor has broken off!!!

I am sure that I could just solder it back on and get on with it but I expected a bit more from a Triton product and will be calling them tomorrow.

I have also found that the hose is too stiff and unless the belt pack is worn really low to straighten the hose out, I find that the hose tends to push the helmet forward, making it uncomfortable.

I have also found that the unit can be difficult to put on as the adjustable headband keeps getting pushed forward when I put the helmet on. Additionally, this headband is always coming undone. I could ( and will ) tape it but I am a bit disapointed in the quality.

I had a look at the air pump unit and found that the black cap is leaking at both sides - there really needs to be a clip at either end. Bit of tape improved the flow but still not to the middle of the circle. With the bottom filter out, the test flow meter ball sits on the metal cross bar and can't go any further. That bottom filter really sucks the ergs out of the airflow.

Anyway, just my 2 bobs worth. I am sure that Triton could come up with some good improvements to this unit.

Johnno
When wet cutting you must have the saw on top or it will flood with water and I would not like to think of the result :confused: :confused:

DavidG - My Mk3 has been virtually permanently converted for optimum dust collection - I use the extension table for cross-cutting and have almost forgotten how to turn the saw over!

I'm sure that the 'right-side-up' solution would work well, but as I said before it's not worth the effort and expense - the job's nearly finished!

Indaba - sorry to hear of your problems. I 'ran-in' my respirator for three cycles, and it now hammers the ball against the restraint with ease. As you may gather from the last couple of posts I've been making lots of cement dust for a couple of days. I found that the primary filter gets restricted after an hour or so of dust production - when it's time for a cuppa anyhow. After the first session I changed the primary filter (and popped the dirty one in a bucket of water). After the second session it was lunchtime, so I washed both primary filters. Did the same thing after lunch. No problems.
I've done the plug-in extension mod listed in this thread, which has removed any hassle with the air pipe. I'm a portly (fat) six-footer, and the pipe now fits well. I've also taped all the loose bits in the helmet - long live duct tape!

Just for interest, have a close look at the quality of the more expensive imported powered respirators - the Triton compares very well...

Johnno

Being an interested observer and purchasing engineer for safety equipment, I ask the question:

Is this product Australian Standards Approved?

Does it have the 5 ticks?

Does it have AS 1716 printed on the side?

If it doesn't conform to the above then consider discontinuing use.
If it does and you find a problem, then return it to the manufacturer for service or repair. I would assume that very few people are actually qualified to repair respiratory protection equipment.

Remember this could be your future wellbeing that you're so casually toying with.

Mark

Originally posted by Markw

Is this product Australian Standards Approved?

Does it have the 5 ticks?

Does it have AS 1716 printed on the side?

Mark

Have a look at the Triton web site, you will find your answers there

Triton Web Site

Mark, I can assure you that it has the magic five ticks, and also has:
Respiratory protection to AS/NZS 1716
Eye protection to AS/NZS 1337 "high impact"
Hearing protection to AS/NZS 1270 23dB rating
Head protection to AS/NZS 1801

As one who already has emhysema, I investigated thoroughly before entrusting what's left of my lungs to it!

HOWEVER!!! A note of warning to owners. After three days of showering myself, my carport and my wife's car (which was parked outside) with cement dust, I decided to clean the whole unit thoroughly. Whatever you do, DON'T remove the plastic screws which hold the visor on. They screw into a plastic nut which is spring-loaded to provide the right tension to hold the visor in the open position. If they are unscrewed the nuts are pushed back against the helmet, at an angle, and are exceeding difficult to get back into their rightful position! Been there, done that, won't do it again!

Having said that, the unit is quite easy to disassemble (there is also a Standards lable inside the helmet, under the airduct). It is also quite easy to reassemble, except for those bloody screws!

Johnno

Hi all,

Spoke to Triton this morning about my problems with the respirator. They advised that I could solder the motor wire back on if I wanted to without affecting the warranty - which was my preference as I am in the middle of a job.

They also are sending up new bottom filters and a new black top section. They mentioned something about a stiffer plastic in the new filters.

I am not too sure what the new top section will do. The current one leaks like a sieve at the ends. If I hold the unit and squeeze down on the ends to seal them, the flow meter goes to the max - as soon as I release the ends the flow meter wont even hit the circle.

Anyway, I'll post again when I get the new filters and cap and try them out.

Cheers

Johnno

When you undo the face shield the captive nuts do go back at an angle.

To reasemble slide a flat bladed kitchen knife behind the nut and hold the nut flat. The screw then enters the thread easily.

Works like a charm and I regularly remove the face shield for cleaning.

ps RTFM.

David -

Actually that's how I replaced the visor...

Manual? I spent 35 years of my working life writing technical manuals! Don' wanna read anuvver wun!


Johnno

Hi All,

My respirator is sitting on a shelf in my shop gathering the dust it's suposed to filter.
I have read all the posts in this thread and here is my 2 cents worth:
btw I suffer from a bone and nerve health problems and find great difficulty reaching around my back without severe pain.
When I bought my respirator I had several problems, some of which Triton fixed fairly quickly with the exception of the tube connecting the filter to the helmet which stops me using the product due to the following:
The tube is to stiff and keeps coming apart from either the helmet or the filter mainly when strugling to get the aperatus on to my body.
When I do finally get it on the tube being very stiff pushes the helmet around making it to uncomfortable for me to wear for any length of time.

The main problem that Triton did fix (and quite quickly) was the adjustable headband in the helmet being hard (for me) to adjust and keep adjusted without the helmet twisting all over the place due to coming undone all the time.
Triton replaced the adjusting band with a different type having a black knob that simply neaded turning to adjust the band, Triton told me that the new type of band was readily available for all owners on request and would be standard on later production runs (this was about 3 - 4 weeks after the respirator was released) so this info might help others.

However without something being done about the tube (and I am NOT holding my breath) my unit will remain on the shelf and hopefully becoming useful some time in the distant future when Triton gets serious about fixing the flaws in what should be a easy to use product.

G'day all.

I have spoken to Triton about my issues with the respirator listed above and they have sent me up 2 new black unit tops which although not visibly different, as soon as one was installed on the unit, my airflow went theough the roof and the flow meter was maxed out. There is a definite problem with the ends of these black tops not being secured as the top on my original had bowed up at the ends slightly and was losing heaps of air.

They also sent me up 2 pre filters which seem to be made of a harder plastic compound. I am stillunsure if these are making a difference or not.

They also sent me up thenew ratchet style adjustable headband which is a big improvement over the original as it cannot come undone.

All I need know is a new flexible hose and I'll be right!

To their credit, Triton seem keen to help with these issues so anyone else with problems should talk to Triton.


FWIW

Andrew

I want one but will wait till it finally gets sorted out.:confused:

Hi all,

just fitted and tried the new ratchet style headband from Triton. Very disapointed and I am not sure if anyone at triton has actually tried this on the unit themselves. The ratchet knob for my head size (58) on the old band, sits immediately in front of the air inlet and forces the headband into your head. Very difficult to get on too.

It gave less room in the helmet and caused my head to push on the front headband and blocking the forward air supply to a trickle.

I taped up the old one and refitted it and although not perfect was a darn sight better.

Anyone else tried this new headband???

Andrew