MR12111
Contributor
Hello . I have a question many of you have probably had already .. First just background .ex auto/truck mechanic turned scuba tech in the mid 80's ..Worked on a bunch over the years sorta got away from it when I became a Boat Captain .. Burnt out on the "business" a long time ago and am now thinking of seeing if I can enjoy being a "customer" diver ..
So anyhow going thru my gear and building my Frankenstein (dependable) reg and a question that has bugged me for years popped up again ... Intermediate pressure and the effect on air volume and cracking pressure .. I have 2 questions "theory's " 1. Higher Intermediate pressure will deliver more Volume of air ... Just seems so simple . I have always rather had the adjustment at the top of the range than the bottom of the Intermediate Pressure Range thinking it will deliver more air ...2 things wrong? with this ..Higher Pressure will hold the second stage closed more causing harder breathing ?? The pressure is what holds it closed until you crack the seal at the 2nd stage poppet .. And second ..just how much air is delivered in each breath ? will higher pressure really give you more ? I have seen the Regs. with dedicated primary ports and the bigger hoses but still only so much is needed at the second stage and to much pressure could make it breathe harder ??
Then on the other side .. I never tried this but I just might ... Use the lowest Int. Pressure you can per the specs .. My question is will this make the cracking resistance lower ? ..seems it should .. But then the lower pressure may not deliver enough air ?? If it's in specs. it should be OK ..
I have always just gone by the specs ..If the first stage has a screw adjustment ..I'd set it in the middle if the range and if it used shims I'd put back the same # of them ..Checking the Intermediate Pressure before I disassemble the Reg is important to reset it ... Hope I don't look like a total moron here ...Just curious ..the small range 15? pound of pressure range adjustment may not make any difference but I'm thinking of trying it ..
Any Help from you Old salt Reg Techs will be Appreciated .. Don
Capt Don with Divers Unlimited in Ft Lauderdale ..diving the wreck of the Mercedes ..
So anyhow going thru my gear and building my Frankenstein (dependable) reg and a question that has bugged me for years popped up again ... Intermediate pressure and the effect on air volume and cracking pressure .. I have 2 questions "theory's " 1. Higher Intermediate pressure will deliver more Volume of air ... Just seems so simple . I have always rather had the adjustment at the top of the range than the bottom of the Intermediate Pressure Range thinking it will deliver more air ...2 things wrong? with this ..Higher Pressure will hold the second stage closed more causing harder breathing ?? The pressure is what holds it closed until you crack the seal at the 2nd stage poppet .. And second ..just how much air is delivered in each breath ? will higher pressure really give you more ? I have seen the Regs. with dedicated primary ports and the bigger hoses but still only so much is needed at the second stage and to much pressure could make it breathe harder ??
Then on the other side .. I never tried this but I just might ... Use the lowest Int. Pressure you can per the specs .. My question is will this make the cracking resistance lower ? ..seems it should .. But then the lower pressure may not deliver enough air ?? If it's in specs. it should be OK ..
I have always just gone by the specs ..If the first stage has a screw adjustment ..I'd set it in the middle if the range and if it used shims I'd put back the same # of them ..Checking the Intermediate Pressure before I disassemble the Reg is important to reset it ... Hope I don't look like a total moron here ...Just curious ..the small range 15? pound of pressure range adjustment may not make any difference but I'm thinking of trying it ..
Any Help from you Old salt Reg Techs will be Appreciated .. Don
Capt Don with Divers Unlimited in Ft Lauderdale ..diving the wreck of the Mercedes ..