What 2nd stage regulator has the most units in use now? -not including rentals.

[drmayer]

Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate your opinions and best guesses very much.
Is there a way to create a poll on ScubaBoard to see the breakdown of which model/family of 2nd stage regulators our members use on a regular basis?
Thanks again,
Drew

 

[teknitroxdiver]

Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate your opinions and best guesses very much.
Is there a way to create a poll on ScubaBoard to see the breakdown of which model/family of 2nd stage regulators our members use on a regular basis?
Thanks again,
Drew

You can create a thread that includes a poll. What are you intending to do with this knowledge?

 

[halocline]

If I had to guess, I'd probably say the SP R190. It's been a popular primary 2nd stage for the Mk2 and a popular alternate for higher end sets. It's the least expensive SP 2nd stage, another reason for its popularity. I don't know if AL has a corresponding model that was as popular for as long.

If I had to choose what I thought the most successful 2nd stage is, considering longevity, influence on other regulators, performance/reliability, I would definitely go with the SP 109/balanced adjustable. There are thousands in service that are at least 30 years old, and that design became the G250, another classic in its own right.

 

[drmayer]

You can create a thread that includes a poll. What are you intending to do with this knowledge?

Hi Teknitroxdiver,
I'd like to standardize on 1 regulator model for my family and I, and be able to recommend it to anyone that might want to do that too. I know there are many features and occasionally newer technology that might be attractive to other divers, but I would think that a good choice of a model to standardize on would be the one out there that most divers purchased for themselves (not rentals) and has stood the test of time with many, many cumulative hours of diver's scrutiny. Some of the benefits I can think of are: most shops worldwide would be able to work on them, spare parts would probably be plentiful for years to come, and the regulator would most likely be a bulletproof performer if so many are out there being breathed on. Probably more benefits, those are just the ones that led me to ask the question.

Do you think many people would respond to a poll?
Have we had other polls like this?

Thanks

 

[halocline]

You'll find that most divers recommend what they use. There are many excellent regulators around, and they haven't really improved in decades.

I don't know how many you're looking for, but buddasummer (member of this forum) is selling a few G250 2nd stages at a very good price, and he's rebuilt them so they're ready to dive. You won't do much better than the G250 in terms of parts/service availability, proven performance and reliability, and cost.

The MK10/G250 was one of the standard technical diving classic regs for decades. I still use MI10s for my cave set up, even though I have newer 1st stages.

 

[drmayer]

If I had to guess, I'd probably say the SP R190. It's been a popular primary 2nd stage for the Mk2 and a popular alternate for higher end sets. It's the least expensive SP 2nd stage, another reason for its popularity. I don't know if AL has a corresponding model that was as popular for as long.

If I had to choose what I thought the most successful 2nd stage is, considering longevity, influence on other regulators, performance/reliability, I would definitely go with the SP 109/balanced adjustable. There are thousands in service that are at least 30 years old, and that design became the G250, another classic in its own right.

That sounds close to what I'm looking for Halocline. Was the SP 109 a precursor to the SP R190 too, or just the G250?

 

[halocline]

That sounds close to what I'm looking for Halocline. Was the SP 109 a precursor to the SP R190 too, or just the G250?

The R190 is a plastic unbalanced downstream design. It works fine, but it's not nearly as good a performer as the barrel poppet balanced design, which started in the older metal case 2nds (part numbers 109 and 156) and continued in the G250. I just guessed the R190 might be more 'popular' because it is cheaper and has been used in several different 1st stage sets.

I use the old metal case 2nds mostly; I like them better than plastic regs. But in terms of buying something ready to go that any moderately competent tech can service, the G250 is probably a better bet. The older regs often need to be converted to balanced with a different poppet/spring/balance chamber, and occasionally a new lever, and it takes some knowledge of them to figure that stuff out. I have little faith in most dive shop techs.

 

[drmayer]

completely impossible to determine that number. If anyone could even think about finding it, @cerich would. You could probably find out which ones have sold the most, but then you have to look at subdividing by model numbers. I.e. the Scubapro 109/156/G250/G250H/G260 are all essentially the same regulator, but all different model numbers. The big issue is you have no idea which ones have been trashed/scrapped etc. and no way to track that from the manufacturer. Very different than vehicles that are registered.

If I had to place a guess, and I wouldn't bet on it, but if someone asked me and I had to guess, I would guess the Poseidon Cyklon, and only because it has been in continuous production for 60 years and is the only regulator that has anywhere near that longevity. On age alone I would bet there are more of them produced than any other regulator. Scubapro probably could have them beat if they didn't change their model numbers ever 5 years, i.e. I'd bet there are more 109/156/g250/g260's out there than Cyklons, but it depends on how you qualify your search. If it's by brand, Scubapro, if it's by family, Scubapro, if it's a specific model, probably Cyklon.

That's very helpful tbone1004. Yeah, I wrote the end of my question wrong. I didn't mean to ask for an actual number, although approximate numbers would be very interesting, but not necessary for what I'm after.

 

[drmayer]

I have little faith in most dive shop techs.

Techs have become one of my concerns too.
So all 109/156/G250/G250H/G260 are balanced?

 

[drmayer]

You'll find that most divers recommend what they use.

What we use most would be a good poll. It's not exactly it, but might be the closest I can get to my original idea. I didn't search for polls. Has that one already been done?

So far I've heard mostly from SP users, which I appreciate. I've owned Sherwood, Cressi, AL, and Oceanic, but not a SP reg yet.