A Super Soaker CPS 4100 Super Soaker is a well-known brand of recreational water gun, first sold in 1988. The first Super Soakers utilized pressurized air to shoot water with greater power, range, and accuracy than conventional squirt guns. Super Soakers were extremely popular for many years - so popular, in fact, that the term super soaker is sometimes used generically, to refer to any type of water gun. The Super Soaker was invented by Lonnie Johnson, now of Johnson research group. Contents 1 Technology 2 Modifications 3 Model Ranges 4 External links Technology Most Super Soakers use air pressure to force the water out of the nozzle and into the air. Air pressure-powered Super Soakers utilize one of two types of propulsion systems: a pressurized reservoir system, or a separate firing chamber system. Super Soakers that use the pressurized reservoir system have a single reservoir for air and water. The reservoir is first partially filled with water, then air is forced in under pressure. When the trigger is pulled, the pressurized air forces water out of the reservoir. Super Soakers that use the separate firing chamber system have a large reservoir for water only, and one or more smaller firing chambers. In this system, water is pumped from the reservoir into the firing chamber(s), compressing the air in the chamber(s). This exerts a force on the water, thus providing the power to push the water through the nozzle when the trigger is pulled. Super Soakers using this system are, generally speaking, more powerful than ones using Pressurised Reservoir Technology. Some models use piston pressure. This system is very simple in its concept, water being simply forced through the nozzle by the pump's shaft pushing it. Since the power available is directly proportional to the strength of the arm of the user, many Super Soaker users shun this type of Super Soaker. On the positive side, no pre-pumping is required, as opposed to the other type of technology where one must pump several times to build up the required pressure. The Constant Pressure System (CPS) is, arguably, the most powerful system used by Super Soaker in its guns. The user pumps water from the reservoir into a rubber chamber, which expands as more water is forced into it. The stretched rubber exerts a constant pressure on the water, which propels the water when the trigger is pulled. In larger models, the resulting blast is forceful enough that recoil can be felt. Modifications While most people who buy Super Soakers leave them completely stock, some of the more dedicated Super Soaker enthusiasts have found ways to modify their soakers to give them more range and/or water output. K-Modding: The K-Mod is a modification which can only be done to CPS-class Soakers with spherical pressure chambers. It is a favorite modification among many Super Soaker enthusiasts due to the fact that it is very easy to do, yet it yields phenominal output increases. The process involves stretching several (usually between 50-90) balloons around the pressure chamber to allow for more pressurization to take place. The drawback is that since the size of the pressure chamber is being increased, it has less room for expansion, so shot time is decreased. While K-modding only works with spherical pressure chambers, there is a similar modification that can be done to CPS Soakers with cylindrical pressure chambers called Colossus. This modification involves wrapping a bike inner tube around the pressure chamber. Check Valve Freezing: This is a modification that is commonly done to K-modded soakers. On most Super Soakers, there is a pressure relief valve between the reservoir and pump tube which regulates the amount of pressure exerted on the pressure chamber. By removing this valve and re-sealing the tubing where the valve was cut off, a greater amount of pressure exertion is possible, thus increasing the water output. While this modification is optional in soakers which have not been K-modded, it may be a necessity for K-modded soakers, since the thicker pressure chamber may require more pressure than the relief valve would allow. Removing the relief valve facilitates the possibility of damaging the soaker (and possibly causing injury) by allowing too much pressure to build up, so discretion should be taken with regard to the number of times the Soaker is pumped and how much force is required for the pump to fully retract. Nozzle drilling: A common modification which involves using a drill to enlarge nozzle orifices. With a larger nozzle orifice, higher water output is obtained. However, drilling a nozzle too large will reduce range. Nozzles orifice size can be also reduced by filling in the orifice with epoxy, waiting for the epoxy to dry, and then redrilling a smaller nozzle. Some also have experimented with modifications that allow for nozzles to be threaded on and off to allow for a multitude of nozzles orifice sizes on a water gun that previously had a single orifice size. Reservoir expansion: This modification increases the total amount of water available to the user of the water gun and is very common. Most people expand the reservoir by creating a backpack containing water out of bottles or plastic pipe, but there are many other ways to increase reservoir capacity not limited a backpack. Model Ranges SS (Original): The Original Super Soaker 100 (later renamed the Super Soaker 50), which first appeared in 1988, easily outpowered other water guns of the time. This model was followed by the Super Soaker 100 in 1990 and the Super Soaker 300 in 1993. The model line also included a pistol-sized offering, the Super Soaker 30. XP (eXtra Pressure): This range, now discontinued, used air pressure and ranged from the pistol-sized XP 15 to the XP 300 which sported a backpack for higher water capacity. Some of the best XP soakers include the XP 110, XP 150, and XP 310. Generally speaking, the one regarded as the worst is the XP Backfire. XXP (eXtra eXtra Pressure): This range consists of two double-barrelled models, XXP 175 and the XXP 275, introduced in 1996. CPS (Constant Pressure System): The most powerful Super Soaker range, with up to 20 times the power as the "standard" XP 70. Introduced in 1996, this range includes the CPS 1000, CPS 2000, CPS 2500, CPS 3000, CPS 4100. SC (Super Charger): This range, introduced in 1999, allowed quick pressurization using a garden hose, used the CPS system in most models, and included two backpack guns. Monster: Like the SC series, but bigger. This line could be filled with a hose. Introduced in 2000 were the Monster and Monster XL (which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest water gun ever produced) and, in 2001, the Monster X. Max-D (Maximum Distance): In 2002, Super Soaker introduced the Max-D line, which failed to live up to its marketing. Power was limited and the mechanism was fragile. EES (Electronically Enhanced Soakage): This unpopular, battery-powered, 2003 line had sound effects. SoakerTag: In 2004, Hasbro launched "SoakerTag", which utilized a number of small "tags" attached to one's shirt. Hasbro also released a line of "SoakerTag" blasters, which fans considered underpowered. SoakerTag Elite: The 2005 SoakerTag line was also considered underpowered, although it did include two CPS models. Max Infusion: This 2006 line is hose-fillable. Oozinator: This model was released in 2006, and can fire ooze. The advertising for this model has caused much controversy, due to the fact that the ooze looks like semen. Arctic shock: is a super soaker which has an ice core, keeping the temperature of the ejected water cold enough to shock the recipient. External links SuperSoaker.com iSoaker.com Super Soaker Central AquaNexus H20 Commandos Aqua-Zone SoakerMedia Hydrowar ZOCCOZ Water Gun Library Controversial Oozinator Television Ad Water Guns rated - R Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Soaker" Categories: Toy weapons