Another reg

[scubabear47]

I am starting diving off NJ and most boats require a redundent air system.

 

[Graeme Tolton]

At this stage of the game, it would be easier to get a pony setup. Later on when you want to move into doubles, you will be able to use the reg that's on the pony (unless you plan on taking it along with the doubles)

 

[rjack321]

I am starting diving off NJ and most boats require a redundent air system.

Ok
What sized tanks do you have right now? (if any)
What BC are you diving? Are you in a backplate/wing already? Or something like the transpac?

The simplest system that would comply with the boat's requirements and not be a longterm waste would be a 30 or 40cft aluminum cylinder slung like a stage. Whether that is optimum for you right now depends on alot of other factors, both gear, training, and future aspirations.

 

[scubabear47]

I have an AL-80 and am getting bp/w very soon.

 

[halocline]

Oh for pete's sake just answer the question and let the guy's mother worry about him. Learning to manipulate double tanks is hardly rocket science.

Yes, two first stages, two second stages. Northwood's suggestion about 2 identical regs is a good one; at the least make sure that both regs are high enough quality so that you would feel comfortable breathing off them for an entire dive. To me this would eliminate the cheap "compact" octos you see quite a bit on rental equipment.

Get ready to spend some money if you go to doubles. Assuming you buy another AL80 and double them up, you're still looking at $100 or so for the tank (used) $150 or more for a manifold, $100-125 or so for bands, then your additional reg, and get a set of hoses; 5-7 ft for the primary, 22-24" for the alternate, 24" HP for your SPG. With manifolded doubles it absolutely makes sense to configure in the GUE/DIR manner.

And that's the cheap way...start thinking about double steels and the price goes way up.

 

[rjack321]

Oh for pete's sake just answer the question and let the guy's mother worry about him. Learning to manipulate double tanks is hardly rocket science.

Yes, two first stages, two second stages. Northwood's suggestion about 2 identical regs is a good one; at the least make sure that both regs are high enough quality so that you would feel comfortable breathing off them for an entire dive. To me this would eliminate the cheap "compact" octos you see quite a bit on rental equipment.

Get ready to spend some money if you go to doubles. Assuming you buy another AL80 and double them up, you're still looking at $100 or so for the tank (used) $150 or more for a manifold, $100-125 or so for bands, then your additional reg, and get a set of hoses; 5-7 ft for the primary, 22-24" for the alternate, 24" HP for your SPG. With manifolded doubles it absolutely makes sense to configure in the GUE/DIR manner.

And that's the cheap way...start thinking about double steels and the price goes way up.

You forgot the backplate and wing (~$500). And the fact that AL80 doubles suck with a drysuit in salt water.

All of which is ridiculous if the OP just wants to go diving in NJ and get from 50 dives to 150 dives.

A single hp119 or 130 plus an al30 pony bottle would be ample gas for his diving for years and satisfy the boat's redundancy requirements and not kill him when some idiot partial pressure fills his tanks with the isolator closed and he's misunderstood the consequences of that.

 

[halocline]

Well, he said nothing about a drysuit, and nothing about his nitrox or other mixed gas use (or lack thereof), and he said he's getting a BP/W already.

The thing I object to are the posts that won't answer the guy's question because the responders assume that the OP has no business doing what he wants to, despite the fact that none of use have any idea how he dives or even who he is.

 

[rjack321]

Well, he said nothing about a drysuit, and nothing about his nitrox or other mixed gas use (or lack thereof), and he said he's getting a BP/W already.

The thing I object to are the posts that won't answer the guy's question because the responders assume that the OP has no business doing what he wants to, despite the fact that none of use have any idea how he dives or even who he is.

Ummm why do you think some of us are asking what he wants to do?

Sometimes 1 question just raises a whole bunch of additional questions about where the OP is and where they want to go. Asking if you need a 2nd reg for doubles would be one of those kind of question generating questions.

 

[WD8CDH]

You don't really need two regulators even if the manifold has two regulator fittings. If you are only using one regulator, you MUST rinse out and blow out the unused fitting after each dive.

In the old days, most double manifolds had only one regulator fitting anyway.

The important thing is to not dive beyond your training, experience and comfort level.

 

[WD8CDH]

It, of course, would be preferred to use two regulators. You could purchase a new or used first stage and attach your octo to it to make a complete redundant regulator.