[PSUBS-MAILIST] deep test

[hank pronk via Personal_Submersibles]

Today Gamma is going for a proper 50 foot dive to ensure there are no problems with the new dome and ballast tanks.
Lucky for me the cart was wide enough for the new steel ballast tanks.   Next weekend will be the deep test.  I am using a simple method for the deep test that I used on my little yellow sub.  I will sent the high pressure air supply line to a hull penetrator that has a hp valve on the other side in the water.  From the hp valve the air returns via another penetration  to the ballast valves inside the sub that are left open.  The hp valve has a linkage to a hinge with a stopper.  Then I have a rope that attaches to the hinge mechanism, I simply pull on the rope at the surface and that moves the hinge and activates the air.  I don't want the rope on the valve because I could damage it by pulling to hard.  I will manually release the air from the ballast tanks until the sub is nearly submerged then put a weight on the hatch to send her down. Today's dive will determine the exact weight I need to add. 
Hank