Post by Slither on Mar 4, 2013 5:38:18 GMT -5
So I am bored on my duty day and figured I would do a run down on Eclipse and maybe you will find out something you didn't know. And how the Guns started and where they are, plus just what is the differnce between the models. I will start with the Ego then work into the Etek, Geo and Etha. I am ripping this from a couple of places so not all the wording is mine.
Planet Eclipse started out around 1994 making parts for other guns and private label Angels, Mags, and Autocockers. You can still find some of these around with a really cool splash anno job. In 2002 they introduced the Eblade which was an electronic upgrade for Autocockers and turned out to be a game changer that took the cocker to the height of it evolution as seen in the WGP Karnivor and the Eclipse DC1 and DC2 cockers, the fact that DC1 and DC2 still command upwards of $800-1000 should tell you something. Some pics to go with what I wrote the Top is a Nexxus DC2 and the bottom is a regular Eclipse Cocker, below that an Eclipse Angel LED, and finally an Eclipse automag.
Egos
PE Relased what has been their flagship marker, the Ego in 2004 as the Ego 05. After bulding parts and upgrades for other companies they figured the could make one better and thus the Ego was born. Not the Ego most of us know today but in the days of Cockers Mags it was like a meteor to the dinosaurs along with the DM series and the Shocker SFT.
The Ego 05
Built around an adapted E-blade electropneumatic frame, first developed by Planet Eclipse. This gun runs at 95psi from the Low pressure regulator (LPR). It also runs at 180 psi from the high Pressure regulator.
You can see the birth of the form that would hold true to the Ego (and most stacked tube popits tbh) for years. The HPRl used shims instead of the spring most of us are used to and as you can see the bolt was abit longer.
2006 Ego:
Newer shorter stock bolt. The gun runs at the same pressures as the 05. lowering recoil. Longer regulator allows lower operating pressure and better air efficiency. Improved electronics internal board. The Reg was still shimmed but you can see the lines firming up
Ego 7
Next was the Ego 7,this model featured extensive milling to reduce weight. Almost all of the internal components were replaced and upgraded compared with the 2006 model. Key improvements included an integrated FRM and rammer body, a new board with both a micro and optical switch, standard cure bolt, and T-slot style rail mounting. None of the parts, save for the barrel, detents, bolt, regulator, and break beam eyes, are interchangeable with previous models. This started the line ending with the 2011 Ego where it was a more subtle evolution.
Ego 8,
Some consider this the best of the line and it is by far one of the best guns you can get for the money now. While the Ego7 was a revolutionary improvement over the 2006 Ego, the Ego8 is more of an evolutionary improvement over its predecessor. Key improvements include more milling to reduce weight, a built-in Zero-Kick ("Zick") kit, and dual QEVs built into a QEV block. A new LCD on the 4.0 version board features black-on-white text that is very easy to read in the sunlight.The QEV block in the ego8 provides a faster and shorter passage for entering and escaping gasses, which allow faster rate of fire. This is good and bad because the QEVs wear over time and will break. If you buy one I suggest buying a bunch of QEVs to keep around so you can keep shooting it for years.
Ego 9:
Unlike the Ego8 the Ego9 doesn't have QEV's (quick exhaust valve) which exhibits a more consistent, reliable marker. The trigger guard has been enlarged allowing the player to walk the trigger easier and more comfortably than the ego8's trigger guard. New this year is the built in speaker which allows you to know when it turns on and off. Like the Ego8 the Ego9 has the cure2 and zick kit as stock parts. This year they put the rammer at a 3-4 degree incline to allow your hand to be closer to the line of fire to give it a small size and allow the player to feel more comfortable when shooting. If you don't want to deal with QEVs and want affordable this is the Ego for you. It got a bad reputation out the door by snapping Rammers due to the cycle speed but the plank kit relased by PE resolved that issue, if you are looking at one make sure it is planked as PE no longer has the kits.
Ego 10
(Tugs Favorite)The Ego Ten's main selling point is a longer cycle. This reduces potential rate of fire, although it is still capable of 28+ balls per second. The advantage is that it allows more consistency from shot to shot, and can be used with more fragile paint as well as much less recoil and a smoother shot. It comes standard with the Zick 2 Rammer and the Cure 3+ bolt stock, as well as an improved solenoid. It also includes many other parts improved upon from previous models such as the regulator, the hpr (high pressure regulator) and the lpr (low pressure regulator). The board was redone as well as a few other minor parts. The screen on the ego10 is 92% bigger than earlier models as well as having a better processor that is over 2 times as powerful as its predecessors with some minor software improvements to boot. The EGO9 can be upgraded to shoot like an EGO10 by means of Zick2, and Cure3+ bolt, as well as the plank kit and solenoid barb available from PE (Planet Eclipse). The changes will give the 2009 all the means to shoot exactly like an EGO10, the remaining differences will be a hole located on the regulator to protect the lpr against over pressurization as well as the larger screen. These are solid markers that have had zero issues they are the lumberjacks of paintball they aren't the flashiest and don't stick out but they get the job done.
Ego 11
The Ego11 is-like the other Egos- a poppet valve electropneumatic marker by Planet Eclipse. The board is basically the same board but the main differences are the Shaft 4 barrel (Ego 10 had Shaft 3), the milling, compatibility to a computer via USB ( like the 2010 SLS ego), POPS- Push On Purge System- asa, and a solenoid with adjustable speeds that control the bolt forward speed and return speed. The only marker prior to the Ego11 with this option was 2005 shockers with an adjustable solenoid manifold, but those posed too many problems. Because of the new solenoid, the Ego11 can sacrifice speed for recoil in controlling the maximum Cycles per second from 12-30 per second. In addition, the Ego11 ships with a .689 barrel back, instead of the .693 back shipped with previous Egos
Ego lV1
See my Other thread for a full write up
![]()
www.planeteclipse.com/gfx/paintball-markers/lv1/Dfghjiw769-midnight.jpg [/img]
Each one of these was the very height of popit technology in their time and none of them will leave you wanting if you took it out on the field now.
The Etek
Many people think the Etek is just a repackaged older Ego, This is not true. It is an Ego style marker that uses the same HPR and LPR as the Ego series and the rammer and bolts are interchangable. however the solenoid, the heart of the marker has been the same since the Etek 1. many will say that an Etek 3 is comparable to and Ego 8 or an Etek 2 is comparable to an Ego 5/6. This is not the case. It is true that many of the improvements you find as the Etek matures started in the Ego line like the LPR on the Etek 3 being the same as found on a Ego 8 or the Zick rammer etc.. Other commonalities are the HPR and barrel, sometimes these lag a couple years behind. Ie the Etek 4 having an SL3 reg as found on the Geo 3 and Ego 11 vice the S3 found on the Etek 3 and Ego 9 and 10. The guts of the marker, Board and solenoid remain the same though. All that being said the Etek remains a solid bulletproof marker that can stand up to anything else on the field
Etek
Introduced in 2006, the ETek was priced much lower than standard Egos as a mid-range alternative to Planet Eclipse's flagship Ego. It was lighter than the stock 2006 and 2005 versions and featured different milling and simplified features. The LCD screen was replaced with 3 LED buttons, the QEVs were removed, and it featured a microswitch in place of the optical switch on the electronics board.
Etek 2
Announced in November 2007 and available soon thereafter, the ETek2 is the second generation ETek. Improvements over the original ETek include a lighter weight, new circuit board, redesigned trigger frame, new on/off air system, new inline regulator, new low pressure regulator, and standard 2-piece Shaft barrel. These also had the option of a STAR frame which gave the option of an OLED board over the standard color LED still found on most Eteks today.
ETek3
The ETek 3 was released in November 2009. There are 2 versions available: The LT (Nylon Glass Reinforced Composite), and the AM, (All Metal). The only major differences between the two is the composite frame, eye covers, and feedneck. The Etek 3 LT can later be upgraded to the "All Metal" Parts. Internally and externally, the Etek 3 is almost identical to the EGO 7 and 8, if the Etek 3 is compared with the EGO8, the main differences are the solenoid, the regulator, the barrel, and the board. The Etek 3 includes a Shaft III barrel, with minimal porting and less milling, it includes a "S3" regulator with a self purging feature The S3 is also included in the EGO9 and EGO10. The solenoid on the Etek 3 is the same solenoid that has been used in the past Etek Markers, but the solenoid has now been modified to be a manifold that sits directly underneath the rammer housing, therefore speeding up recharge rates and eliminating the need of QEV's. The Etek 3 has an LED board similar to the Etek 2 board, but it now has more adjustability.
ETek4
The ETek 4 was released in May 2012. There are 2 versions available: The LT (Nylon Glass Reinforced Composite), and the AM, (All Metal)Internally and performance-wise, the exact same regulator that can be found on the Ego11, CSL and Geo2.1. It allows the Etek4 to run with HP, MP or LP tanks without the need to alter settings and inline regulator adjustments. It has a replaceable and reversible main seal as well as self-purging feature to leave the firing chamber de-gassed after tank removal. The Etek 4 also has the angled reg swivel of the Ego 11 and Geo 2.1 along with an updated OOPs ASA and comes stock with azick 2 vice the Etek 3s zick 1 of the ego 7 series it still comes with the Cure but will accept cure 4 bolts with zero modifications. It uses the same LPR found on the Ego 11 and differnt milling from the etek 3.
The Geo and Geo+[/color]
Unlike all the Egos, which are poppet style markers, The Geo is a spool valve marker. Planet Eclipse designed the Geo to be the counterpart of the Ego, making it almost identical in weight, size, feel, with almost exactly the same parts you would find on an Ego9. The Geo uses the same regulator, feedneck, barrel, ASA, detents, and eyes as the Ego9. The Geo uses a "SC" (Spool Cure) bolt, the bolt itself and the solenoid are the only moving part. The Geo does not include the same grip frame as the Ego9. The Geo uses the Ego7/8 style grip frame. The Geo can be serviced as easily as the Ego. It incorporates a tool-less back cap, but also gives you the option of using an allen wrench to tighten it down. The Geo has been designed to have all of the benefits of a spool valve with none of the drawbacks. This was my first true 'high end' gun and while I loved it but my Geo1 was a gas hog that no ammount of dwell tuning or adjusting could help. If you are looking at buying a Geo 1 make sure it has the GST kit and and GR2 upgrades. those were much needed upgrades that planet sent out free of charge to all registered owners and fixed some minor but annoying issues. The GST kit is no longer available for sale, when I snagged mine I think I got 1 of the last 5 planet had.
Geo 2
The Geo introduced so much need changes to the Geo platform. a Sprung prop shaft helped much with efficiency and the overall performance of the marker. The SL3 reg made its debut on the Geo and the spacing between the Grip and HPR was lengthend to made a little more comfortable. It also introduced the shaft 4 barrel...if you're into that kind of thing.
The 2,1 took things a step further in adding the POPs ASA and 45 degree reg coller from the Ego 11...many were please by this
![]()
t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzPchUQk7kdyR83gyVEYrZOae0YofK8kIKnthWFRZwengu_OOC7Q [/img]
As a quick note, you may see some people trying to sell a Geo 2.05. that is a just a stock Geo 2 with a POPs ASA added to it not a factory sold marker there is nothing speical about them.
Geo 3
Here is where the Geo has come into its own the efficency is amazing and the whole package has been improved. Not to say there is anything wrong with a 2 or 2.1 but the 3 builds on that solid base and soars to the clouds.
The Geo3 has taken the basic operating principle of the Geo2.1 and completely reworked it. In order to achieve optimum efficiency in a wide range of circumstances it is beneficial to isolate the firing chamber from the gas supply during firing cycle so that no excess gas is lost down the barrel after the ball has exited. The Geo has always incorporated this feature by selectively controlling supply to the firing chamber via the ISCIS (Innovative Solenoid Controlled Isolation System) Valve. The Geo3 incorporates the Second Generation ISCIS Valve, a complete rework of the original principle aiming to improve efficiency and reliability. The main body of the solenoid is now all aluminium. The secondary spool-driven poppet that controls shut-off of the gas supply to the firing chamber during the firing cycle now works independently of the bolt drive side of the solenoid. The new design also no longer utilises the back-check ball or the Purge Control Valve (PCV) of the old Geos which reduces parts count and further improves reliability. The whole mechanism is more reliable and far more robust than the old solenoid. More importantly to some, by reducing losses from the solenoid during the firing cycle there has been an increase in efficiency in the Geo3.
A great deal has been learnt through the development, testing and subsequent on-field use of the Ego11's adjustable solenoid flow controls. By accurately controlling the flow of the bolt drive exhaust gasses through the solenoid the acceleration and speed of the bolt can be adjusted. Changes in the bolt speed results in changes to feel, sound signature, paint handling, rate of fire and even efficiency. By allowing the user access to this type of adjustment "on-the-fly" with an external adjuster located in the side of the frame means that a player can alter the feel and performance profile of their marker within seconds. In some cases at extreme levels of adjustment there may be need to fine tune the markers dwell to match the required bolt speed, but in general use the BSC adjustment is as simple as dialling in the velocity on the inline regulator.
The Geo3 comes with a modified Propshaft and Can Assembly. The propshaft still benefits from the unique spring-loaded Drive Core but modifications to the Propshaft tip improve gas flow through the bolt and past the tip while still keeping the propshaft perfectly concentric within the bolt. This Drive Core prevents air-loss both on the firing stroke of the bolt, leaving residual, previously wasted air trapped in the valve chamber, as well as ensuring the valve chamber is fully sealed prior to re-filling on the return stroke of the bolt. This results in better efficiency and faster recharge of the valve chamber. The new Can and Bolt have previous pressure relief vents that were required for safe degassing of the old ISCIS solenoid removed. The removal of these vents results in less gas wastage per shot.
The Etha
For a long time I always thought one of the drawbacks to our team was the lack of a more affordable new Eclipse marker dishing out 500+ dollars on a new Etek isn't something everyone can or wants to do. The Etha changed that. it is a radical depature from anything eclipse had done in the past and operates more like a mini or automag than Eteck or Ego. They call it a "pull poppet spool" I would rather just think of it as inline poppit like a mini. It uses the SL3 HPR found on the Geo 3 Ego 11 and Etek 4 and the shaft 4 barrel
But what of the Etha itself? Well, internally the Etha is a radical departure from anything seen before in an Eclipse marker. For the first time we utilize a spring return bolt system in the firing mechanism, allowing us to simplify the pneumatic side of the marker and use a Pull Poppet spool to release air from the firing chamber.
The Etha bolt features dual-stage acceleration so that it picks up the paintball at a lower speed before accelerating further to push the ball fully into the barrel. The front of the bolt has a ramped rubber section. This extended rubber piece is both removable and replaceable and designed to flex freely in order to prevent clipping of the second ball in the stack as well as to be flexible on the face to cushion the paintball as its pushed toward the barrel. Both of these features work hand-in-hand with the Deftek Feed System and Break Beam Sensor System to keep any occurrences of barrel breaks to an absolute minimum.
The Pull Poppet that releases the air from the firing chamber is driven by a new, super-robust high pressure solenoid that is controlled by the fully adjustable PCB. The PCB controls the firing mode (semi-automatic and ramping), rate of fire, dwell and de-bounce through the multi-colour LED mounted in the rear of the frame. It is pre-programmed with modes compatible with all major tournament series meaning no upgrade needed wherever you play.
The frame, together with the lever operated clamping feed-tube, eye covers and the new OOPS knob are all manufactured from extremely resilient glass reinforced nylon. The Etek3 LT has proven to us just what this amazing composite is capable of: it is extremely strong, very tough, and more than capable of handling the abuse that even the roughest and toughest paintballer can throw at it. When it came time to specify the materials for Etha there was no Etha OOPS question that this material would be at the top of our list for these parts.
Inside the frame there are sintered brass bushings for the trigger pin to pivot on and a captured, fully adjustable leaf spring similar to that found in the Ego11. These components combine with the externally adjustable trigger to produce a crisp, smooth trigger action with which to operate the micro switch. And for the first time in an Eclipse marker the trigger can be fully removed for maintenance or cleaning without having to separate the frame from the body - it makes cleaning up after a hit to the frame a breeze. To help keep paint and debris out of the inside of the frame, the grip panels are sunk into the frame around their perimeter, they also use a clever upper locating tab that means that each grip panel only requires one screw to fix it in place making access to the board and battery quick and easy.
Thanks for your time guys, I hope it kills some time for you and if there are any glaring errors please let me know. this is for the guys new to Planet Eclipse and for people who have yet to grace these fine forums. If I get bored some more I will go into the various aftermarket upgrades that I know about and probably some that I don't.
for the record I have only played with the Ego 8 and 11, Geo 1 and Etek 3...and Karnivor if you want to count Eblades.
Planet Eclipse started out around 1994 making parts for other guns and private label Angels, Mags, and Autocockers. You can still find some of these around with a really cool splash anno job. In 2002 they introduced the Eblade which was an electronic upgrade for Autocockers and turned out to be a game changer that took the cocker to the height of it evolution as seen in the WGP Karnivor and the Eclipse DC1 and DC2 cockers, the fact that DC1 and DC2 still command upwards of $800-1000 should tell you something. Some pics to go with what I wrote the Top is a Nexxus DC2 and the bottom is a regular Eclipse Cocker, below that an Eclipse Angel LED, and finally an Eclipse automag.
Egos
PE Relased what has been their flagship marker, the Ego in 2004 as the Ego 05. After bulding parts and upgrades for other companies they figured the could make one better and thus the Ego was born. Not the Ego most of us know today but in the days of Cockers Mags it was like a meteor to the dinosaurs along with the DM series and the Shocker SFT.
The Ego 05
Built around an adapted E-blade electropneumatic frame, first developed by Planet Eclipse. This gun runs at 95psi from the Low pressure regulator (LPR). It also runs at 180 psi from the high Pressure regulator.
You can see the birth of the form that would hold true to the Ego (and most stacked tube popits tbh) for years. The HPRl used shims instead of the spring most of us are used to and as you can see the bolt was abit longer.
2006 Ego:
Newer shorter stock bolt. The gun runs at the same pressures as the 05. lowering recoil. Longer regulator allows lower operating pressure and better air efficiency. Improved electronics internal board. The Reg was still shimmed but you can see the lines firming up
Ego 7
Next was the Ego 7,this model featured extensive milling to reduce weight. Almost all of the internal components were replaced and upgraded compared with the 2006 model. Key improvements included an integrated FRM and rammer body, a new board with both a micro and optical switch, standard cure bolt, and T-slot style rail mounting. None of the parts, save for the barrel, detents, bolt, regulator, and break beam eyes, are interchangeable with previous models. This started the line ending with the 2011 Ego where it was a more subtle evolution.
Ego 8,
Some consider this the best of the line and it is by far one of the best guns you can get for the money now. While the Ego7 was a revolutionary improvement over the 2006 Ego, the Ego8 is more of an evolutionary improvement over its predecessor. Key improvements include more milling to reduce weight, a built-in Zero-Kick ("Zick") kit, and dual QEVs built into a QEV block. A new LCD on the 4.0 version board features black-on-white text that is very easy to read in the sunlight.The QEV block in the ego8 provides a faster and shorter passage for entering and escaping gasses, which allow faster rate of fire. This is good and bad because the QEVs wear over time and will break. If you buy one I suggest buying a bunch of QEVs to keep around so you can keep shooting it for years.
Ego 9:
Unlike the Ego8 the Ego9 doesn't have QEV's (quick exhaust valve) which exhibits a more consistent, reliable marker. The trigger guard has been enlarged allowing the player to walk the trigger easier and more comfortably than the ego8's trigger guard. New this year is the built in speaker which allows you to know when it turns on and off. Like the Ego8 the Ego9 has the cure2 and zick kit as stock parts. This year they put the rammer at a 3-4 degree incline to allow your hand to be closer to the line of fire to give it a small size and allow the player to feel more comfortable when shooting. If you don't want to deal with QEVs and want affordable this is the Ego for you. It got a bad reputation out the door by snapping Rammers due to the cycle speed but the plank kit relased by PE resolved that issue, if you are looking at one make sure it is planked as PE no longer has the kits.
Ego 10
(Tugs Favorite)The Ego Ten's main selling point is a longer cycle. This reduces potential rate of fire, although it is still capable of 28+ balls per second. The advantage is that it allows more consistency from shot to shot, and can be used with more fragile paint as well as much less recoil and a smoother shot. It comes standard with the Zick 2 Rammer and the Cure 3+ bolt stock, as well as an improved solenoid. It also includes many other parts improved upon from previous models such as the regulator, the hpr (high pressure regulator) and the lpr (low pressure regulator). The board was redone as well as a few other minor parts. The screen on the ego10 is 92% bigger than earlier models as well as having a better processor that is over 2 times as powerful as its predecessors with some minor software improvements to boot. The EGO9 can be upgraded to shoot like an EGO10 by means of Zick2, and Cure3+ bolt, as well as the plank kit and solenoid barb available from PE (Planet Eclipse). The changes will give the 2009 all the means to shoot exactly like an EGO10, the remaining differences will be a hole located on the regulator to protect the lpr against over pressurization as well as the larger screen. These are solid markers that have had zero issues they are the lumberjacks of paintball they aren't the flashiest and don't stick out but they get the job done.
Ego 11
The Ego11 is-like the other Egos- a poppet valve electropneumatic marker by Planet Eclipse. The board is basically the same board but the main differences are the Shaft 4 barrel (Ego 10 had Shaft 3), the milling, compatibility to a computer via USB ( like the 2010 SLS ego), POPS- Push On Purge System- asa, and a solenoid with adjustable speeds that control the bolt forward speed and return speed. The only marker prior to the Ego11 with this option was 2005 shockers with an adjustable solenoid manifold, but those posed too many problems. Because of the new solenoid, the Ego11 can sacrifice speed for recoil in controlling the maximum Cycles per second from 12-30 per second. In addition, the Ego11 ships with a .689 barrel back, instead of the .693 back shipped with previous Egos
Ego lV1
See my Other thread for a full write up
Each one of these was the very height of popit technology in their time and none of them will leave you wanting if you took it out on the field now.
The Etek
Many people think the Etek is just a repackaged older Ego, This is not true. It is an Ego style marker that uses the same HPR and LPR as the Ego series and the rammer and bolts are interchangable. however the solenoid, the heart of the marker has been the same since the Etek 1. many will say that an Etek 3 is comparable to and Ego 8 or an Etek 2 is comparable to an Ego 5/6. This is not the case. It is true that many of the improvements you find as the Etek matures started in the Ego line like the LPR on the Etek 3 being the same as found on a Ego 8 or the Zick rammer etc.. Other commonalities are the HPR and barrel, sometimes these lag a couple years behind. Ie the Etek 4 having an SL3 reg as found on the Geo 3 and Ego 11 vice the S3 found on the Etek 3 and Ego 9 and 10. The guts of the marker, Board and solenoid remain the same though. All that being said the Etek remains a solid bulletproof marker that can stand up to anything else on the field
Etek
Introduced in 2006, the ETek was priced much lower than standard Egos as a mid-range alternative to Planet Eclipse's flagship Ego. It was lighter than the stock 2006 and 2005 versions and featured different milling and simplified features. The LCD screen was replaced with 3 LED buttons, the QEVs were removed, and it featured a microswitch in place of the optical switch on the electronics board.
Etek 2
Announced in November 2007 and available soon thereafter, the ETek2 is the second generation ETek. Improvements over the original ETek include a lighter weight, new circuit board, redesigned trigger frame, new on/off air system, new inline regulator, new low pressure regulator, and standard 2-piece Shaft barrel. These also had the option of a STAR frame which gave the option of an OLED board over the standard color LED still found on most Eteks today.
ETek3
The ETek 3 was released in November 2009. There are 2 versions available: The LT (Nylon Glass Reinforced Composite), and the AM, (All Metal). The only major differences between the two is the composite frame, eye covers, and feedneck. The Etek 3 LT can later be upgraded to the "All Metal" Parts. Internally and externally, the Etek 3 is almost identical to the EGO 7 and 8, if the Etek 3 is compared with the EGO8, the main differences are the solenoid, the regulator, the barrel, and the board. The Etek 3 includes a Shaft III barrel, with minimal porting and less milling, it includes a "S3" regulator with a self purging feature The S3 is also included in the EGO9 and EGO10. The solenoid on the Etek 3 is the same solenoid that has been used in the past Etek Markers, but the solenoid has now been modified to be a manifold that sits directly underneath the rammer housing, therefore speeding up recharge rates and eliminating the need of QEV's. The Etek 3 has an LED board similar to the Etek 2 board, but it now has more adjustability.
ETek4
The ETek 4 was released in May 2012. There are 2 versions available: The LT (Nylon Glass Reinforced Composite), and the AM, (All Metal)Internally and performance-wise, the exact same regulator that can be found on the Ego11, CSL and Geo2.1. It allows the Etek4 to run with HP, MP or LP tanks without the need to alter settings and inline regulator adjustments. It has a replaceable and reversible main seal as well as self-purging feature to leave the firing chamber de-gassed after tank removal. The Etek 4 also has the angled reg swivel of the Ego 11 and Geo 2.1 along with an updated OOPs ASA and comes stock with azick 2 vice the Etek 3s zick 1 of the ego 7 series it still comes with the Cure but will accept cure 4 bolts with zero modifications. It uses the same LPR found on the Ego 11 and differnt milling from the etek 3.
The Geo and Geo+[/color]
Unlike all the Egos, which are poppet style markers, The Geo is a spool valve marker. Planet Eclipse designed the Geo to be the counterpart of the Ego, making it almost identical in weight, size, feel, with almost exactly the same parts you would find on an Ego9. The Geo uses the same regulator, feedneck, barrel, ASA, detents, and eyes as the Ego9. The Geo uses a "SC" (Spool Cure) bolt, the bolt itself and the solenoid are the only moving part. The Geo does not include the same grip frame as the Ego9. The Geo uses the Ego7/8 style grip frame. The Geo can be serviced as easily as the Ego. It incorporates a tool-less back cap, but also gives you the option of using an allen wrench to tighten it down. The Geo has been designed to have all of the benefits of a spool valve with none of the drawbacks. This was my first true 'high end' gun and while I loved it but my Geo1 was a gas hog that no ammount of dwell tuning or adjusting could help. If you are looking at buying a Geo 1 make sure it has the GST kit and and GR2 upgrades. those were much needed upgrades that planet sent out free of charge to all registered owners and fixed some minor but annoying issues. The GST kit is no longer available for sale, when I snagged mine I think I got 1 of the last 5 planet had.
Geo 2
The Geo introduced so much need changes to the Geo platform. a Sprung prop shaft helped much with efficiency and the overall performance of the marker. The SL3 reg made its debut on the Geo and the spacing between the Grip and HPR was lengthend to made a little more comfortable. It also introduced the shaft 4 barrel...if you're into that kind of thing.
The 2,1 took things a step further in adding the POPs ASA and 45 degree reg coller from the Ego 11...many were please by this
As a quick note, you may see some people trying to sell a Geo 2.05. that is a just a stock Geo 2 with a POPs ASA added to it not a factory sold marker there is nothing speical about them.
Geo 3
Here is where the Geo has come into its own the efficency is amazing and the whole package has been improved. Not to say there is anything wrong with a 2 or 2.1 but the 3 builds on that solid base and soars to the clouds.
The Geo3 has taken the basic operating principle of the Geo2.1 and completely reworked it. In order to achieve optimum efficiency in a wide range of circumstances it is beneficial to isolate the firing chamber from the gas supply during firing cycle so that no excess gas is lost down the barrel after the ball has exited. The Geo has always incorporated this feature by selectively controlling supply to the firing chamber via the ISCIS (Innovative Solenoid Controlled Isolation System) Valve. The Geo3 incorporates the Second Generation ISCIS Valve, a complete rework of the original principle aiming to improve efficiency and reliability. The main body of the solenoid is now all aluminium. The secondary spool-driven poppet that controls shut-off of the gas supply to the firing chamber during the firing cycle now works independently of the bolt drive side of the solenoid. The new design also no longer utilises the back-check ball or the Purge Control Valve (PCV) of the old Geos which reduces parts count and further improves reliability. The whole mechanism is more reliable and far more robust than the old solenoid. More importantly to some, by reducing losses from the solenoid during the firing cycle there has been an increase in efficiency in the Geo3.
A great deal has been learnt through the development, testing and subsequent on-field use of the Ego11's adjustable solenoid flow controls. By accurately controlling the flow of the bolt drive exhaust gasses through the solenoid the acceleration and speed of the bolt can be adjusted. Changes in the bolt speed results in changes to feel, sound signature, paint handling, rate of fire and even efficiency. By allowing the user access to this type of adjustment "on-the-fly" with an external adjuster located in the side of the frame means that a player can alter the feel and performance profile of their marker within seconds. In some cases at extreme levels of adjustment there may be need to fine tune the markers dwell to match the required bolt speed, but in general use the BSC adjustment is as simple as dialling in the velocity on the inline regulator.
The Geo3 comes with a modified Propshaft and Can Assembly. The propshaft still benefits from the unique spring-loaded Drive Core but modifications to the Propshaft tip improve gas flow through the bolt and past the tip while still keeping the propshaft perfectly concentric within the bolt. This Drive Core prevents air-loss both on the firing stroke of the bolt, leaving residual, previously wasted air trapped in the valve chamber, as well as ensuring the valve chamber is fully sealed prior to re-filling on the return stroke of the bolt. This results in better efficiency and faster recharge of the valve chamber. The new Can and Bolt have previous pressure relief vents that were required for safe degassing of the old ISCIS solenoid removed. The removal of these vents results in less gas wastage per shot.
The Etha
For a long time I always thought one of the drawbacks to our team was the lack of a more affordable new Eclipse marker dishing out 500+ dollars on a new Etek isn't something everyone can or wants to do. The Etha changed that. it is a radical depature from anything eclipse had done in the past and operates more like a mini or automag than Eteck or Ego. They call it a "pull poppet spool" I would rather just think of it as inline poppit like a mini. It uses the SL3 HPR found on the Geo 3 Ego 11 and Etek 4 and the shaft 4 barrel
But what of the Etha itself? Well, internally the Etha is a radical departure from anything seen before in an Eclipse marker. For the first time we utilize a spring return bolt system in the firing mechanism, allowing us to simplify the pneumatic side of the marker and use a Pull Poppet spool to release air from the firing chamber.
The Etha bolt features dual-stage acceleration so that it picks up the paintball at a lower speed before accelerating further to push the ball fully into the barrel. The front of the bolt has a ramped rubber section. This extended rubber piece is both removable and replaceable and designed to flex freely in order to prevent clipping of the second ball in the stack as well as to be flexible on the face to cushion the paintball as its pushed toward the barrel. Both of these features work hand-in-hand with the Deftek Feed System and Break Beam Sensor System to keep any occurrences of barrel breaks to an absolute minimum.
The Pull Poppet that releases the air from the firing chamber is driven by a new, super-robust high pressure solenoid that is controlled by the fully adjustable PCB. The PCB controls the firing mode (semi-automatic and ramping), rate of fire, dwell and de-bounce through the multi-colour LED mounted in the rear of the frame. It is pre-programmed with modes compatible with all major tournament series meaning no upgrade needed wherever you play.
The frame, together with the lever operated clamping feed-tube, eye covers and the new OOPS knob are all manufactured from extremely resilient glass reinforced nylon. The Etek3 LT has proven to us just what this amazing composite is capable of: it is extremely strong, very tough, and more than capable of handling the abuse that even the roughest and toughest paintballer can throw at it. When it came time to specify the materials for Etha there was no Etha OOPS question that this material would be at the top of our list for these parts.
Inside the frame there are sintered brass bushings for the trigger pin to pivot on and a captured, fully adjustable leaf spring similar to that found in the Ego11. These components combine with the externally adjustable trigger to produce a crisp, smooth trigger action with which to operate the micro switch. And for the first time in an Eclipse marker the trigger can be fully removed for maintenance or cleaning without having to separate the frame from the body - it makes cleaning up after a hit to the frame a breeze. To help keep paint and debris out of the inside of the frame, the grip panels are sunk into the frame around their perimeter, they also use a clever upper locating tab that means that each grip panel only requires one screw to fix it in place making access to the board and battery quick and easy.
Thanks for your time guys, I hope it kills some time for you and if there are any glaring errors please let me know. this is for the guys new to Planet Eclipse and for people who have yet to grace these fine forums. If I get bored some more I will go into the various aftermarket upgrades that I know about and probably some that I don't.
for the record I have only played with the Ego 8 and 11, Geo 1 and Etek 3...and Karnivor if you want to count Eblades.
