"Better to be on the boat wishing you were diving, than underwater wishing you were on the boat."
Augusto Pavan
Suex Zeuxo DPV UPGRADE
ORIGINAL SUEX ZEUXO
I bought an old Suez Zeuxo, the battery was death but I found a good price.​
In my opinion Suex is the best company in terms of DPV.​
The idea was to ripristinate the battery and make some improvments.
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Battery System Upgrade – 7S11P Smart Li-Ion
The original DPV used a 24V sealed lead-acid battery (approx. 370–400 Wh), with limited runtime, high weight, and zero telemetry.
The new pack is a fully custom 7S11P lithium-ion battery, built with:
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Cells: LG INR21700-M50L – 4800 mAh, 7.2 A continuous, clear wrap
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Configuration: 7S11P (77 cells total), total capacity ~1350 Wh
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BMS: Daly Smart BMS, Bluetooth-enabled
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Balancer: External active balancer for real-time cell equalization, independent of the BMS
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Wiring: XT90 anti-spark connector, silicone cables (AWG10), secured layout
Monitoring is handled directly via smartphone app (iOS/Android), showing:
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Per-cell voltage
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Pack temperature
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Charge/discharge current
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SoC estimate
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Event logs and protection triggers
Tested runtime:
→ 4 hours underwater, including realistic use (start/stop, accelerations, drag)
→ Battery remains balanced and cool under continuous 250 W loads, with bursts up to 400 W
All mechanical supports, cell spacers, and pack housing are 3D-printed in PETG-CF, designed for ease of assembly and shock resistance.
BATTERY --> Nimh 14Ah
AUTONOMY --> 60-100 min
WEIGHT --> 20Kg
THRUST --> 22Kgf (49lb)
SPEED --> 60 mt/min
MAX DEPTH --> 150 mt
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A compact navigation console has been added to the top of the DPV body. It includes:
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Analog depth gauge (oil-filled, mechanical, readable at any angle)
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Magnetic compass, high-visibility, mounted on a printed base
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Custom housing printed in black PETG, sealed and fixed with stainless steel M3 hardware
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Positioned for easy readout during towing, without obstructing line of sight
​Trim & Attachment System
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Added aluminum rail system (mounted externally) to fine-tune weight distribution
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Optimized for sidemount configuration, keeping DPV neutral in freshwater
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Designed to allow modular ballast adjustment and attachment of accessories​
And of course a wooden support
Custom 3D-Printed Handle
The original Suex handle has been replaced with a 3D-printed ergonomic handle, inspired by newer generation DPV designs. (the final model draw by a friend of mine.. thank you Freddy!)
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Better wrist alignment and control during extended towing
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Increased surface contact and grip security
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Printed in PETG-CF, filled 80% wall 3 mm and tested for mechanical strain in real use
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Integrated mount points for accessories or leash system
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Invertes sensor of accelerator from pull to push to use new handle (easy they're two hall sensor, just invert connections)​
DOWNLOAD .STL FILE
​Technical Overview
ComponentSpecs / Notes
Battery7S11P – LG INR21700-M50L – 1350 Wh total
BMSDaly Smart BMS (Bluetooth) + Active Balancer
Depth GaugeAnalog, oil-filled, dome window
CompassMagnetic, fixed-angle, top-mounted
Handle3D-printed, ergonomic upgrade
Build MaterialsAll structural parts 3D-printed (PETG)
Runtime~4h (measured with mixed dynamic use)
Trim SystemExternal ballast rail, adjustable
If you're into technical diving gear and prefer to trust what you’ve built — not just what you’ve bought — this rebuild shows what a well-designed DIY integration can achieve.
