Is it possible remove a SPG (Suunto SM-36) from the hose at the swivel, and without the spool, screw the SPG directly into the 3/4" port of the first stage (Scubapro Mk2)?
I am setting up a pony bottle reg and would like to have an SPG larger than the little "peanut" gauges mounted on the first stage, but I would rather not use a hose (not even a 7"). If so would I need to use pipe tape since there is no place for an "O" ring? I am going to clip the pony off to my chest and right hip D rings so I only want the LP regulator hose bungeed to the pony tank.
BTW- I just broke my doubles down due to lack of use, so let's not get into the "pony vs doubles" debate. A pony rig is what I need at this time. Thanks.
jrockosaurus
January 16th, 2007, 10:06 PM
i love that any more you have to first think about what all the "experts" are going to scold you about and state beforehand that you don't want to get in to that debate... i don't have an answer to your question, other than just finding an adapter that works, just putting in my .02
divebutt
January 16th, 2007, 10:42 PM
Umm.... bad idea. Firslty, using pipe tape and a connection like that, you're asking for a leak. O-rings are more secure.
Secondly, the purpose of a pressure gauge on a pony, IMHO, is not to know the exact pressure, but to know if it's full or empty. If you have to bail to a pony, wether its 2700 or 2900 psi won't make a difference.
Thirdly, a gauge like that is asking to be dropped and snapped off. Now, were it under pressure, that would certainly be something to see.
You're probably better off with a short hose - you can get 4"'ers in places. and mount it like that.
Just my 2 cents.
wmspdi
January 16th, 2007, 10:56 PM
I just played with my rig and found it is possible, and there is a groove for an "O" ring. You're right on the "break off" factor. Plus which direction the SPG faces when it bottoms out depends on how the threads are cut. Since I already own an extra SPG it looks like I am stuck with a short hose. Thanks.
wmspdi
January 16th, 2007, 10:58 PM
i love that any more you have to first think about what all the "experts" are going to scold you about and state beforehand that you don't want to get in to that debate... i don't have an answer to your question, other than just finding an adapter that works, just putting in my .02
I dive a DIR rig, and went through the debate once before, so I knew what was ahead...
do it easy
January 16th, 2007, 10:59 PM
Check with Tech Diving Limited (http://tdl.divebiz.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=14&zenid=651290da177fe8dac51564e81eec574b) They offer custom hoses and will probably make you one "as short as possible"
FIXXERVI6
January 16th, 2007, 11:03 PM
Since you just broke down doubles you have two first stages and two seconds, put an H valve on and use proper gas management.
Or rig the SPG onto the pony as if you would a stage bottle with a 6" HP hose and fold it back onto the first stage, I'm sure someone could link to some pictures of how that is done.
Actually here, scroll to the bottom
http://www.5thd-x.com/xducation/stages.html
oly5050user
January 16th, 2007, 11:04 PM
there are small gauges made for that pupose..no hose..lds should be able to have/get one for you.they are so small that maybe difficult to read...
Scared Silly
January 16th, 2007, 11:13 PM
Is it possible remove a SPG (Suunto SM-36) from the hose at the swivel, and without the spool, screw the SPG directly into the 3/4" port of the first stage (Scubapro Mk2)?
Snap, crackle, pop. I ain't talking about Rice Crispies. Divebutt is butt right about this. I would be afraid of it breaking it off if I tried this on a 7/16" port. Of course, if you really have 3/4" port on the first stage that is one burly port so you are probably okay :D.
Soggy
January 16th, 2007, 11:13 PM
A 6" HP hoses will do you just fine and (other considerations aside) it will be far more streamlined than having the SPG sticking straight out of the reg.
I dive a DIR rig because I like the gear setup, not to follow the rules set forth by some scuba gurus.
I dive on a law enforcement search and recovery team, in mostly zero vis, and my dive buddy is either on a 10' tether, or above me as surface support. As such I have to assume I am a solo diver and prepare for self rescue. I am also subject to rules set forth by the team commander and dive site logistics. We are not cave diving, deep diving, or wreck diving. We are searching for weapons, evidence and bodies. My needs are different from the typical DIR diver. Doubles rigs are not practical for us, but I am allowed to sling a 19 or 30 cf pony as a bailout bottle. An H valve is also worthless to me, I dive sealed regs and freeze ups are a small concern. I have already ordered a 7" HP hose.
drbill
January 17th, 2007, 01:54 AM
Almost broke a button gauge off my pony... am sure the suggested configuration would be even more vulnerable. Use a hose.
FIXXERVI6
January 17th, 2007, 11:48 AM
I dive a DIR rig because I like the gear setup, not to follow the rules set forth by some scuba gurus.
I dive on a law enforcement search and recovery team, in mostly zero vis, and my dive buddy is either on a 10' tether, or above me as surface support. As such I have to assume I am a solo diver and prepare for self rescue. I am also subject to rules set forth by the team commander and dive site logistics. We are not cave diving, deep diving, or wreck diving. We are searching for weapons, evidence and bodies. My needs are different from the typical DIR diver. Doubles rigs are not practical for us, but I am allowed to sling a 19 or 30 cf pony as a bailout bottle. An H valve is also worthless to me, I dive sealed regs and freeze ups are a small concern. I have already ordered a 7" HP hose.
I'm not saying your wrong, just curious why doubles and an H valve is worthless but a bail out pony is?
Doc Intrepid
January 17th, 2007, 12:00 PM
Suspect that the rationale is that an H-valve offers a redundant regulator, but on the same tank of gas. Low on gas, that second reg doesn't buy you much.
A bailout bottle, however, offers both a redundant regulator as well as a redundant gas source, ergo for the same investment in annual maintenance, PITA factor, and little more in weight you've planned to respond to multiple potential failures.
LLEA teams diving in black water zero vis may be said to risk a higher entanglement rate than the average diver...
But I'm just speculating.....
wmspdi
January 17th, 2007, 12:25 PM
Suspect that the rationale is that an H-valve offers a redundant regulator, but on the same tank of gas. Low on gas, that second reg doesn't buy you much.
A bailout bottle, however, offers both a redundant regulator as well as a redundant gas source, ergo for the same investment in annual maintenance, PITA factor, and little more in weight you've planned to respond to multiple potential failures.
LLEA teams diving in black water zero vis may be said to risk a higher entanglement rate than the average diver...
But I'm just speculating.....
That's exactly it (rebar, fishing line, cars and other junk you can't see until you are in it). If I have to ditch my BC (because I can't get free) I can unclip the pony from my harness and clip it off to a D ring I have on my weight belt (just for that purpose), ditch the BC/tank and breath the pony reg to the surface.
FIXXERVI6
January 17th, 2007, 12:32 PM
Then if its 0 vis why put anything on at all? just fill it at the surface, check the pressure with a guage and go, don't even use a button or regular SPG, eliminates a failure point by doing so as long as your diciplined enough to check the pressure every time before you splash, which should be done anyway so may not be a big deal.
wmspdi
January 17th, 2007, 12:50 PM
Then if its 0 vis why put anything on at all? just fill it at the surface, check the pressure with a guage and go, don't even use a button or regular SPG, eliminates a failure point by doing so as long as your diciplined enough to check the pressure every time before you splash, which should be done anyway so may not be a big deal.
Because I had the gauge sitting around, I could easily check the pressure at the surface without digging my surface gauge out of the bag, and I can read the SPG under most conditions if it is within about a foot of my mask. Also the "peanut gauges" are a little hard for my 51 year old eyes to read these days.
BTW- the reason we don't use doubles... our divers don't stay down that long, about a half hour before being rotated out of the water due to the "see saw" profiles we sometimes have to do. And then there is the weight factor. Remember back to your Rescue Diver course when you had to drag the diver back on to shore. Chances are you ditched your gear, or only carried a single tank. Try doing it again, only this time while wearing banded/manifold double steel 100s, over a rocky shoreline littered with broken bottles and cans. That extra 40 pounds on your back DOES make a difference.
