double break cord method

nfreedman · November 30th, 2006, 02:53 PM

I heard something about a double break cord method that involves a large loop and a small loop to protect against premature breaks does anyone know any specifics about that?

**base_rigger** · November 30th, 2006, 05:28 PM

There are no specs just two cords instead of one so if one breaks prematurely you don't go to bed.

**Mac** · December 1st, 2006, 02:29 AM

I have never SLd so far, but I know that the 2 loop method is just that. 2 loops, with one longer than the other, so if one fails the other is there to back up.

689 here has an interesting carry away type set up that is more complex then the 2 loop breakcord set up. I am sure he can give a link and/or details about this. I also think that Faber uses something similar that he had developed too.

**mikki_zh** · December 1st, 2006, 02:55 AM

I did a lot of static line jumps of our local 175 feet bridge. I use the carry on static line from SouthsideBASE
and always tye it with 2 Brake cord loops.
But it is very important to make one loop noteable bigger then the other to prevent that the brake cord force dobbles.

**Frog** · December 1st, 2006, 04:11 AM

When I go for SL, I always use the bridle extension made by BR (now APEX).
Basicly, it's a small piece of bridle with 2 loops which is connected to the main bridle using the loop normally used to attach the PC.
You connect this extension to your bridle using one loop while the other loop is used to attach your PC.
In this way, you'll have 2 break cord attachment points and you'll connect the bridle to the anchor point on the object using 2 pieces of break cord.
This will give you a first breaking of the cord (the one closer to the pin's) wich should extract your canopy normally. But if you have a premature breaking of this 1st break cord, you have a 2nd chance given by the 2nd break cord, the one connected to the PC attachment point (and I always use a 48 PC as 3rd backup...).
I don't know if my description is clear since my poor english, but I'll try to take some pics of the system once at home if you want...
This setup works very well for me and give me more confidence also in the lower jumps...
Hope helpful...

**Faber** · December 3rd, 2006, 01:10 PM

The loops CANT be made of the same pice of break cord,it has to be 2 loops that still would work in case one is gone...

As said one loop should be bigger than the other one to avoid the double force that could lead to centercell stripping...

**Twoply2** · December 3rd, 2006, 07:30 PM

A few years ago, I was the last off a 195 ish object. I admit I get actually scared off low jumps more than anything. I tied off my SL and counted down to exit. I stopped, thought about it and opt'ed to put on another static line loop, one larger than the first like we're all talking about. The exit was not typical as I decided to exit out of an inside corner. Maybe I stood up there too long or whatever but when I exited, I did a lazy launch, and snagged the bridle on my foot flipping me over onto my side and then upsidedown. The canopy opened with closed end cells and I pounded in hard. I'm not sure if the first or second cord held my bridle up there enough to extract out my canopy but I've never done one without doubling it up again. Actually thinking about it, I'm not sure I've done a SL since. I just hate low jumps.

**Faber** · December 4th, 2006, 05:35 AM

nice one surviving that..
I just climbed down one of that kind of objects after i pcaéd a mate off first..

the exit point were small and i were affraid to wrap myself up into my bridel or pc..

low jumps are cool

Buried · December 6th, 2006, 01:34 PM

are you leaving the bridle and hanging to form a big U essentially?

what you could do is shorten the bridle temporarily. (Note: I haven't used this on really low objects, but it works) use a tailgate band and s fold (large folds) your bridle a few times with both the bridle going to the pc and the container pointing down. the bridle should somewhat snug and doesn't require much force to pull it off, it's just there to hold it until it gets a little air. easier said then done in practice.

**sabre210** · December 7th, 2006, 04:35 AM

Having significantly different length loops is worth reiterating when using the back-up loop system. I did a building not so long back and although my loops were different lengths it was only marginal - I always assumed even a few millimeters would be enough difference that they would act as two seperate loops.

After I had landed, inspection of the PC revealed that the nylon rope i had tied off to had failed first. The two loops of break cord were still unbroken and were attached to the loop of rope which had failed at the knot where it attached to the anchor point on the building. The rope ,i should mention, was that cheapish blue nylon rope you see all over - especially used for securing tarps. It's not bombproof by any means but is pretty ****ing strong and i'd have bet my wage slip the breakcord would have failed WAAAAYYYY before that did.

Perhaps there is more stretch / elasticity in the breakcord prior to failure than i had imagined and they spread the force applied.

Now, I have the first (primary) loop pulled snugly with little slack.The back up loop is wider and loose.

There was little danger of not getting a canopy out on this jump, but I would prefer not to subject my gear to the excessive load it underwent before causing the rope to fail.

In short. Ensure breakcord loops are significantly differing in lengths so that they act as 2 entirely seperate links in the system.

ian

Gus937 · December 7th, 2006, 05:01 AM

I also use 2 loops of different lengths, the 1st one tight to hold the pc in place then the 2nd one loose. More often than not I'm tying off to (rough, rusting, sharp) metal railings so having the 2nd loop makes sense to me.

After I had landed, inspection of the PC revealed that the nylon rope i had tied off to had failed first.

Did you notice anything different during deployment? Any damage where the bridle attaches to the canopy?

Gus