Atomic reg performance (vs other Atomic)?

[eelnoraa]

I have to respectfully disagree here, the seat saver is one of the most important features that make the Atomic regulators as reliable as they are compared with the rest of the regulators out there in the market today. I run 3 - 5 years between servicing my Atomic regulators, all models, without ANY issues. This is very different for other brands including SP. For the other brands, you need to service them and replace the ss seat every 3 years if not before. The seat saver features and the materials Atomic uses in their regulators make their regulators the most reliable regulators I have ever used and serviced while having the highest performance they do.

I also agree here. Seat saving is what makes service interval longer (not necessary more dives). When reg is not pressurized, the 1st stage seat is not in contact with the piston edge. This is true for any piston reg. But 2nd stage is different. Without some kind of seat saver features, seat are in contact with the orifice with full force of the spring. And usually 2nd stage starts to act up because orifice/seat don't fully seal. With seat saver feature, 2nd stage seat is relief from pressure when not in used. The disadvantage is when cleaning, a bit more attention is needed. Persoanlly, I havent found this to be an issue.

But I want to say, seat saver isn't unique to atomics. I used to have a 2nd stage, when not in use, I can lock the purge button in to release pressure from the 2nd stage seat.

 

[stuartv]

I have to respectfully disagree here, the seat saver is one of the most important features that make the Atomic regulators as reliable as they are compared with the rest of the regulators out there in the market today. I run 3 - 5 years between servicing my Atomic regulators, all models, without ANY issues. This is very different for other brands including SP. For the other brands, you need to service them and replace the ss seat every 3 years if not before. The seat saver features and the materials Atomic uses in their regulators make their regulators the most reliable regulators I have ever used and serviced while having the highest performance they do.

What happens on other regs, that don't have the Seat Saver, if you don't service them any more often than an Atomic?

My understanding has been that the seat in the 2nd stage might get a bit worn and start to slightly freeflow. And, if that happens, you can turn the WOB adjustment knob slightly, to stop that. Is there any downside to that?

One common on M1 exhaust T. I have them on my B2 2nd stages in blue. Yeah, they used to come in other color than gray and yellow. Honestly, although it is wider than stock B2 Ts, it is not a noticeably improvement in diverting bubble. Or I should say B2 stock Ts are already pretty good.

I have 2 x Z2 2nd stages on my Z2 1st. I put the wide exhaust tee on one of them and then compared them in the pool. I thought the difference was not huge, but it was definitely noticeable (to me). The upgrade was definitely worth it, to me. I bought a wide tee for both 2nds, but on reflection I think I might leave the narrow tee on the one that I use as an alternate - just to keep it less bulky, since I normally never use it anyway.

usually 2nd stage starts to act up because orifice/seat don't fully seal. With seat saver feature, 2nd stage seat is relief from pressure when not in used. The disadvantage is when cleaning, a bit more attention is needed. Persoanlly, I havent found this to be an issue.

But I want to say, seat saver isn't unique to atomics. I used to have a 2nd stage, when not in use, I can lock the purge button in to release pressure from the 2nd stage seat.

Yes, my SP G260 2nds have the ability to lock the purge open when storing. I just never remember to do it.

But, same question as above. If the seat starts to wear, it starts to freeflow just a tiny bit. Presuming your reg has a WOB adjustment knob, you just turn that up slightly, to stop the trickle of bubbles. If you want, you could actually spend 2 minutes and adjust it to stop the trickle even when the WOB is all the way open. So, what's the downside to doing that? I am not an expert at all, but I don't know of a downside, so I still don't view the SS feature as something I care about having.

 

[BoltSnap]

But I want to say, seat saver isn't unique to atomics. I used to have a 2nd stage, when not in use, I can lock the purge button in to release pressure from the 2nd stage seat.

Yes, this is very true but it isn't "automatic" in a very elegant and simple way. Some other brands I dealt with in the past had either a lock to keep the purge button pressed while in storage or a plastic piece attached to the front cover of the second stage that pushed on the purge button to relief the pressure on the ss seat.

As @eelenoraa has also said, the Atomic seat saver features has more to do with preventing the damage to the second stage seat done when the regulator is sitting idol on the shelf in storage and not diving. All other regulators without this feature actually make their ss seat go bad over time just by the virtue of the seat is pressed against the knife's edge while sitting idol when not under pressure which is 99.9999999% of the regulator's life.

In my experience as a dive center and dive school owner with lots of regulators around, the number one problem with regulators is air leak from the second stage because of damage to the second stage seat and the number two issue is second stage air leak due to issues in first stage (IP pressure creep). I see this issue (worn out second stage seat) with all other brands (including SP) but not with Atomic regulators. A piece of dirt (a grain of sand or salt) getting in between the seat and knife's edge will cause problems to both, the seat and knife's edge.

 

[stuartv]

A piece of dirt (a grain of sand or salt) getting in between the seat and knife's edge will cause problems to both, the seat and knife's edge.

It seems like this right here would affect Atomic more than others and potentially counteract all the good that comes from the SS feature.

A 2nd stage that stays locked up can't let a grain of sand get in between the seat and the poppet.

An Atomic that gets a rinse that happens to leave one grain of sand in there could let that grain get in between the seat and poppet, so that when the reg is pressurized the poppet immediately grinds that grain of sand into the seat.

No?

It's kind of academic, at this point. All the Atomics (except the T3) have a 2 year service interval, just like ScubaPro does. For casual divers who follow the manufacturer's recommendations, neither brand is going to have issues (at least, very, very rarely).

It really sounds like the Atomic SS feature is mainly beneficial for regs that get used a LOT - like by a full-time instructor or in a dive center rental fleet. And/or for owners who are only going to service them when they "need" it, rather than following the manufacturer's recommendation.

 

[BoltSnap]

My understanding has been that the seat in the 2nd stage might get a bit worn and start to slightly freeflow. And, if that happens, you can turn the WOB adjustment knob slightly, to stop that. Is there any downside to that?

It gets worse and worse. Turning the adjustment knob isn't meant to be a full time solution to the issue but more like a temporary band aid to get you through a dive until you get back up and have a pro service the regulator and replace all parts that need to be replaced.

 

[purbeast]

This may be a really stupid question, but when cleaning and soaking the Atomic regulators, why can't you just detach the first and second stages from each other so that you don't have to worry about water traveling up the hose from one reg to the other?

 

[StefinSB]

It’s amazing how complicated a simple task like rinsing an Atomic reg gets on SB ...

 

[lexvil]

It’s amazing how complicated a simple task like rinsing an Atomic reg gets on SB ...

No kidding but I’m scared so I’m using a zeagle F8 now

 

[saxman242]

This may be a really stupid question, but when cleaning and soaking the Atomic regulators, why can't you just detach the first and second stages from each other so that you don't have to worry about water traveling up the hose from one reg to the other?

Other than being unnecessary extra work, nothing would stop you from doing this.

 

[Couv]

Place a broomstick over a bucket of water and drape the first and second stages over it.