Interesting new carabiner with magnetic lock

[Martin_Nemec]

New biner from Black Diamond with revolutionary magnetic lock system. Looks verry nice, clear design, but lock is only two way. Available in 2012 July.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFq8eFMc-o

 

[treehumper]

I just hope the price isn't obscene!

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

I wonder how much force it takes to cross load the gate, to get it to open.

 

[Treezybreez]

I am worried that the magnets would collect all kinds of crud.

 

[treehumper]

Crud? like metal filings?

Jamin', you raise a good point. We'll have to wait to see some specs.

 

[fat_lightning]

I'm not going to trust my life with the same technology that holds list of stuff I procrastinate on my fridge.

 

[Treezybreez]

If you accidentally drop it in the dirt it might collect the iron in the soil and spoil the locking mechanism. Maybe not, but who knows?

 

[TreeStuff]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm not going to trust my life with the same technology that holds list of stuff I procrastinate on my fridge.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL.

Seriously though that is a cool design.

I can tell you that Black Diamond isn't interested in selling their equipment for work/industrial applications. I had a tough time buying just GEAR bags off them. Nice dudes but very lawyer conscious, understandably.

That said, I would love to play around with that sucker. Not sure if you have to press each side of the gate for it to open or just one side? If both, that might sneak by ANSI standards as two separate consecutive motions. Would like to see how strong the gate is though. Great post.

 

[moss]

[ QUOTE ]
Crud? like metal filings?

Jamin', you raise a good point. We'll have to wait to see some specs.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think they'd go to market if they couldn't meet or exceed gate load specs of the current autolockers.

Things I like about this design:
1. More simple mechanically than existing autolock designs, less moving parts, less hidden places for dirt to accumulate, easier to clean
2. Symmetrical release, as a lefty I don't even bother using the ball lock autogates, they're useless to me. For unusual situations such as rescuing another climber, makes it smoother if you can open their connecting biner from any angle the same way right or left handed upside down or right side up (squeeze and open the gate).

Any locking carabiner should be gate checked after clipping in, right? If there was some malfunction of the magnets say due to crud the climber would detect the problem when they check the gate.

Good safety feature that the pins on each side have to be released at the same time to open the gate, further reduces the chances that rope or branch contact with the gate is going to open it.

I will definitely be picking one of these up when they're available. I'm tired of retiring autlockers when the gate mechanism no longer works no matter how well I clean it out
-AJ

 

[fat_lightning]

It is a cool design. Depending on the price I would be interested in them as accessory biners but nothing else.

 

[SteinUK]

Why not throw into the fold while discussing new style of karabiner gates the SKYLOTEC PASSO "Pincklock"

The Passo has been on sale in Germany since March 2011, Skylotec describe the Passo as follows:

”PinchLock“—another innovation from SKYLOTEC. The gate of the carabiner passO-PL is fixed by two spring plates. The carabiner is super easy to handle and can be opened and closed easily even in tricky situations.

http://en.skylotec-sports.com/m/sportausruestung/karabiner/de?a_id=105&gruppe

Regarding side-loading this has been addressed in the new Z133 standard:
“When using a karabiner without a captive eye, the termination selected shall maintain loading along the major axis. The connection between the karabiners and the terminated rope ends shall be compatible as to limit the possibility of accidental disconnection or minor axis loading of karabiners”

It is also addressed in UK Standard AFAG401:

Point 45
“Ensure karabiners are loaded correctly. It is essential that they are kept in correct alignment. Secure climbing line and friction cord to the karabiner so that it is unlikely to misalign or come into contact with the gate mechanism. Use an appropriate rope termination and/or a ropeholding accessory such as a plastic fast or rubber sleeve. “

 

[SteinUK]

another picture

 

[SteinUK]

final picture

 

[countryboypa31]

I like the looks of that

 

[countryboypa31]

Never mind. Wouldn't be good for tree work. Look at how easy a rope could unsnap it.
Biner

 

[JTree]

I'm not sold on the locking mech, but I do like the looks of the rigs up like a standard biner, but makes a captive eye when the gate closes.

 

[Dustin]

It looks interesting, but I'm not sold just yet. What physically holds the gate closed? Just the magnets?

At least on any of the other auto-lockers, there is a part of the gate sleeve that prevents the gate from being forced open. If the magnets are the only thing to keep it closed then I would only use it for gear or other stuff like that. I certainly wouldn't use it when my life depended on it, or for rigging.

Just my thoughts. I'll will definitely have to look at one in person.