1-01: How to setup AirBuddy for diving
This video demonstrates how to properly set up your AirBuddy for diving. Please also refer to the detailed instructions in the user manual provided with your AirBuddy, or online on our website at www.airbuddy.com/download.
1-01: How to setup AirBuddy for diving
Hi, in this video we will demonstrate how to properly set up your AirBuddy for diving. You can find detailed instructions in the user manual provided with your AirBuddy, or online on our website at www.airbuddy.com/download.
First step is to take a fully charged battery, unpack from the neoprene case, and install inside your AirBuddy. Make sure that all four terminals are clean of any dirt or oxidation and the Safety Link is firmly fastened.
Then place the battery inside, with the terminals facing towards the wires, and firmly tighten the battery screws to about 3-4 Newton-meters of force. Close the lid, press it down firmly to make sure that the latches on both sides of the lid engaged, and then attach the compression handle by stretch it over the attachment points on each side of the AirBuddy housing.
Now, you are ready to attach the diver’s hose to the float. The hose has two different ends. On one side you will notice a 90-degree plug and on the other side a straight plug. Remove the red, plastic protector caps, and attach the 90-degree plug on one end of the hose to the coupler other side of the float. If you’re setting up for buddy diving, then, of course, attach both hoses.
Next step is to attach the float to the main unit. Loosen the Velcro straps and place AirBuddy inside the float with the air coupler facing the J-hose on the float. Remove the Velcros from the storing position, thread the end through the buckle and fasten. Repeat this for all four Velcro straps.
Don’t forget to connect the J-hose by firmly pressing the plug inside the coupler until you hear a “click” and you can’t pull it back; then rotate the sleeve of the air coupler to misalign the notch with the pin to prevent the coupler from accidental opening. If you forget the J-hose, do NOT plug it under water! Return to the shore, clear water from the float, and re-assemble.
Next step is to attach the flag. Unplug the lid and push the flag all the way down. If it’s too difficult to attach the flag, you may use a tiny bit of silicon grease to lubricate the O-rings. Then press the flag all the way down until the 3 red O-rings disappear in the hole. The last step is to set-up your harness and attach the diver’s hose. You’ll find there is a buckle with a strap that you can attach to your weight belt to keep the harness aligned to your body.
When you connect the diver’s hose to the harness, make sure that you thread it through the red ring, and then firmly press the hose plug inside the coupler until you hear a “click” and you can’t pull it back. Rotate the sleeve to misalign the notch with the pin to lock the coupler.
Once you do the pre-dive check as explained in our other video, dress up and put the harness on your back with the regulator going over your right shoulder. Fasten the buckle on the chest strap of your harness. And place the regulator necklace over your head so that the regulator rests on your chest and it’s easy to locate if it falls out of your mouth underwater.
Now, you are ready to go diving.
1-02: How to check AirBuddy before every dive
This video demonstrates how to properly check your AirBuddy before diving in five easy-to-remember steps under the acronym: V-I-T-A-L (“Vital”).
1) “V” stands for a Visual check of all components to make sure that there is no obvious damage.
2) “I” stands for an Inspection of all air connections to make sure that they are properly attached and that both safety couplers (on the main unit and on the harness) are locked.
3) “T” stands for a Test run to check that the compressor runs and makes normal sound, it’s building up pressure, and the position switch and the siren work OK.
4) “A” stands for an Air flow check. Once you switch AirBuddy off, briefly press the purge button on the regulator to check that air is released.
5) “L” stands for Look again on the entire assembly to make sure that no components are missing or appear to be loose.
1-02: How to check AirBuddy before every dive
Hi, in this video we will demonstrate how to properly check your AirBuddy before diving in five easy-to-remember steps under the acronym: V-I-T-A-L (“Vital”).
“V” stands for a Visual check of all components to make sure that there is no obvious damage.
“I” stands for an Inspection of all air connections to make sure that they are properly attached and that both safety couplers (on the main unit and on the harness) are locked.
“T” stands for a Test run to check that the compressor runs and makes normal sound, it’s building up pressure, and the position switch and the siren work OK. Just make sure that you don’t run your AirBuddy without water cooling for longer than some 20 seconds.
“A” stands for an Air flow check. Once you switch AirBuddy off, briefly press the purge button on the regulator to check that air is released.
And finally, “L” which stands for Look again on the entire assembly to make sure that no components are missing or appear to be loose.
If you have any doubts, refrain from diving, and get in touch with the AirBuddy customer support.
1-03: How to prevent a water ingress mishap
This video demonstrates the key features of AirBuddy and explains basic principles of how to prevent a potential water ingress mishap. AirBuddy has been designed so that the centre of gravity is as low as possible to act like a keel on a boat to keep it stable on the water surface. It is balanced to self-upright from about 110-degree tilt. It also contains a water trap and a position switch to help prevent a potential water ingress. Nevertheless, it is a floating compressor that draws the air from the surface, so a certain degree of user caution is required to prevent hazardous situations that could lead to water damage to certain internal parts.
1-03: How to prevent a water ingress mishap
Hi, in this video we will demonstrate the key features of AirBuddy and explain basic principles of how to prevent a potential water ingress. AirBuddy has been designed so that the centre of gravity is as low as possible to act like a keel on a boat – to keep it stable on the water surface.
Your AirBuddy is balanced to self-upright from about 110-degree tilt. But in essence, it is a floating compressor that draws the air from the surface through the flag, pressurises and stores inside the air reservoir and subsequently supplies to the diver through the hose. So, a certain degree of user caution is required to prevent hazardous situations that could lead to water ingress and potential damage to the internal parts.
For example, you should NOT:
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- Jump in the water from a boat or jetty
- Let AirBuddy drift away during the beach entry or exit and rollover by shore wash
- Dive in rough seas with rolling waves
- Connect or disconnect any hoses under water
- Lean on AirBuddy when swimming on the surface
- Wash AirBuddy with the inlet hole unplugged
- Dive without the flag
- Etc.
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Your AirBuddy has been fitted with a position sensor that will turn the compressor off if capsized, however it may still suck-in some water that will get caught in the water trap. The water trap has a limited capacity, so please make sure that if your AirBuddy ever capsized, you stop diving immediately, return back to the shore and take AirBuddy apart to inspect and remove any water that may have entered inside.
Just undo the Velcros, lower the float and remove the lid. The water trap is located underneath the white silicone grommet. Pull it off and inspect if there is any water inside. If you find any water, pour it out or dry with a tip of a towel. If you hold your AirBuddy upside down, make sure that you support the battery by hand to relieve any tension on the wires by the weight of the battery. Then close the lid again, fasten the Velcros, and put the flag back in.
You are ready to dive again!
1-04: How to enter the water from the shore
In this video we will demonstrate the best practices of how to enter the water with your AirBuddy.
1-04: How to enter the water from the shore
Hi, in this video we will demonstrate the best practices of how to enter the water with your AirBuddy.
Take the hose somewhere in the middle, put it on your wrist and lift your AirBuddy and other gear.
This way you don’t drag the hose on the ground which would be fine on sand, but if there are any rocks then it could get stuck.
Walk into the water holding your AirBuddy in your hand. When you are about waist deep, release the AirBuddy, but keep your hand on it to make sure it doesn’t drift away and get rolled over by a shore wash.
You can use your AirBuddy to support your fins. That’s okay.
Take your mask and quickly rinse it from the defog. Put it on your face and submerge your head under water to start the AirBuddy by removing the magnetic wristband, which you then keep on your wrist.
Get your fins and gently launch off. Ideally, do your fins under water. This way you don’t get any sand inside.
Now, wait about 45 to 50 seconds for the AirBuddy to fully pressurise. Put the regulator in your mouth and you are ready to descend.
Enjoy your diving!
1-05: How to swap the battery for a consecutive dive
This video demonstrates how to swap the battery for a consecutive dive. You can either completely remove AirBuddy from the float as if you were to disassemble it, or just loosen the Velcros to lower the float, remove the compression handle and open the lid. Swap the battery in 30 seconds, close AirBuddy and you’re ready to dive again.
1-05: How to swap the battery for a consecutive dive
Hi, in this video we will demonstrate how to swap the battery for a consecutive dive.
You can either completely remove AirBuddy from the float as if you were to disassemble it, or just loosen the Velcros to lower the float to access and remove the handle and open the lid.
Then remove the battery screws by using the 4-millimetre hex key, and then replace the discharged battery with a charged one. Place it inside with the terminals facing towards the battery wires, and firmly tighten the battery screws to about 3-4 Newton-meters of force.
Close the lid, press it down firmly to make sure that the latches on both sides of the lid engaged, and then attach the compression handle by stretch it over the attachment points on each side of the AirBuddy housing.
And then fasten the four Velcro straps again. Briefly test your AirBuddy to make sure it works properly, and you are ready to dive again.
1-06: How to properly rinse AirBuddy after diving
This video demonstrates how to properly rinse your AirBuddy after diving. You should do this after diving in sea as well as swimming pool, which contains chlorine and various other chemicals that can be even more aggressive than salt.
1-06: How to properly rinse AirBuddy after diving
Hi, in this video we will demonstrate how to properly rinse your AirBuddy after diving. You’ll need to do this after diving in sea as well as swimming pool, which contains chlorine and various other chemicals that can be even more aggressive than salt.
To start, remove all pressure from the system by pressing the purge button on your regulator. Then disconnect the diver’s hose from the harness and place the harness in bathtub or container with tap water. Remove the flag and put it in the bath. Don’t forget to plug the inlet on the AirBuddy lid, otherwise you risk getting some water inside. Disconnect the J-hose and remove all four Velcros.
You can store them by threading through the oval hole at the bottom of AirBuddy, like so. This way, the Velcro straps stay neatly organised. Before you rinse the hose or the float, don’t forget to protect the plugs with the red PVC caps that came with AirBuddy to prevent any water from getting inside.
Place all components in the freshwater bath and wait about 15-20 minutes so that all salt or chemicals get completely dissolved, even from the intricate areas like the internal mechanism of the air couplers. Once you dry your AirBuddy, inspect the water trap to make sure that there is no water inside.
If you removed the battery, you could also hold it upside down to confirm there isn’t any water under the platform near the compressor. Then just simply push the silicon grommet back in place.
Next, you need to recharge the battery. You can charge it outside of AirBuddy or inside, but AirBuddy must be in the off position. The LED indicator on the charger will turn green once the battery is fully charged in few hours.
1-07: How to prepare the battery for air travel
This video demonstrates how to prepare the battery of your AirBuddy for air travel. You can find detailed instructions in the user manual provided with the purchase of your AirBuddy, or online on our website at www.airbuddy.com/download. On this link, you can also find our battery declaration as well as the IATA card with a summary of the aviation rules for passengers traveling with a lithium battery aboard a plane.
1-07: How to prepare the battery for air travel
Hi, in this video we will demonstrate how to prepare the battery of your AirBuddy for air travel.
You can find detailed instructions in the user manual provided with the purchase of your AirBuddy, or online on our website at www.airbuddy.com/download. The manual also contains the IATA card with a summary of the aviation rules for traveling with a lithium battery aboard a passenger plane.
IATA DGR makes a provision for transport of up to two batteries of no more than 160-Watt Hours with the approval of the airline if certain procedure is followed. The relevant section is here, in the middle of the IATA card.
Please also check the DG guidelines of your airline as they may decide to implement different or additional rules. Your AirBuddy battery has been designed as a battery duo-pack, which means that there are two internal batteries, each within the IATA limit to comply with the dangerous goods regulation.
In summary, before you go on a plane, you’ll need to: remove the battery from AirBuddy; detach the safety link to disconnect the two internal batteries you can store it on the wire keychain that comes with the key put the screws back so that you don’t lose them and finally, place the battery in the neoprene travel bag to prevent a potential short circuit.
Please remember that you must transport the battery in your carry-on bag and not your checked luggage. Once you reach your destination, please don’t forget to connect the safety link as soon as possible to prevent a self-discharge of the internal batteries at a different rate.
