Any use for an expired Cypres?

[tkhayes 348]

I assume the answer is no. But I have an expired Cyprus expert version, I bought a new one of course, I didn’t know if they were being recycled or if there was any other use for them out there in the world.

[obelixtim 150]

Fishing lure?

[JoeWeber 2,720]

10 hours ago, tkhayes said:

I assume the answer is no. But I have an expired Cyprus expert version, I bought a new one of course, I didn’t know if they were being recycled or if there was any other use for them out there in the world.

The batteries are still good for repurposing, the rest is as valuable as other insurance you didn't use.

[sfzombie13 324]

i paid $10 for shipping an expired one to me just to take it apart and look inside.  they're pretty good for that if you're curious.  the cutter is pretty cool and still works as long as it hasn't been used.  i have yet to find a use for it though, maybe one of these days...

[Deisel 38]

Rigger training 

[kleggo 145]

I've seen a few where just the controller was visible in the "rig" and no other components were present.

[gowlerk 2,190]

Door stopper. Paper weight.

Edited August 31, 2024 by gowlerk

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

7 hours ago, kleggo said:

I've seen a few where just the controller was visible in the "rig" and no other components were present.

Interesting.

Every DZ that I've been to (which admittedly isn't all that many) that requires AADs has you press the button and makes sure that the light comes on.

[councilman24 37]

I know of some third world countries where jumpers use expired but still functioning AAD'S. Cuba is one. Umm I know I've heard of a another. Russian federation countries maybe.  

[pchapman 279]

6 hours ago, councilman24 said:

I know of some third world countries where jumpers use expired but still functioning AAD'S. Cuba is one. Umm I know I've heard of a another. Russian federation countries maybe.  

Indeed one can 'rules lawyer' ones way into a grey area with Cypres'.

For the cutters, there has been a strict limit on age, which is 14.5 years for older Cypres' which had the 12.5 year life. From one Cypres manual:

Quote

WARNING! Do not use release units

(cutters) after the Lifetime Warranty period.

But for the 12.5 year Cypres' themselves, that lifetime is sometimes presented as a RECOMMENDATION not a REQUIREMENT.   12.5 years is just the WARRANTY period.
 

Quote

Airtec, the manufacturer of CYPRES does not recommend to keep out of date CYPRES units in use for life saving activities subsequently and therefore limits the warranty to 12.5 Years (CYPRES-1 - 12,25 years) in total, according to the present knowledge base and safety standards

[From an Airtec Rigging Tips publication 2014]

And to reinforce that,  skytribe wrote this in 2017 on this site:  [I don't have proof that skytribe received this, but it sounds authentic.]

Quote

So I dug up a reply direct from Airtec last year.

Quote:

After this 12,5 years, of course, the CYPRES will still work but from the liability side of view, we as the manufacturer can not provide an extended warranty anymore.
Meaning, if the sensor or the timing or other sensible parts (who are responsible for the calculation of the precise activation when needed) will change or deviate due to rough handling, age or chemical reactions, the CYPRES might not be as precise anymore like a new or newly maintained CYPRES.

So the use of the CYPRES after the 12,5 years is up to the user himself or the regulations of his country.
It will definitely not stop working after this time but it might happen that the preciseness or the reliability is not given anymore.

Countries' regulations, even in strict countries, often just say, "You must follow what the AAD companies require"... which as one sees can be flexible.

So one could argue that according to Airtec,  Cypres' have no mandatory life ... but the cutters have a mandatory life!
(14.5 years for older ones, 16.5 for those that come with the 15.5 year Cypres')