16-09-2010, 10:34
Airlock System, PLEASE HELP!!
May 27 2008 at 10:01 AM Liz (no login)
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Hello all, I've just bouught the Brava airlock system and I have no idea how to use it!!!
It came without instructions, just the domes the tubes and the black sports bra! I have looked around and all the others that I have seen have an electric pump system attached. Im hoping this is a different version. Can anyone tell me if I'm supposed to have that extra gadget and if not, what exactly is it that I am supposed to do??? Am I supposed to suck through the tubes or something?
Author Reply
Tori
(Login Tori365)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Airlock System, PLEASE HELP!! May 27 2008, 11:24 AM
The brava system originally comes with a smartbox (electric pump). The airlock was devised as an alternative, and is often sold like that on ebay. To use it you need to attach the tubing to the domes, and suck on the other end whilst squeezing the end of the other tube to prevent air escaping. When you have a good level of suction that is slightly uncomfortable but should not be painful, stop sucking air in and hold the end of the tube to stop air escaping. Now repeat with the other side, and insert the tubes onto the T-connector. Now the suction will even out, so that the same amount is on each breast. I have used both suction methods and prefer the smartbox, but there are other users that prefer the manual method. The benefit of the smartbox is that it checks that the correct level of suction is maintained, and an alarm goes off if you loose suction. With the airlock you have the benefit of using as much suction as you like, and of course theres no chance of it malfunctioning. Hope my instructions make sense, you'll do it with a bit of trial and error!
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Liz
(no login) Re: Airlock System, PLEASE HELP!! May 27 2008, 2:49 PM
Thank you so much, I would have thought the system would have been a bit more technical then this as it seems air keeps escaping. Just to recap, I have been sucking through the t connectors as singlarly I am hopeless. Is that a problem? I am really suprised that this is how it works, I can hardly get my mouth to reach the tubes over the big domes!!!!
Edit Message Delete Message
Tori
(Login Tori365)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Airlock System, PLEASE HELP!! May 27 2008, 4:00 PM
Yes the airlock was not devised by brava, and you can't buy it from them. It was made as a cheap, easy alternative to sell with the domes. I'm not sure who actually invented it. Is the system you bought second hand? Is the tubing brand new or used? Normally the tubing is plenty long enough to reach over to suck the air out, maybe they have been cut down. Is air escaping when you have connected everything up, or when you're trying to achieve suction. If its after its all connected up then you perhaps haven't applied enough suction and the domes aren't staying on, or is the air escaping from the tubes. If the tubes have been repeatedly pushed on and off the domes then they can get a bit loose and you may need to trim a cm off the ends to make them tighter. If the air keeps escaping when you sucking the air out, you need to squeeze hard on the other tube, to make sure none escapes. I remember it took me about 4 attempts before I figured it out!
Edit Message Delete Message
autumn
(no login) ebay air lock rip off May 30 2008, 6:43 AM
Sorry to say but you got ripped off if you bought the airlock on ebay. Heres what you need to do. Go to Pets smart or a fish tank store buy a check valve and a t connecter and fish tank tubing. All for less than $4 Take the tubing and cut 2 peices of about 6 inches of tubing and conect to the domes and the t connector. Then cut maby about a foot of tubing to stick on the part of the t connector that is sticking up in the air towards your head and put the check valve on the end of the tubing and this is what you suck the air through. THe air will come out when you suck but you cant blow in it. It is a one way valve so the air stops when you are done sucking. I think manual suction is the best. I dont wear a sports bra or anthing just a big cozy t shirt. I couldnt follow what either of you were saying so I thought I would say what i made which i found the info off here from louise.
autumn
Does it make sense?
May 27 2008 at 10:01 AM Liz (no login)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello all, I've just bouught the Brava airlock system and I have no idea how to use it!!!
It came without instructions, just the domes the tubes and the black sports bra! I have looked around and all the others that I have seen have an electric pump system attached. Im hoping this is a different version. Can anyone tell me if I'm supposed to have that extra gadget and if not, what exactly is it that I am supposed to do??? Am I supposed to suck through the tubes or something?
Author Reply
Tori
(Login Tori365)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Airlock System, PLEASE HELP!! May 27 2008, 11:24 AM
The brava system originally comes with a smartbox (electric pump). The airlock was devised as an alternative, and is often sold like that on ebay. To use it you need to attach the tubing to the domes, and suck on the other end whilst squeezing the end of the other tube to prevent air escaping. When you have a good level of suction that is slightly uncomfortable but should not be painful, stop sucking air in and hold the end of the tube to stop air escaping. Now repeat with the other side, and insert the tubes onto the T-connector. Now the suction will even out, so that the same amount is on each breast. I have used both suction methods and prefer the smartbox, but there are other users that prefer the manual method. The benefit of the smartbox is that it checks that the correct level of suction is maintained, and an alarm goes off if you loose suction. With the airlock you have the benefit of using as much suction as you like, and of course theres no chance of it malfunctioning. Hope my instructions make sense, you'll do it with a bit of trial and error!
Edit Message Delete Message
Liz
(no login) Re: Airlock System, PLEASE HELP!! May 27 2008, 2:49 PM
Thank you so much, I would have thought the system would have been a bit more technical then this as it seems air keeps escaping. Just to recap, I have been sucking through the t connectors as singlarly I am hopeless. Is that a problem? I am really suprised that this is how it works, I can hardly get my mouth to reach the tubes over the big domes!!!!
Edit Message Delete Message
Tori
(Login Tori365)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Airlock System, PLEASE HELP!! May 27 2008, 4:00 PM
Yes the airlock was not devised by brava, and you can't buy it from them. It was made as a cheap, easy alternative to sell with the domes. I'm not sure who actually invented it. Is the system you bought second hand? Is the tubing brand new or used? Normally the tubing is plenty long enough to reach over to suck the air out, maybe they have been cut down. Is air escaping when you have connected everything up, or when you're trying to achieve suction. If its after its all connected up then you perhaps haven't applied enough suction and the domes aren't staying on, or is the air escaping from the tubes. If the tubes have been repeatedly pushed on and off the domes then they can get a bit loose and you may need to trim a cm off the ends to make them tighter. If the air keeps escaping when you sucking the air out, you need to squeeze hard on the other tube, to make sure none escapes. I remember it took me about 4 attempts before I figured it out!
Edit Message Delete Message
autumn
(no login) ebay air lock rip off May 30 2008, 6:43 AM
Sorry to say but you got ripped off if you bought the airlock on ebay. Heres what you need to do. Go to Pets smart or a fish tank store buy a check valve and a t connecter and fish tank tubing. All for less than $4 Take the tubing and cut 2 peices of about 6 inches of tubing and conect to the domes and the t connector. Then cut maby about a foot of tubing to stick on the part of the t connector that is sticking up in the air towards your head and put the check valve on the end of the tubing and this is what you suck the air through. THe air will come out when you suck but you cant blow in it. It is a one way valve so the air stops when you are done sucking. I think manual suction is the best. I dont wear a sports bra or anthing just a big cozy t shirt. I couldnt follow what either of you were saying so I thought I would say what i made which i found the info off here from louise.
autumn
Does it make sense?