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Hi Brian.
Although oil is an alternative to air equalization
of a battery pod or motor, in my opinion it has its disadvantages. True...since
oil does not compress or expand like air (except from heat), you do not have to
have a system that constantly monitors your pressure
and injects more oil to compensate for outside
water pressure. But oil is messy. Hard to get all the air voids out of your
motor unless you put the oil in under a slight vacuum and use bleeder screws
(like in a car's brake system).
You do not want to completely cover your batteries
with oil and this still leaves a
substantial air void in the battery pod that is not equalized. According to
Minnkota using oil (some folks use transformer oil) can gum up the brushes
on brush motors.
Oil also slows down the rpm of your motor somewhat
depending on what viscosity of oil you use, but no matter how thin the oil it
does slow the rpm even if just slightly.
When your motor gets warm or hot the oil can
expand and blow out your shaft seal unless
you use an oil bladder bag or tube that attaches to the motor and allows
expanding oil from the heat in the motor to flow into the bag so you don't blow
a seal, and also if you have any slight seepage leak of oil, the oil bladder if
put under slight pressure will replace any lost oil and the slight positive
pressure of the oil in the bladder will keep any water out.
By attaching an oil filled bladder via a tube
to the motor and allowing a section of the tube to
hang BELOW the motor housing, you can utilize Pascal's law
that dictates that any liquid that is within
a closed container (tube) and becomes pressurized at the lowest point of
that container (tube) will impart that same pressure to the overall
container, thus always keeping your oil in your motor housing just under a
slight positive pressure since the tube hangs below the motor and is slightly
pressurized more than the water pressure on the motor.
The oil itself is not compressed here, but it is pressurized. Think of a hot water bottle.
Water/oil can not be compressed. If you open the hot water cap it will dribble
out right? But if you open it and stomp on it the water will shoot out. It is
not compressed but it is pressurized. Pascal's
law applies here if you have an oil bladder or oil filled tube from that bladder
hanging below your motor. But overall I think oil equalization is more
trouble for me than it is worth. It might be more viable at greater depths where
constant air supply for heavy equalization could be a consideration,
but considering the depths I am going to be diving my wetsub at are normal
scuba depths no greater than a max of 100
feet, I believe after much thought that the air equalization system is
the one I will use.
Some people like oil and others like air
equalization. I think using an air tank and scuba regulator for motor and
battery pod pressure equalization is far less messy and easier to do than using
oil for my particular purposes.
As long as I use a hydrolator and hydrocaps
from the Hydrocap Corporation which converts the hydrogen back into water in the
batteries and the battery compartment itself, I should not have any problem with
any sparks from the motor igniting hydrogen
with my battery pod and motor being
joined via flexible conduit.
If you contact the hydrocap corporation ask for Mr.
George Peroni.
Here is a brief description of what hydrocaps
do....
WE MAKE WATER FROM YOUR GAS
Hydrogen and oxygen battery gas catalytically recombined into purewater and returned to each battery cell. Keeps battery topped off for extended periods of time and reduces maintenance costs. Explosive hydrogen gas is virtually eliminated from the battery area. Corrosive spray and fumes are contained and washed back into each battery cell. Electrolyte kept strong longer, extending the useful power and life of the battery. HYDROCAP Vents simply replace the battery?s caps. Battery maintenance is greatly reduced. Write or call for more information.305-696-2504 975 NW 95 St.Miami, FL 33150 Kindest Regards,
Bill Akins.
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