Eclipse Impulse Solenoid Optimizer

From the Web site:

Picture taken from www.planeteclipse.com

Comments

Isolation modifications come in two different flavors, isolation design and flow restrictor design.   The Eclipse Solenoid Optimizer is based on the flow restrictor design.  It restrict the valve from "sucking" air away from the solenoid.  The benefit of this design are that it is a drop in modification and does not require any tapping of holes so that they can be plugged.   The other type of Isolation modification is the isolation design.  The Isolation design separates the air flow and feeds the valve and solenoid separately.

The only tools needed for this installation is a little Loc-tite (the directions call for Green, I used Blue since I do not want this to be more permanent than it has to be.) and a set of allen wrenches.

Tools needed for the Eclipse Solenoid Optimizer installation.

Close-up of the parts included in the ESO kit.

NOTE: The picture of the Eclipse Solenoid Optimizer taken from Planet Eclipse's web site does not have the one-way valve, as shown in the picture above.  I do not know if the one-way valve was added after the picture was taken or removed since I received mine.

Installation Instructions as provided by Eclipse

This little gadget is designed to increase gas efficiency, improve shot-to-shot consistency and allow dry firing.  This item requires advanced technical Impulse knowledge to fit and work should only be carried out by trained and proficient technician.

IMPORTANT NOTES

DO NOT use ANY loctite or Tape on the Aluminum Optimizer.   It is very important that both o-rings and the threads of the Optimizer are well lubricated before attempting to install in the Impulse body.  The o-rings seal ALL gas passages.

Fitting Instructions

First turn off / remove gas source and make sure the gun is completely purged.  Remove the front chamber of the Impulse and remove the valve spring.  If a Front reg mount or fore-grip is fitted, they need to be removed.   Do this carefully.  Now using a 3/32" allen key remove the grub screw in the bottom of the Impulse body.  This will be tight, as it is Loctited in place.   Also remove the large 1/8" plug at the front of the body using a 3/16" allen key.  Clean out the Loctite from the threads of both of the holes, paying particular attention to the large hole that the Optimizer screws into.  This is very Important!  Now lubricate the Optimizer body with light machine oil and insert into the front of the Impulse.  DO NOT USE LOCTITE OR TAPE on the Optimizer.  Use a 3/16" allen key to screw it into place, or by hand, depending on type.  NOTE...DO NOT TIGHTEN INTO THE BODY.  Screw the Optimizer into the body so that the threads just comes flush with the front of the body, NO MORE.  Tightening the Optimizer into the body may cause it to jam and make it impossible to remove.  If the Optimizer becomes tight in the body before it is flush with the front of the gun STOP, and DO NOT FORCE IT.   If this should happen, call or mail Planet Eclipse.

Once the Optimizer is inserted, use the grub screw provided, apply green (strong) Loctite to the grub screw and insert it into the hole on the bottom of the gun.  Do not over tighten it as it may cause the the Optimizer to be pushed out of place.  Allow the Loctite to set and re-install any Front Reg. Mounts or Fore-grips.

Your Optimizer is now installed and ready to use.   Enjoy.

Step 1: Remove any FRM or Fore-grip and the front and bottom screws.

Step 2: Lubricate and screw in the ESO.   Do not over tighten.

Step 3: Install the grub screw provided in the kit and your Impulse back together.

Eclipse FRM + Eclipse ESO = possible problem

With the Smart Parts VA there is a hole for the grub screw that sticks out next to the air inlet.  The Eclipse FRM does not have this hole (at least the one we have does not).  Originally, this lack of hole caused us to have to buy a shorter grub screw and then screw it in until it was flush with the body.  The grub screw that comes with the ESO is the same size as our screw, but we were not able to screw it in all the way so that it was flush with the body because the aluminum part of the ESO was behind the screw.  Two minutes and a little Dremel work later, the screw was shorter and we were back in business.

Now for the part you have been waiting for, how did it perform.  Like all of the other Isolation mods this one also changed the sound of the Impulse.  Cycling was obviously smoother, but our efficiency dropped.  This was nothing new as we experience the same problem when testing some of the other Iso mods.   So we upped the pressure a little and lengthened the Dwell a little and all was good.  There was no first shot drop off and our chrono reading got much tighter.   We went from +/- 10 to +/- 5.

I think Eclipse over did it a bit in the instructions when they stated "This item requires advanced technical Impulse knowledge to fit and work should only be carried out by trained and proficient technician."  I'm not certified in anything paintball related and the instructions provided were enough for me to install the ESO.  I guess the only hard part would be had the instructions not fallen out of the package, I might not have seen them.  The instructions are printed on a piece of paper that is 1.5" wide by 5.5" long with tiny little printing on it.

The Details

• Installation: This was a piece of cake.   The only hard part was that we were using an Impulse with an Eclipse FRM and those are always a little more of a pain to work with.
• MSRP: Price is £16.97.  That is British Pounds, so the conversion to US Dollars can vary from day to day.  For comparison purposes it will average out to be about $25.00 US.  You will need to find a distributor in the US because ordering from England will cost you more in shipping than the price of the ESO.
• Options: None, and none are needed.
• Pro's: Quick and easy to install.   This is an internal drop in modification.  The only noticeable change on the outside of the Impulse was the presence of a blue plug on the front air passage vs. the original stainless steel plug.
• Cons: Again nothing earth shaking here, but we had to adjust the dwell to get our velocity back to where we liked it.