#fullfaceelastomeric — Public Fediverse posts

Looks like I've got a repair job to do tomorrow. Last year I bought myself a new mask for #COVID19 and #Influenza, a Sundström SR-200 #FullFaceElastomeric which I saw going cheap… and late last year, got the ST-2 speech module that goes with it.

Hasn't had a *lot* of use, although in hindsight there are a couple of occasions I should have made more use of it than I did, but when the winter lurgies are flying around or they're burning off (I am asthmatic), it's useful.

The ST-2 basically is a small microphone that sits over the right-hand exhaust valve and connects to a small amplifier that you clip to a shirt pocket. A tumble last year managed to break the clip, but I fashioned a lanyard out of a shoelace, and I have used it a couple of times now. I'm a lot easier to understand with that device than without.

https://www.allensindustrial.com.au/SUN215_dash_05159/SUNDSTROM-SUN215_dash_05159-_dash_-ST2-Small-Talk-to-suit-SR100-_and_-SR200-Masks/pd.php

A fortnight ago I used it, and everything was working fine. Tonight I just happened to get it out for a check … nada, nothing. LED was on, but no audio. Measured the battery (a 9V), 8.8V, a little down but not flat. All I could hear was amplifier hiss.

Opened the amplifier up, I note the main amp is a LM386, an old classic (in a fetching retro PDIP-8 too)… and elsewhere there seems to be a small SMD pre-amp. Pretty simple circuit. The microphone enters the case via a hard-wired cable that terminates inside with a JST-style connector. I unplugged that and checked across the microphone terminals with a multimeter in diode-mode … nada, open-circuit.

Had a look, sure enough, the hard plastic mount for the valve housing has managed to "ring-bark" the "shielded" (shield is disconnected both ends mind you) microphone cable and cut one of the wires within.

I wonder how often that happens "in the field", but I think I'll be replacing this with a detachable cable. The inconvenience of an unscheduled disconnect beats the inconvenience of an unscheduled wire severing.

The microphone itself is an electret, nestled in a silicone insert. The cable passes through a silicone grommit, then through a hole in a hard plastic retainer. It's that hole that did the deed. To get a new run of cable through, I had to disassemble the thing, run the silicone part under a hot tap, then jam the new cable through.

I've got the cable poked through now and the retainer re-installed, but I'll dig out the soldering iron tomorrow and re-solder the electret microphone then.

There's an opportunity to fit a plug so it can connect in-place of the detachable microphone on my Bluetooth headset, which will be handy if I'm on public transport, I can use the mask's microphone for that … and if someone in person talks to me, I just need to switch a couple of cables around. No big deal.

A bit annoying that it broke, this wasn't cheap… but at least it's easily repairable.

#DIYRepair #Electronics

@contrapunctus @1 Some are definitely better than others. I went a full-face because like you, I figured if I don't want something in my lungs, I probably don't want it in my eyes either. #FullFaceElastomeric is the way forward there.

I haven't worn mine anywhere near as much as I should… but I was getting around with a Honeywell RU6500 that was being sold in a clearance for AU$200. Great in terms of breath-ability and more comfortable than many half-face masks… but speech intelligibility was shot in moderately noisy conditions.

I have a Sundström SR-200 now with the ST-2 "smalltalk" module… haven't really had a proper opportunity to try out the latter, although without it seems a little better than the Honeywell. I actually want to snip the microphone lead and make a plug/socket, so I can plug the microphone into a bluetooth headset for phone calls.

I find they're not too bad to slide up a little for drinking. More cumbersome than a half-face for sure, but workable.

My father's girlfriend went on a trip on the Ghan train from Adelaide to Darwin last week… my father was visiting yesterday only to discover she took home a souvenir that we'd rather she left behind… a dose of #COVID19.

I *think* we've dodged it, but needless to say, I've been living in a #FullFaceElastomeric mask for the past 11 hours.

So, the other day I noticed a strap on my Honeywell RU6500 #FullFaceElastomeric had broken… this is one I was keeping around for parts, so not a big issue… but the thought of the same fate meeting my current one worried me a bit.

Looked around, found a new Sundström SR200 going for a bargain price (AU$250… normally they are >$550)… beauty. It's on its way south from Mt. Isa.

Today I ordered some filters (from a local supplier here in Brisbane), mainly some #P3 filters (my main concern is #bushfire smoke and #COVID19)… I happened to notice this little chart for the SR-510 particular filters.

https://www.allensindustrial.com.au/documents/Sundstrom%20SR510%20Brochure.pdf

Classes:
- P1: 80% | up to 20% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ aerosols, carcinogens, radioactive particles, bacteria, *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P2: 94% | up to 6% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P3: 99.95% | <0.05% leakage | Protect against Dry and wet particles (all types)

It was the exceptions for "viruses" in the #P2 and #P1 filters that surprised me. I thought #P2 was more or less equivalent to #N95 and #KF94. (P3 being equivalent to #N100) I hear people singing the praises of N95s with regards to COVID-19, and definitely it beats many common alternatives, but this has me scratching my head.

The SR-510 is a P3 filter, so no biggie… but I thought P2s were up to the task.

@auscovid19

So, the other day I noticed a strap on my Honeywell RU6500 #FullFaceElastomeric had broken… this is one I was keeping around for parts, so not a big issue… but the thought of the same fate meeting my current one worried me a bit.

Looked around, found a new Sundström SR200 going for a bargain price (AU$250… normally they are >$550)… beauty. It's on its way south from Mt. Isa.

Today I ordered some filters (from a local supplier here in Brisbane), mainly some #P3 filters (my main concern is #bushfire smoke and #COVID19)… I happened to notice this little chart for the SR-510 particular filters.

https://www.allensindustrial.com.au/documents/Sundstrom%20SR510%20Brochure.pdf

Classes:
- P1: 80% | up to 20% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ aerosols, carcinogens, radioactive particles, bacteria, *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P2: 94% | up to 6% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P3: 99.95% | <0.05% leakage | Protect against Dry and wet particles (all types)

It was the exceptions for "viruses" in the #P2 and #P1 filters that surprised me. I thought #P2 was more or less equivalent to #N95 and #KF94. (P3 being equivalent to #N100) I hear people singing the praises of N95s with regards to COVID-19, and definitely it beats many common alternatives, but this has me scratching my head.

The SR-510 is a P3 filter, so no biggie… but I thought P2s were up to the task.

@auscovid19

So, the other day I noticed a strap on my Honeywell RU6500 #FullFaceElastomeric had broken… this is one I was keeping around for parts, so not a big issue… but the thought of the same fate meeting my current one worried me a bit.

Looked around, found a new Sundström SR200 going for a bargain price (AU$250… normally they are >$550)… beauty. It's on its way south from Mt. Isa.

Today I ordered some filters (from a local supplier here in Brisbane), mainly some #P3 filters (my main concern is #bushfire smoke and #COVID19)… I happened to notice this little chart for the SR-510 particular filters.

https://www.allensindustrial.com.au/documents/Sundstrom%20SR510%20Brochure.pdf

Classes:
- P1: 80% | up to 20% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ aerosols, carcinogens, radioactive particles, bacteria, *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P2: 94% | up to 6% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P3: 99.95% | <0.05% leakage | Protect against Dry and wet particles (all types)

It was the exceptions for "viruses" in the #P2 and #P1 filters that surprised me. I thought #P2 was more or less equivalent to #N95 and #KF94. (P3 being equivalent to #N100) I hear people singing the praises of N95s with regards to COVID-19, and definitely it beats many common alternatives, but this has me scratching my head.

The SR-510 is a P3 filter, so no biggie… but I thought P2s were up to the task.

@auscovid19

So, the other day I noticed a strap on my Honeywell RU6500 #FullFaceElastomeric had broken… this is one I was keeping around for parts, so not a big issue… but the thought of the same fate meeting my current one worried me a bit.

Looked around, found a new Sundström SR200 going for a bargain price (AU$250… normally they are >$550)… beauty. It's on its way south from Mt. Isa.

Today I ordered some filters (from a local supplier here in Brisbane), mainly some #P3 filters (my main concern is #bushfire smoke and #COVID19)… I happened to notice this little chart for the SR-510 particular filters.

https://www.allensindustrial.com.au/documents/Sundstrom%20SR510%20Brochure.pdf

Classes:
- P1: 80% | up to 20% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ aerosols, carcinogens, radioactive particles, bacteria, *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P2: 94% | up to 6% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P3: 99.95% | <0.05% leakage | Protect against Dry and wet particles (all types)

It was the exceptions for "viruses" in the #P2 and #P1 filters that surprised me. I thought #P2 was more or less equivalent to #N95 and #KF94. (P3 being equivalent to #N100) I hear people singing the praises of N95s with regards to COVID-19, and definitely it beats many common alternatives, but this has me scratching my head.

The SR-510 is a P3 filter, so no biggie… but I thought P2s were up to the task.

@auscovid19

So, the other day I noticed a strap on my Honeywell RU6500 #FullFaceElastomeric had broken… this is one I was keeping around for parts, so not a big issue… but the thought of the same fate meeting my current one worried me a bit.

Looked around, found a new Sundström SR200 going for a bargain price (AU$250… normally they are >$550)… beauty. It's on its way south from Mt. Isa.

Today I ordered some filters (from a local supplier here in Brisbane), mainly some #P3 filters (my main concern is #bushfire smoke and #COVID19)… I happened to notice this little chart for the SR-510 particular filters.

https://www.allensindustrial.com.au/documents/Sundstrom%20SR510%20Brochure.pdf

Classes:
- P1: 80% | up to 20% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ aerosols, carcinogens, radioactive particles, bacteria, *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P2: 94% | up to 6% leakage | Protect against Dry and Wet particles _except_ *viruses*, spores or biochemicals such as enzymes or hormones
- P3: 99.95% | <0.05% leakage | Protect against Dry and wet particles (all types)

It was the exceptions for "viruses" in the #P2 and #P1 filters that surprised me. I thought #P2 was more or less equivalent to #N95 and #KF94. (P3 being equivalent to #N100) I hear people singing the praises of N95s with regards to COVID-19, and definitely it beats many common alternatives, but this has me scratching my head.

The SR-510 is a P3 filter, so no biggie… but I thought P2s were up to the task.

@auscovid19

@reinhilde @jon_giraffe I think anything that is reusable will have cleaning requirements.

That said… I went the #Elastomeric route because the idea of generating a mountain of plastic waste from single-use masks did not sit well with me.

As an asthmatic, I also found unvented masks really gave me breathing difficulties. A vented mask worked better, and while there are single-use #N95 masks with vents, typically the vent is unfiltered and can't be easily retrofitted with a filter.

I went a Honeywell/North RU6500M (#FullFaceElastomeric) at first because I saw one going cheap … and it's been good, but it is a bulky option, so managed to find a Honeywell 7700 (#HalfFaceElastomeric) which uses the same filters (I have both #N95 / #P2 and #N100 / #P3 filters) but is less vulnerable to scratches.

Both I was able to reversibly modify to add an exhaust filter: typically I use disinfectant wipes to wipe down the mask inside and out… and if I fold one of those wipes three times over and cut it to size… it makes a passable exhaust filter.

At the moment I'm mostly masking during the winter months when cases are at their worst and the inconvenience is at its lowest. (Yes, I know COVID-19 is not seasonal, however behaviour and the immune system load from seasonal infection in winter months, raises the risks at that time.)

@reinhilde @jon_giraffe I think anything that is reusable will have cleaning requirements.

That said… I went the #Elastomeric route because the idea of generating a mountain of plastic waste from single-use masks did not sit well with me.

As an asthmatic, I also found unvented masks really gave me breathing difficulties. A vented mask worked better, and while there are single-use #N95 masks with vents, typically the vent is unfiltered and can't be easily retrofitted with a filter.

I went a Honeywell/North RU6500M (#FullFaceElastomeric) at first because I saw one going cheap … and it's been good, but it is a bulky option, so managed to find a Honeywell 7700 (#HalfFaceElastomeric) which uses the same filters (I have both #N95 / #P2 and #N100 / #P3 filters) but is less vulnerable to scratches.

Both I was able to reversibly modify to add an exhaust filter: typically I use disinfectant wipes to wipe down the mask inside and out… and if I fold one of those wipes three times over and cut it to size… it makes a passable exhaust filter.

At the moment I'm mostly masking during the winter months when cases are at their worst and the inconvenience is at its lowest. (Yes, I know COVID-19 is not seasonal, however behaviour and the immune system load from seasonal infection in winter months, raises the risks at that time.)

@reinhilde @jon_giraffe I think anything that is reusable will have cleaning requirements.

That said… I went the #Elastomeric route because the idea of generating a mountain of plastic waste from single-use masks did not sit well with me.

As an asthmatic, I also found unvented masks really gave me breathing difficulties. A vented mask worked better, and while there are single-use #N95 masks with vents, typically the vent is unfiltered and can't be easily retrofitted with a filter.

I went a Honeywell/North RU6500M (#FullFaceElastomeric) at first because I saw one going cheap … and it's been good, but it is a bulky option, so managed to find a Honeywell 7700 (#HalfFaceElastomeric) which uses the same filters (I have both #N95 / #P2 and #N100 / #P3 filters) but is less vulnerable to scratches.

Both I was able to reversibly modify to add an exhaust filter: typically I use disinfectant wipes to wipe down the mask inside and out… and if I fold one of those wipes three times over and cut it to size… it makes a passable exhaust filter.

At the moment I'm mostly masking during the winter months when cases are at their worst and the inconvenience is at its lowest. (Yes, I know COVID-19 is not seasonal, however behaviour and the immune system load from seasonal infection in winter months, raises the risks at that time.)

@reinhilde @jon_giraffe I think anything that is reusable will have cleaning requirements.

That said… I went the #Elastomeric route because the idea of generating a mountain of plastic waste from single-use masks did not sit well with me.

As an asthmatic, I also found unvented masks really gave me breathing difficulties. A vented mask worked better, and while there are single-use #N95 masks with vents, typically the vent is unfiltered and can't be easily retrofitted with a filter.

I went a Honeywell/North RU6500M (#FullFaceElastomeric) at first because I saw one going cheap … and it's been good, but it is a bulky option, so managed to find a Honeywell 7700 (#HalfFaceElastomeric) which uses the same filters (I have both #N95 / #P2 and #N100 / #P3 filters) but is less vulnerable to scratches.

Both I was able to reversibly modify to add an exhaust filter: typically I use disinfectant wipes to wipe down the mask inside and out… and if I fold one of those wipes three times over and cut it to size… it makes a passable exhaust filter.

At the moment I'm mostly masking during the winter months when cases are at their worst and the inconvenience is at its lowest. (Yes, I know COVID-19 is not seasonal, however behaviour and the immune system load from seasonal infection in winter months, raises the risks at that time.)

@reinhilde @jon_giraffe I think anything that is reusable will have cleaning requirements.

That said… I went the #Elastomeric route because the idea of generating a mountain of plastic waste from single-use masks did not sit well with me.

As an asthmatic, I also found unvented masks really gave me breathing difficulties. A vented mask worked better, and while there are single-use #N95 masks with vents, typically the vent is unfiltered and can't be easily retrofitted with a filter.

I went a Honeywell/North RU6500M (#FullFaceElastomeric) at first because I saw one going cheap … and it's been good, but it is a bulky option, so managed to find a Honeywell 7700 (#HalfFaceElastomeric) which uses the same filters (I have both #N95 / #P2 and #N100 / #P3 filters) but is less vulnerable to scratches.

Both I was able to reversibly modify to add an exhaust filter: typically I use disinfectant wipes to wipe down the mask inside and out… and if I fold one of those wipes three times over and cut it to size… it makes a passable exhaust filter.

At the moment I'm mostly masking during the winter months when cases are at their worst and the inconvenience is at its lowest. (Yes, I know COVID-19 is not seasonal, however behaviour and the immune system load from seasonal infection in winter months, raises the risks at that time.)