Hi there i alredy have a sub i whant to add static dive ive heard of a water pump ballast ive only ever used gas ballasts has anyone heard of the water pump ballasts or anyother ballast systems i need to know how they work and diograms/photos would be brilliant
Thanks

Jon,

I have own (and own) several pump type ballast submarines. They vary in different styles but all do about the same thing. Heres how they work.

Start with a ballast tank dry, full of air. A pump then pumps water into it (remembering air is compressible but water is not) after pumping for a period of time it physically changes the weight of the submarine. The sub dives. To surface, the pump is reversed, pumps out the water (or in the case of Sheerlines design, a line opens and lets air pressure remove the water) and the sub becomes bouyant again and the sub surfaces.

In the case of the Engel piston type tanks, a piston draws water into its cylinder, much like a hypodermic syringe, and the sub changes its trim and dives, the piston is pushed the other way and again the sub changes its trim and it surfaces.

The ballast tank and piston tank methods are very safe and along with a failsafe to prevent diving with low voltage (Engel systems have multiple failsafes built in) an extremly reliable diving system. I have been using them for many years now and (knock on wood) have never had any trouble with lost submarines. As with any piece of equipment you have to maintain it though.

My own personal preference? I don't carew for the propel systems. They have to be charged, Propel is expensive to buy, and they don't seem to always work. Many times we have been to our local pond when I have a sub in the water relaxing someone else has been fiddiling with the propel system.

Anyway, thats it in a nutshell.

Pete