Hookamax DC Unit

[grumpyolman]

A few months ago the Hookamax was discussed here and it piqued my interest. I have/had an Airline 2/60 (2.5 HP two divers to 60') and loved everything about it except the noise. When one is on a public swim beach area it's not neighborly to blast all with your engine running. Sort of like running you generator all night at a tent campground.
I looked at the Airline and the Hookamax. I don't think the Airline will do what I wanted the DC unit to do. So I got the Hookamax.
One picture shows the unit mounted in a good wagon. In that picture you can see the 2 100' hoses, the batteries (two 6 volt deep cycle golf cart batteries connected in series 63lbs each), and the compressor. Other pictures show the lake we were in and I'd say it was a typical swim beach hunt.
The unit ran two divers for an hour and fourty minutes and then one diver for another 40 minutes. When I got home with it and hooked it up to the 'smart' charger it still retained 60% of it's capacity.
Our depth varied from 6" to 12'. The nice thing about the Hookamax, not described on their website, is there is a pressure switch hooked to the accumulator tank. When the pressure in the tank is 100 PSI, the compressor stops running until the pressure drops to around 80 PSI and then it starts again. Many times when we surfaced, the compressor was not running.
I do not think this is the Cadillac of the hookah rigs but I am kind of a Ford man anyway. I am totally pleased with it's easy breathing and the runtime. The reason for the two batteries in series is they can each be lifted and moved. Were it one 12 volt battery with the same capacity it would weigh around 120 lbs. Too much for me I'll tell you.
We should have found much more loot. But we had lots of targets to dig and the 'good' stuff just wasn't there.
Can't remember, maybe the navy diver guy, first introduced the system here and I'm glad he did. It has provided me with a method of doing a lot more places because there is almost no noise. Regards...Jim

[Zebago]

Thanks for sharing Grumpyolman. I always enjoy your posts on this topic. Noise is a big concern for me also so it is good to know there is a unit out there that is quiet. I will definitely be looking at the hookamax.

[Salvor6]

Grumpyoldman what model number do you have? I went to their web site and found the 12V160 the only model that runs off 12 volts. Its only 1/3 hp. and good for 1 diver to 60'. http://www.airlinebyjsink.com/the-ho...detective.aspx.

I also checked out the Hookamax web site and found model number E2005C-12V listed at 3/4 hp. It said its good for one diver down to 10 meters (33'). http://www.hookamax.com/17710.html.

[mad4wrecks]

Grumpy, thanks for a great post, informative and enjoyable..with pictures to boot!

I am not currently looking for a battery operated hookah, but will definitely consider the Hookamax when I do.

Tom

[Sandman]

This was an interesting read. I have used different hookahs in the past for different dives and when working many sites it is the noise that bothers folks the most. This one I have not used. We used to use the 12 volt jobs from Keene Eng. around the sites at night too an that was profitable as you can get into places where otherwise you couldn't cause someone would steal or mess with the compressor. I especially liked the compressor on a boat but then you still needed someone aboard to keep people from stealing the boat or gear. I don't know how many times some boater tried to take my hookah from the water not knowing what it was nor the dive flag.

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing....

Sandman