New back plate to improve double hose regulator performance.
Here are some links:
Vintage Double Hose • View topic - New From VDH (Universal back plate with vintage spirit)
Vintage Double Hose • View topic - Today
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/missourireb/Backplate/
Last weekend I tried the new plate for the first time with my dry-suit and a brand new Pegasus regulator. Oh did I mentioned that I was also testing a modification on the dry-suit in addition to the new regulator and plate… what could have possibly gone wrong with that.
Anyway it was a great day, sunny, air temperature 36F, and water temperature 46F.
The plate performed great. As expected, it was very stable in and out of the water. It was also very comfortable. I do need to adjust the shoulder straps a bit, but that was expected for being the first time with the dry suit and very heavy undergarment.
This Pegasus double hose regulator has a new Delrin (plastic) second stage. I did the drawings and designed it to be made out of brass, but it was made out of Delrin as a prototype and I decided to test it. So far it works great.
The performance of the Pegasus regulator has been consistently great. The cracking suction is very consistently down around 0.6 inWC. My next project is incorporating the lessons learned from the Pegasus into a new second stage for the Phoenix Royal Aqua Master.
I started modifying and redesigning double hose regulator (and also single hose regulators) for close to 40 years ago (granted I didn’t work on them for a long while), but the improvement have always been measure in decimals of an inch of Water Column. The real performance improvement is coming from shifting my attention from the regulator mechanism, to instead making sure the regulator body is actually touching my back and not moving.
Some back packs (and even harnesses) can allow the regulator to move several inches. A tank mounted BC with a loose harness can also lift the tank and inch or more away from the divers back. Those inches translate directly into increase breathing resistance.
For a while, I have been thinking of ways to make the Phoenix shorter so it would fit on more of the shelf back packs. Well, after diving with my small double and now with the new back plate I don’t think a shorter Phoenix is the way to go.
I like the performance of the regulator physically touching my back. To make a regulator breath easier, you would have to have it surgically implanted.
This is a pretty dive spot here in Maine.
I needed to raise the plate (lower the tank) about 1/2 inch and the shoulder straps were too tight. I should have known the tank was going to be too high when I notice that the crotch strap was too short. The dry-suit and undergarment is just very bulky.
Notice the new plate and the low profile wing retracted. The two pockets on the tank band are for weights. Depending on the tank I always add some weight on the band.
From this angle you can see that the tank was very high for my taste, being the first time that I used it; I have to make some adjustments.
With my dry-suit I like using the DUI weight harness to carry most of my weight. Did I say that I miss Cozumel…? :shock:
I accidentally put my snorkel on the left side. I always wear it on the right side, the old fashion way. It felt weird on the left.
In the water the regulator was touching my back, but it was not in the ideal position. It still performed great.
We did have some fish and other marine life, but this is not Cozumel. :roll:
Here are some links:
Vintage Double Hose • View topic - New From VDH (Universal back plate with vintage spirit)
Vintage Double Hose • View topic - Today
http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y44/missourireb/Backplate/
Last weekend I tried the new plate for the first time with my dry-suit and a brand new Pegasus regulator. Oh did I mentioned that I was also testing a modification on the dry-suit in addition to the new regulator and plate… what could have possibly gone wrong with that.
Anyway it was a great day, sunny, air temperature 36F, and water temperature 46F.
The plate performed great. As expected, it was very stable in and out of the water. It was also very comfortable. I do need to adjust the shoulder straps a bit, but that was expected for being the first time with the dry suit and very heavy undergarment.
This Pegasus double hose regulator has a new Delrin (plastic) second stage. I did the drawings and designed it to be made out of brass, but it was made out of Delrin as a prototype and I decided to test it. So far it works great.
The performance of the Pegasus regulator has been consistently great. The cracking suction is very consistently down around 0.6 inWC. My next project is incorporating the lessons learned from the Pegasus into a new second stage for the Phoenix Royal Aqua Master.
I started modifying and redesigning double hose regulator (and also single hose regulators) for close to 40 years ago (granted I didn’t work on them for a long while), but the improvement have always been measure in decimals of an inch of Water Column. The real performance improvement is coming from shifting my attention from the regulator mechanism, to instead making sure the regulator body is actually touching my back and not moving.
Some back packs (and even harnesses) can allow the regulator to move several inches. A tank mounted BC with a loose harness can also lift the tank and inch or more away from the divers back. Those inches translate directly into increase breathing resistance.
For a while, I have been thinking of ways to make the Phoenix shorter so it would fit on more of the shelf back packs. Well, after diving with my small double and now with the new back plate I don’t think a shorter Phoenix is the way to go.
I like the performance of the regulator physically touching my back. To make a regulator breath easier, you would have to have it surgically implanted.
This is a pretty dive spot here in Maine.
I needed to raise the plate (lower the tank) about 1/2 inch and the shoulder straps were too tight. I should have known the tank was going to be too high when I notice that the crotch strap was too short. The dry-suit and undergarment is just very bulky.
Notice the new plate and the low profile wing retracted. The two pockets on the tank band are for weights. Depending on the tank I always add some weight on the band.
From this angle you can see that the tank was very high for my taste, being the first time that I used it; I have to make some adjustments.
With my dry-suit I like using the DUI weight harness to carry most of my weight. Did I say that I miss Cozumel…? :shock:
I accidentally put my snorkel on the left side. I always wear it on the right side, the old fashion way. It felt weird on the left.
In the water the regulator was touching my back, but it was not in the ideal position. It still performed great.
We did have some fish and other marine life, but this is not Cozumel. :roll:
