Thread: powered full face shields

3M™ Versaflo™ Powered Air Purifying Respirator Kit TR-315A
Sku: 42317

$1429.95 inc GST RESA Safety several places in Victoria

dont have one but at least you could go to shop, play and try out

I saw that, but that doesnt include the headpiece! Its also not a stocked item

I bought one earlier this yer from Blackwoods for about $1500 - this was a promotional price. I see that they are selling it now for around $2200. I find it works well as I wear glasses. No issues with dry eyes.

Is anyone apart from me astounded at the price of these things ?

They are a hard hat face shield motor connection for filters and some sort of seal for your face. $1500!

I've an old triton one and as I recall they were $200 or something. That's the right money.

I have the Triton and it was good when it was new but it's now some 13 years old so the batteries are well down on original capacity.

Even when it was new it did not really have enough flow for my liking when hard work was being done.
Now it barely makes the flow rate needed for light work and then only last about an hour at that flow rate.

Might have a go at modifying to accept a bigger fan and beefier battery pack.

Bob I had an ancient Racal Airstream circa 1983 and after the batteries died I used a 12volt transformer on it. I bought this as I’ve always had a beard and masks just don’t work, you need positive flow.
This did limit movement but as I was mainly using it for large MDF turning it was ok until I picked up a DM4.
H.

Originally Posted by clear out

Bob I had an ancient Racal Airstream circa 1983 and after the batteries died I used a 12volt transformer on it. I bought this as I’ve always had a beard and masks just don’t work, you need positive flow.
This did limit movement but as I was mainly using it for large MDF turning it was ok until I picked up a DM4.
H.

Yeah I agree about the need for positive flow.
I definitely need the mobility as my most common use is dry wood chainsaw milling which generates masses of sawdust.

I have a beard and wear specs and find that the trend powered mask does the job for men the only issue I have is the harness is filsmy I am on my second replaced free no question asked.

I remember selling the old Record Power Turbo Visors, two in the range, battery pack was on the head strap, filter and pre filters on the top. Sold for $400 and $500 if memory serves me right. That was in the 90s though.

if new battery packs are required, these days the Li-ion / LiPo / LiFePO4 options in 18650 size would make a good pack option (although you have to be careful buying known brand / capacity units because there's a lot of dodgy ones out there)

Originally Posted by poundy

if new battery packs are required, these days the Li-ion / LiPo / LiFePO4 options in 18650 size would make a good pack option (although you have to be careful buying known brand / capacity units because there's a lot of dodgy ones out there)

Thanks, I already have a bunch of LI-ion 18650's I use for one of my my portable dust counters I was thinking of using.

Are there alternatives to the versaflo? I couldn't find much

I saw the trend but didn't look like it was great quality. The 3m has parts to replace in terms of filters/battery hose etc.

I'm willing to consider other brands if quality is good. I do agree that it's a rip off but I want to wear something all the time, even when just using hand tools, if I'm in there for a while as I get allergies easily and the 3m half mask I get gets uncomfortable.

It would be nice if 3m partnered up with the tool brands so we could use their batteries. I suppose a bracket can be 3d printed...

What's the go with those Li batteries which look like aa. I have though about rebuilding packs myself but have no way connecting them together, usually they are spot welded with some sheet metal in between.

Originally Posted by BobL

I have the Triton and it was good when it was new but it's now some 13 years old so the batteries are well down on original capacity.

Even when it was new it did not really have enough flow for my liking when hard work was being done.
Now it barely makes the flow rate needed for light work and then only last about an hour at that flow rate.

Might have a go at modifying to accept a bigger fan and beefier battery pack.

Jaycar sell both nicad sub c and nimh with tabs. The origionals are nicad D cells but you could probably substitute.

1.8Ah Sub C Rechargeable Ni-CD Battery - Solder | Jaycar Electronics

2400mAh 1.2V Sub-C Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) Rechargeable Battery | Jaycar Electronics

There is a higher output NimH but I'd probably go for the lower output one. Still if you want more flow teh NimH should deliver.

I've been thinking of attaching mine to my shop vac blower, that'd keep the sweat at bay

Originally Posted by damian

I've been thinking of attaching mine to my shop vac blower, that'd keep the sweat at bay

Yeah I've been thinking about something beefier but not sure I could handle the noise.

The originals are D size and are nominally 1.2V, 5000 mAh.
5 of these in series provides ~6V @ 5000 mAh (30Wh).

The charging specs are;
Standard Charging: 15 hrs at 1500 mA or,
Fast Charging 4.5 hrs @ 1500 mAh ???

I'm only using the small 9V 500 mA DC adapter than came with the mask and have never charged them for 15 hrs, typically half that and maybe at most maybe 10 hrs. I wonder if this is why they don't seem to last too long.

I was thinking of connecting pairs of ~3000 mAh Li-ions (that I already have) in series with another pair, which would provide a total ~7.4V @ ~6000 mAh (44 Wh or ~ 50% improvement over the original NiCds).

But firstly I will wire in a bypass socket so I can provide external power via a variable power supply to see how hot the impeller motor gets at 7.4V.

I see Jaycar also sell 9000 mAh D size Ni-MHs, but at $50 a pair (and I would need 3 pairs) that won't be happening.