COQPIT Karbones Operator's manual
User
manual
& Safety instructions
2
3
Thanks for choosing Karbones. You are now free to breath under water with an equipment
made and designed with the collaboration of beginners and experienced underwater divers.
To begin with, before the rst use of a Karbones product, it is very important to entirely
read and understand this instruction manual.
Please, always be sure that the product is used according to the conditions dened in this
manual, no matter who the user is.
Karbones can not be held as responsible of any material or physical accident in case of non
respect of the given instructions.
Karbones was developed to be used in sea or swimming pools. A use in a dierent environ-
ment can potentially accelerate the aging of the equipment.
Karbones retains the right to change or to improve the manual without warning. Please get
to know the current version during the usage of the product.
It is necessary to keep the user manual during the life of the product. You can also nd it on
the updated version website www.karbones.com.
You can also consult our help section with video/tutorials directly on our website.
The end of particular parties contains the mention “WARNINGS” to underline a specic
situation which have to be taken into consideration to avoid a risky situation.
To be put in a plane for a journey, the tank must not be pressurised, you will certainly
need to unscrew the cylinder tank from the head regulator. To do this, unscrew (coun-
terclockwise) simply the 2 elements. These 2 elements must be screwed down with
the Original O-ring delivered by Karbones, the torque must be 90 N.m (regarding
regulator’s manufacturer), please note that regarding the reglementation, you are res-
ponsible for reassembling the equipment.
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPECT IMPERATIVELY
NEVER block your breathing, breathe continuously
NEVER go up to the surface faster than air bubbles
Use at SHALLOW depth
Watch your MANOMETER VERY REGULARLY
USE PROHIBITED WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF USE HAZARDS
Preamble
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Table of contents
6 1. Content of the kit
6 2. Warnings
7 3. Presentation of the product
11 4. Technical features
11 5. Precautions of general use
12 5.1. Before diving
12 5.2. During diving
13 5.3. After diving
13 6. Rell of compressed air
14 6.1. High pressure pump
16 6.2. Filling station
17 6.3. 12V Mini-compressor
18 6.4. 220 V Compressor
20 7. Dangers
20 8. Storage
21 9. Maintenance & Upkeep
22 10. Warranty
23 11. Norms and regulation
23 12. Behaviours to follow and avoid
during diving
25 FAQ
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1. Content of the kit (depending on pack and options)
• 1x 0.5 L diving tank (in aluminium for Karbones Alu) or 0.48 L diving tank (in composite
for Karbones Carbon)
• 1x Head regulator (with mouthpiece and manometer)
• 1x DIN or Yoke lling station (if you choose this option)
• 1x Hand pump (if you choose this option)
• 1x 12 V Compressor (if you choose this option)
• 1x 12-110/220 V Inverter (if you choose this option)
• 1x Manual & safety instructions
*if you have chosen this option
2. Warnings
• We advise users to follow the elementary rules related to the scuba diving which are
given by authorised organisations
• A use without the awareness of the security rules endangers the user
• Don’t use Karbones with an air supply from the surface
• No assembly of setting can be done by the user, except the ones provided for this
purpose
• A piece or an element of the Karbones, the hand pump or the compressor should not
be used on an other device, or else the guarantee could be cancelled and the users
could endangers themselves
• The recommended minimum age to use the Karbones is eight (under adult supervision)
• Never grease the pieces of the equipment, it can lead to the deterioration of the equip-
ment and of the leakproof seals
• The user always has to correctly read the good pressure unit (bar or PSI) on the ma-
nometer(s)
WARNINGS
The use of Karbones under 3 m (10 ft) depth is forbidden for any person who did not
follow specic formation of scuba diving from an ocial center
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3. Presentation of the product
Pressure gauge
Filter cartridge
High pressure hose
High pressure hose
Pressure gauge
Base
Bleed screw
Hand pump
8
Refi ll connector
Mouthpiece
Head regulator
Pressure gauge
Tank
Maximum pressure:
Aluminium tank: 200 bar
Carbon tank: 250 bar
Aluminium tank Carbon tank
Pressure gauge
Membrane
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High pressure hose
Filter cartridge
Male
connector
Pressure
gauge
Thermometer
On/O
switch
Fan switch
Crocodile clip
12 V mini-compressor
Female connector
220 V converter
Power cable
Converter
10
220 V compressor
Auto-stop
pressure
gauge
Thermometer
Water
inlet and
outlet
High pressure hose
Oil gauge
cap
Filter cartridge
Oil gauge
On/O switch
Bleed screw
Water pump
Water
container
Water
pump hose
Water pump
Power cable to be
connected to the
compressor
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4. Technical features
Karbones:
• Internal water volume of the tank : 0,5 L (30 cu in) for Karbones Alu and 0,48 L (29 cu
in) for Karbones Carbon
• Maximum authorised pressure (PS) : 200 bar (3000 psi) for Karbones Alu, 250 bar
(3750 psi) for Karbones Carbon
• Service temperature : +10°C / +40°C (50°F / 104°F)
• Weight : 1,1 kg (2.4 lbs) empty for Karbones Alu / 0,9 kg (2 lbs) empty for Karbones Carbon
• Dimensions : 29x7 cm (11.4x2.8 in) for Karbones Alu / 32x6 cm (12.6x2.4 in) for Karbones Carbon
• Maximum authorised depth of use : 3 m (10 ft)
• Maximum operational depth of the equipment (allowed for certied divers accor-
ding to their scuba certication) : 50 m (164 ft)
Hand pump:
• Maximum pressure authorised : 250 bar (3750 PSI)
• Dimensions (h x l) : 60x18 cm (23.6x7.1 in)
• Weight : 2 kg (4,4 lbs)
12V Mini-compressor:
• Maximum pressure authorised : 300 bar (4500 PSI)
• Dimensions (h x l) : 20x20x10 cm (7.9x7.9x3.9 in)
• Weight : 6 kg (13.2 lbs) without inverter and 6.5 kg (14.3 lbs)
• Maximum temperature: 80° C
220 V compressor:
• Maximum pressure: 300 bar (4500 psi)
• Dimensions (h x l x d): 37x18x36 cm
• Weight: 18 kg
• Maximum temperature: 80°C
• Power: 1800 W (> 10 000 W on start-up)
• Operating voltage: 220 V - 230 V / 50 Hz
5. Precaution of general use
• Due to its vital fonction, always use it with care
• Never force on the valve
• When Karbones is not used, don’t let the head regulator under pressure, purge the air
thanks to the membrane
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• Too much stress on the membrane can engender a too important air expulsion, to stop
it, obstruct the mouthpiece
• Avoid any contact between sand or condiment and the Karbones, the hand pump or
the 12 V compressor
• Don’t expose the material to the sun for a long time
• During the rst use, make a complete test of the tank into the air to evaluate your feeling
In case of leak or suspicion of dysfunction, do not place your ears near the equipment,
close the valve and refer to these instructions, contact your dealer if necessary
WARNINGS
5.1. Before diving
• In addition to a good health, it is necessary for the user to consult a health specialist
• Visually control the equipment before diving or lling it (the head regulator can arrived
a bit unscrewed)
• Make 2 or 3 inspiration/expiration cycles test before setting to water to verify the good
working
• Never do a rotation (except the ones provided by this purpose) of the element after the
pressurising
• Adapt your dive to the pressure on the manometer
5.2. When diving
• Always adopt exible and continuous breathing
• Use the equipment in a water above +10°C (50°F)
• Karbones should only be used by one person at a time
• The maximum depth authorised is 3 m (10 ft). A safety buoy is available on our site to
limit and indicate a dive to a maximum of 3 metres.
• Regularly control the remaining pressure of the tank with the manometer
• The user should stay at the surface when the remaining pressure is equal or inferior
to 50 bar (725 PSI) (red zone of the manometer)
• Stop the dive in case of leak coming from the Karbones, slowly go back up to the surface
Plan to stop using the equipment before the total lack of compressed air
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• Never go back up to the surface faster than the air bubbles
• Stop the dive in case of discomfort towards the ears or sinuses, do not dive
with a cold
• NEVER stop your respiration during your descent or your ascent
• Do not immerge the Karbones when it is not pressurised
WARNINGS
5.3. After diving
• After using the Karbones please follow the following instructions :
• Purge the head regulator by pressing the membrane
• Rinse out the equipment in pure water
• Let the equipment dry
• Do not use aerosols or other solvents for the cleaning
The cleaning of the head regulator has to be gently done. A too strong jet of water
through the mouthpiece can damage the internal membrane
WARNINGS
6. Rell of compressed air
• The person who rells the tank is responsible for the quality of the compressed air
• If there is a dierence between the pressure in the relling tank and the manome-
ter of the tank which has to be relled, take into consideration the higher value.
• Karbones Alu should not be relled with a pressure superior to 200 bar (3000
psi).
• It is to the person responsible of the relling to make sure of this.
• Karbones Carbon should not be relled with a pressure superior to 250 bar
(3750 psi).
• It is to the person responsible of the relling to make sure of this.
WARNINGS
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6.1. High pressure hand pump
To rell the Karbones with the Hand pump, please follow the following instructions :
• Pull the pump’s female clip before introducing the male clip of the head regulator
(«click» = good connection)
• Pump until the pressure desired (max. 250 bar / 3750 psi)
• Open the pump valve
Conseils & Entretient
• We advise to not use the pump more than 5 minutes continuously, a little cooling time
is necessary
• Between every pumping cycle, you can purge the pump to let the base cool (let the
tank connected)
• The optimum pumping cycle is : 2 mins 30 secs of pumping - little pause - pump again…
• Only the high pressure manual pump sold by Karbones is compatible with Karbones
• Do not let the pump connected under pressure when it is not used
• Regularly compare the manometer (gauge) of the hand pump with the one of the Ka-
rbones
• Please make sure that no dust, water traces or other foreign elements is present in the
clips, once the protections are removed
• A bad orientation of the male clip in the female clip can be the origin of a micro-leak
(not causing any danger whatever the pressure is). In this case, reposition the clip in a
way that the weight of the tank does not make any constraint on the clip
• After 5 complete llings of your tank, you have to change the lter inside the cartridge.
You have 5 white foam lters already supplied with the pump.
Pressure gauge
Filter cartridge / Female connector
High pressure hose
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Filter replacement
• To replace the lter of the hand pump, you need to unscrew the lter cartridge located
on the air outlet of the pump hose (see video on our website). You can use an adjustable
spanner to loosen the bolts and thus remove the old lter located in the lter cartridge,
then slide in the new one.
Hand pump assembly
• Check that the package is supplied with all the elements required, namely the body
of the pump, the handle, the base, the high pressure hose, a bag of lters and a bag
of accessories
• Using the small screws and the Allen key provided in the bag of accessories, securely
attach the base of the pump.
• Then attach the handle with the long screws.
• Connect the high pressure hose by screwing it to the air outlet provided for that purpo-
se (opposite the decompression screw)
• Check that all bolts and screws are properly tightened before using the pump
High pressure hose
Pressure gauge
Base
Bleed screw
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6.2. DIN and YOKE tank re ll adapter
• Install the tank re ll adapter by screwing it on your scuba tank.
• Connect the ll station tank to the adapter of the tank to be re lled : you must pull the
female connector of the tank re ll adapter before inserting the male connector of the
regulator in the Karbones tank («click» = good connection)
• Slowly open the valve of the source tank to avoid a pressurisation and a brutal lling
• During the pressurisation of the lling station, do not orientate the manometer in
your direction
• Please make sure that no dust, water traces or other foreign elements is present in the
clips, once the protections are removed
• Be careful to the unit in PSI (3000 psi = 200 bar; 3750 psi = 250 bar)
• The person in charge of the lling must stay next to the equipment during lling
• The lling should be at a maximum pressure of 200 bar (3000 psi) Karbones
Alu, 250 bar (3750 psi) for Karbones Carbon
• The lling needs to be done very slowly (1 minute or more)
• Make a break during the lling in case of a too important heating for the tank
to re ll
AVERTISSEMENT
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6.3. 12V compressor
• Connect the wires from the battery (or the inverter) to the 12 V compressor
• Connect the high pressure exible to the compressor by pulling the female clip of the
exible and introducing the male clip of the compressor («click» = good connection)
• Pull the cartridge’s female clip before introducing the male clip of the head regulator
(«click» = good connection)
• Screw the brass decompression screw at its maximum
• Switch on the fans by pushing the green switch (make sure the fans are working)
• Switch on the compressor by pushing the red switch
• Regularly compare the manometer (gauge) of the compressor with the one of the Ka-
rbones
• Regularly control the temperature display, the temperature should not be higher than
85 °C (185 °F)
• Let the compressor run until the pressure desired (max 250 bar / 3750 psi)
• Unscrew the brass decompression screw to remove the pressure from the exible
High pressure hose
Filter cartridge
Male
connector
Pressure
gauge
Thermometer
On/O
switch
Fan switch
Crocodile clip
12 V mini-compressor
Female connector
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• Disconnect the tank from the cartridge by pulling the female clip
• Change the lters inside the cartridge with a new mix of molecular sieve and active coal.
Make a break during the lling in case of a too important heating
WARNINGS
6.4. 220 V compressor
6.4.1. Package contents
• 1 high pressure compressor with its carrying handle
• 1 power cable
• 1 hose with its lter and connector
• 1 water pump
• 2 exible hoses for the water pump
• 1 mixed bag of molecular sieves and carbon lters
• 1 can of oil
• Bag of spare parts
6.4.2. Caution and warning
• The compressor can rell tanks up to 1 litre and may reach a maximum pressure of 300 bar
• Have your tank checked (retested) regularly, beware of rust on steel tanks
• Use without proper knowledge of safety rules puts the user at risk
• The user should not perform the assembly, disassembly or adjustment of any compo-
nent, except those designed for such purpose
• Under no circumstances should any part or component of the compressor be used on
other equipment under penalty of voiding the warranty as well as putting users at risk
• The minimum recommended age for using the compressor is 18 years old
• Never lubricate the compressor parts as this can lead to deterioration of the equipment
and seals
• Always use the compressor on a at and horizontal surface
• Do not expose the compressor to direct sunlight for extended periods of time
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• Safety is the most important aspect during the lling operation ; handle the equipment
with care
• The user must always ensure the correct pressure unit (bar, psi or MPa) is read on the
pressure gauge(s) 200 bar = 3000 psi = 20 MPa
6.4.3. 220 V compressor operation
• Extract the compressor and place it on a at, horizontal surface. Place the compressor
on the mat provided so as to stabilise it and limit vibrations.
• Pour the oil supplied with the compressor into the oil tank located at the front. The oil
level should be above the red marker. Use a funnel if necessary.
• Tightly close the oil tank with the cap, wait 10 minutes (you can perform the following
steps in the meantime)
• Connect one of the 2 exible hoses of the water pump to the water inlet of the com-
pressor, then connect the other hose to the water outlet of the compressor ; the hoses
can be connected in either direction. Connect the end of one of the hoses to the water
pump (hole on top of the water pump provided for that purpose)
• Put water in a container (bucket, saucepan, etc.) and fully submerge the water pump.
The water level must be above the pump. To cool down the compressor faster, you can
add ice cubes in the water container.
• Also place the outlet of the second hose of the water pump in the water bottle so that
the water ows into it
• Connect the water pump plug to the 220 V compressor
Auto-stop
pressure
gauge
Thermometer
Water
inlet and
outlet
High pressure hose
Oil gauge
cap
Filter cartridge
Oil gauge
On/O switch
Bleed screw
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• Tightly screw the high pressure hose to the compressor air outlet located between
the pressure gauge and the bleed screw. Check that all bolts and screws are properly
tightened to avoid micro air leaks. Pull the female plug of the cartridge on the hose then
insert the male plug of the tank regulator («click» = good connection)
• Turn on the compressor by pressing the red switch.
• Power up the compressor by keeping the switch ON.
• When turning on the power, make sure water ows from the outlet of the water pump
hose into the water bottle.
• The compressor temperature must not exceed 80°C.
• When its temperature approaches that value, turn it o by keeping the switch OFF.
• Wait for the compressor to cool down before continuing to ll the tank.
• Do not hesitate to change the water in your bucket if it is too hot.
• The oil introduced must be the one originally supplied or purchased from our
website www.karbones.com
• The water pump must operate with fresh, soft water, otherwise the motor may be
subject to damage
• It is recommended that the lters on the 220 V compressor and 12 V compressor
be replaced after each rell.
CAUTION
7. Dangers
• The non-respect of these elementary rules of scuba diving may engender risks of
drowning or physical damages which can cause death
• In case of shock, the equipment can be damaged without visual harms, in case of doubt,
make your equipment inspected by a specialist
• It is totally forbidden to change the layout or to modify the dierent pieces of the
Karbones
• Never integrate elements from the Karbones on an other (diving) equipment or
vice versa
• Never introduce water in the equipment
Table of contents
