Which pee valve?

[wgmontgomery]

Hi!
I recently moved to Long Island from NC and, after one season of FREEZING, bought a drysuit. I'm having a pee valve installed before my 1st (not counting pool session to learn drysuit diving) dry dive I'm having a pee valve installed.

My LDS suggested the Halycon pee valve but did comment that the Halycon is $$ vs other brands. They (LDS) are expecting Dive Rite pee valves any day and stated that the DR may be a good option.

I read quite a few posts on SB about pee valves, and several divers seem to prefer unbalanced vs balanced. My question is...

Which p valve should I get? If the H is worth the extra $$ I'll get it. If not, what would YOU recommend and why? The LM valves seem (based on SB posts) to have problems...I read several complaints.

I'm open to ANY type/brand...I just want one that works reliably.

Thanks in advance!@

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Having used SE Tech (absolute garbage), Light Monkey, and Halcyon, Halcyon wins hands down from my experience

 

[wgmontgomery]

Thank you for the response! That's 1 vote for Halcyon...2 if you count the LDS owner.

 

[lowviz]

Pick any one of the first three choices. Install it yourself, do yourself a favor.

P-Valve in Neoprene Drysuit

 

[wgmontgomery]

Thank for the input! I was actually leaning toward installing it myself.

I noticed that you like the DR (your comment in the link mentioned the DR) valve; may I ask why you prefer it?

Thanks

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Thank for the input! I was actually leaning toward installing it myself.

I noticed that you like the DR (your comment in the link mentioned the DR) valve; may I ask why you prefer it?

Thanks

Possibly TMI , but I found less effort was required for the Halcyon vs. the Light Monkey.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I have a Halcyon and am not sure I like the "balanced" feature, as it leaks regardless of how carefully I maintain or replace the duckbill one-way/check valve that supposedly equalizes the pressure between the suit and the balancing chamber while not letting urine into the suit. At this point, I have decided to remove it and plug the balancing chamber, thereby turning it into an unbalanced pee valve. As I understand it, the difference between balanced and unbalanced is that you have to prime an unbalanced valve by peeing before you enter the water, which is something I always do anyway.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I have a Halcyon and am not sure I like the "balanced" feature, as it leaks regardless of how carefully I maintain or replace the duckbill one-way/check valve that supposedly equalizes the pressure between the suit and the balancing chamber while not letting urine into the suit. At this point, I have decided to remove it and plug the balancing chamber, thereby turning it into an unbalanced pee valve. As I understand it, the difference between balanced and unbalanced is that you have to prime an unbalanced valve by peeing before you enter the water, which is something I always do anyway.

That's interesting as I've never experienced that in the Halcyon p-valve that I've had for 3 years and haven't messed with.

 

[Lorenzoid]

That's interesting as I've never experienced that in the Halcyon p-valve that I've had for 3 years and haven't messed with.

Maybe I'm just a forceful pisser? Seriously, I don't know--sometimes I stay dry, and sometimes it leaks into the suit. After about 20-30 hours of use (about one year), I inspected the duckbill and noted it was wrinkly and waterlogged and likely not sealing well. I found an old SB thread discussing this problem, in which someone suggested that alcohol in a vinegar-alcohol sanitizing solution might be the culprit. It could also be that there was always some water remaining in the line during storage, as I have a quick-disconnect with a check valve on it that would prevent the pee valve from draining. So I replaced the duckbill and from then on used only vinegar-water solution or Steramine, and blew air through the system afterwards. It seemed to fix the problem for a few dives, but then it began again.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Maybe I'm just a forceful pisser? Seriously, I don't know--sometimes I stay dry, and sometimes it leaks into the suit. After about 20-30 hours of use (about one year), I inspected the duckbill and noted it was wrinkly and waterlogged and likely not sealing well. I found an old SB thread discussing this problem, in which someone suggested that alcohol in a vinegar-alcohol sanitizing solution might be the culprit. It could also be that there was always some water remaining in the line during storage, as I have a quick-disconnect with a check valve on it that would prevent the pee valve from draining. So I replaced the duckbill and from then on used only vinegar-water solution or Steramine, and blew air through the system afterwards. It seemed to fix the problem for a few dives, but then it began again.

Hmm. Well, I'll keep an eye on mine. Hopefully my luck will continue then. I can't say much else.