Team Frolics 26/04/12

[evan john]

Here it is folks!!

Trip: O.H.A.

Trip Type: Whatever you want it to be?

Meet point: Cilcain Bridge

Meet time: 18.30

Notes: This trip will probably have several opportunities: either a newbie mooch or a trip to/beyond the canal for those who dare?? ELECTRON LADDER on entry & exit and a couple of rope climbs depending how far you enter the system.

[Tim Watts]

I'll be there with one electon ladder.

I believe mike will also be there with a second one (if needed for the climb up to the canal level) and a length of rope for safety lining along the way.

My personal intention will be to race forward to do some work at the sumps - So i'll be lightweight SRT'ing

[John Nicholson]

After all that has been said about OHA on another topic I must come on this one and decide for myself.  Is it as shitty hole as Ian describes, or is it as Vikki (bagpuss) said 'The most fantastic cave ever'.

[Dylan Roberts]

I'll have to give this place a go finally. Is a wetsuit needed?

[Tim Watts]

[quote="JohnNicholson" post=6219]After all that has been said about OHA on another topic I must come on this one and decide for myself.  Is it as shitty hole as Ian describes, or is it as Vikki (bagpuss) said 'The most fantastic cave ever'.[/quote]

Vikki is wise - it also happens to be my personal favourite underground place.

[mike leahy]

[quote="Dylan" post=6220]I'll have to give this place a go finally. Is a wetsuit needed?[/quote]
a wet suit is handy if you are going through the canal . if your not going through the canal i would'nt bother with one as you will over heat.
see you there

[Tim Watts]

[quote="Dylan" post=6220]I'll have to give this place a go finally. Is a wetsuit needed?[/quote]

Dylan,

The tourist trip wont need wetsuit - though you will get damp in the initial puddle filled entrance crawl.

If you want to come to the sumps with me you'll be getting chest deep in the canal, past which it turns into an SRT trip.

Theres a bit of a loose plan for me and one other to sprint to sump 1 and back on thursday evening - coz i want to set the siphon going, then i want to go back possibly late afternoon (probably about 3:30pm-ish) on saturday once the sump has emptied to take some measurements and make some marks on the wall.

If you wanted to do the tourist trip on Thursday night - have a good look round the first part of the cave, then do another longer trip with me at the weekend that would be cool?

[John Nicholson]

Do you need SRT to get to the canals?  I do have a wet suit but don't mind getting wet in normal old clothes.

[Tim Watts]

whats on my mind? - that even if i ran 2mm2 cable the 1km distance i'm thinking of to drive a 1amp 12v pump, the volt drop would 9.6v - leaving me just 2 and a bit volts at the far end. If i pumped 24v in to it i'd get around 14v at the far end though...... still, 1000m of 2mm^2 2 core cable (circa £200) and 2x 12v batteries in series (pinch them out of the landy!)  and a suitable 12v diaphragm pump (£30) aint gonna be as cheap as i was hoping...........

[Dylan Roberts]

I might just do the begginers trip first as its my first time in there.

[Ali Wiseman]

[quote="TimWatts" post=6226]whats on my mind? - that even if i ran 2mm2 cable the 1km distance i'm thinking of to drive a 1amp 12v pump, the volt drop would 9.6v - leaving me just 2 and a bit volts at the far end. If i pumped 24v in to it i'd get around 14v at the far end though...... still, 1000m of 2mm^2 2 core cable (circa £200) and 2x 12v batteries in series (pinch them out of the landy!)  and a suitable 12v diaphragm pump (£30) aint gonna be as cheap as i was hoping...........[/quote]

Why not use LiPo's? 3S packs kick out 12+v when charged, the 11.1v is only nominal. A pack straight off the charger will be 12.6v

Lipo's are plenty light enough to take down with you, no worrying about Voltage drop over insane distances of conductor. Li-Ion are a good 2nd option, and I have a 3S2P pack (4.4AH) that you can try out to see if You like it enough to invest a little in.

[Tim Watts]

yer, but the point is, to remotely power and control the pump from outside. ok, so a pack could be taken in and a smaller sized cable used as a switching wire via a relay. but even lipo's don't sit well holding charged state for prolonged periods.... I.e. months on end. Also, cable has dual use as coms in case of rescue etc. the existing cable that was put in for coms  is not in a great condition...... I.e. lots and lots of breaks.

[Tim Watts]

p.s. got plenty of lithium ion packs here. I make them up for my lamps :-)

[paul chong]

Crikey, this sounds fantastic, a lot of excitement for a weekday, its a pity I will be on Dads taxi duty for my girls on the D of E.

[Tim Watts]

[quote="JohnNicholson" post=6225]Do you need SRT to get to the canals?  I do have a wet suit but don't mind getting wet in normal old clothes.[/quote]

john, no. theres an initial electon ladder at the entrance, then a knotted rope to decend, then a rather dodgy rope assisted free climb, but we can fit a ladder here prior to u getting there to make this easier. All of these will be lifelined on this trip so a harness or belt would be.an advantage.