Thread: Anyone using the Powered Respirator?

Thanks barnsey, I really appreciate the offer. I'll pull the thing apart and have a look. I assumed it didn't have velcro but I haven't taken it out yet, I just pressed it back into place. I think the main objection I have is the lack of airflow (even though it's right according to the little ball thingy).

If I need the other bit, I'll holler !!

Thanks again for the offer.

Originally Posted by Gumby

I think the main objection I have is the lack of airflow (even though it's right according to the little ball thingy).

If I need the other bit, I'll holler !!

Thanks again for the offer.

'SALLRIGHT

From my experience the airflow is only minimal in any event to keep you from sucking air from the filter rather than back from the workshop under the helmet collar. In ambient temperatures up here it is just enough to stop you over heating with the thing on. With it on I often find particularly when in a dusty session the floow seems to drop off, I take out the bottom filter and give it a tap to clean the surplus stuff out. When you put it back and turn on I can feel the difference.

FWIW

So, I just got my Triton yesterday, and I think my first step is to thank all who went before for the improvements already incorporated into my model.

The Triton is replacing a roughly 9-year-old Racal (later 3M) Airlite, which had the battery, fan, and filter above the wearer's forehead. The Airlite was well and truly spent, with few parts left that worked completely as they should, so it's earned its retirement. The Triton looks promising, so far, though it's going to take some getting used to, being generally bigger in pretty much every respect.

I've already identified a few options for personalization, including a safety pin added to the adjustable side of the belt, to keep it from adjusting itself open as I'm putting the belt on. I'm also going to have to pin an orphaned sock, or some such, into the webbing, at the top, as I'm pretty much hairless, and find that the helmet rides rather low.

My major complaint, so far, though, is something I haven't seen mentioned in this thread. When I put the faceshield down, I feel rather quickly like I've put on someone else's eyeglasses. I saw something in Bill Espo's review about the focus being a bit off in the peripheral vision, but I'm finding that it's off pretty much everywhere. I'm still a few years short of being ready for reading glasses, but I find that anything outside of about a 6-8" range is slightly fuzzy. And I am close enough to the reading glasses stage that anything inside of a 6-8" range is fuzzy whether I have the helmet on or not. I'm apparently able to adjust, to some extent, because I was working for a couple of hours, earlier, without too much difficulty, except for reading the fine ticks on the measuring tape, but the adjustment is not without cost, as I've had the helmet off for almost an hour, and my eyes are still not focussing as they should.

Does anyone else have this problem? I never had it with the old Airlite, possibly because its faceshield was a piece of flat plastic, held in a curve mechanically, rather than the carefully molded, extremely curved shield that the Triton has. Anyone know if changing the shield might help? I like the extra head protection the Triton offers, and I certainly value the clean air, but I'm not completely sure about trading my eyesight for it.

Many thanks for any insights about my eyesight,
Russell

There is some distortion around the edges with the respirator, as it is curved in 2 planes.

Test 2 things, the visor and your eyes. (Not trying to be a funny bugger here).

My eyes were perfect till I had them tested, then I could see leaves again.

As for testing the visor, get someone else to give it a go. Though it will distort, it should not be out of focus.

Good news is that if you do need specs, you can wear them at the same time as the respirator.

Steve

I have to agree with TritonJapan.

I've gotten used to a quick flip up to see my measurements and alignments.
A quick flip down to protect my face and lungs.

-----

I've just had a flash for improving the air flow.
Although, I've been away so long it might have been mentioned before.

Perhaps a second batterypack on the same belt and a Y attachment off the helmet. Giving double the air flow.

Originally Posted by TritonJapan

There is some distortion around the edges with the respirator, as it is curved in 2 planes.

Test 2 things, the visor and your eyes. (Not trying to be a funny bugger here).

My eyes were perfect till I had them tested, then I could see leaves again.

As for testing the visor, get someone else to give it a go. Though it will distort, it should not be out of focus.

Good news is that if you do need specs, you can wear them at the same time as the respirator.

Steve

While my eyes are no longer the perfect ones of youth, I'm having a really hard time accepting the possibility that yesterday, when I was using the Airlite, my eyes were just fine, but today, using the Triton, I need glasses. That seems to me somewhat akin to assuming that my tongue has suddenly gone bad, rather than figuring that the milk I just brought home from the grocery somehow managed to get spoiled.

I'll see if I can get the wife to render an opinion on the visor, but I'm not sure how much her opinion is worth, on the matter, given that she hasn't yet noticed the gash in the middle of my forehead, that I managed to get yesterday, while wearing neither visor.

Russell

Are you aware that you can un-clip the white plastic straps and re-clip them to a tighter position? You may not need that sock after all

If you have ever had a new pair of glasses you will have noticed the same distortion effect, your brain soon compensates and you quickly see normally, just give the visor a go, I think you will see an improvement in a very short time.

Russel, I have had my triton respirator 3 years.
When I went to the optician for my last eyetest a few months ago he told me I had no need to change the lens prescription from the previous test 4 years ago (we both expressed surprise bearing in mind my age). So I don't think you can blame the visor for any vision changes.

Try some carrots, that's what the pilots swore by in WW2.

Originally Posted by jow104

visor for any vision changes.

Try some carrots, that's what the pilots swore by in WW2.

Actually, the rumour that carrots are good for your eyes, arose from a psychological warfare operation in ww2. Once the brits had perfected airbourne radar they were shooting down a hell of a lot of german planes at night. the brits were trying to keep the radar and its success from the germans so they started growing lots of carrots near the airfields and feeding them to the pilots so they could attribute the pilots' ability to "see" the german planes in the darkness to the carrots and not the radar. they must have somewhat overdone it because the rumour persists to this day, as is evidenced above. can you imagine the german pilots stuffing themselves with carrots and wiondering why it didnt work for them?

Segmental,

I wear glasses because though I can focus, it takes energy to do so. The specs make it easier to focus and so I do not get as tired, or experience the symptoms you were describing.

Yes, you will get more distortion from the Triton respirator than you will from your earlier model, as has been mentioned before, because it is curved in 2 planes.

If your eyes are taking quite a while to adjust, you may benefit from having them tested.

The face shield may distort things, however, it should not put them out of focus.

Not trying to pass a product weakness off. The visor does have some distortion. This distortion, can compound any visual conditions that a user may have. I am an example of this.

Grandma used to say that I should stop doing some things or I would go blind one day,,,,or was that grow hairs on the palm of my hand? Who knows, but she has a lot to answer for in making me eat carrots and my poor eye sight.

Enjoyed the tale Doug.

Steve

I am looking at a new Triton Respirator that I can get for $115, but I don't think it has the screw on "hose to battery". I think I will buy it but is the older system that much of a pain in the a$#e or do you think I'll be able to get Triton to upgrade the hose kit

You can get an upgrade kit but after having both types, i don't think the old one is any problem if you modify the connection using some simple plastic pipe joiners available from Bunnings etc. It is detailed earlier in this thread i think (havent looked but I'm sure it is)

At that price, who's complaining!!!