Quiz - Equipment - Malfunction - Regulator

[Pedro Burrito]

From the PADI Dive Theory Exam:

A malfunction in a ____ regulator should result in a continuous air flow.

I will post a daily question from my exams to help newer divers and to encourage more experienced divers to interact gracefully and helpfully with the newer divers.

Reminder - this is a post in the Basic Forum and it is a green zone. Please be nice and on topic.

Thank you for your patience while we try to give people something to discuss other than Covid-19 and/or Politics. I will post the answer covered by the spoiler tag later today.

 

[michael-fisch]

e. None of the above are correct.

 

[Ben_3]

This daily quiz thing is fun.

 

[HKGuns]

As predicted, pretty sure my streak is done.

ETA: Perhaps not as choice “B” is coming on very strong!

 

[Open Ocean Diver]

Should be true or false.

 

[seeker242]

The answer they are looking for is B. "Fail-safe" meaning you will still be able to get gas even with a malfunction.

 

[rhwestfall]

sidebar (learning moment):

In a downstream valve, the moving part of the valve opens in the same direction as the flow of gas and is kept closed by a spring. In an upstream valve, the moving part works against the pressure and opens in the opposite direction as the flow of gas.

Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

 

[tursiops]

 

[Brett Hatch]

Exciting! Looks like the Democratic Primary

 

[Pedro Burrito]

Spoiler: Answer

b. fail safe

One of the reasons that so much time is spent in the Open Water class on free flowing regulators is because most are supposed to free flow if there is a malfunction. That is not always the case, however. The most frightening one I have heard about is the ACD (Automatic Closure Device) feature on the Aqualung Legend Yoke which will fail closed if the ACD is not tightened to the correct torque.

Here is the recall notice from Leisure Pro:

Aqua Lung is conducting a voluntary product check of select regulators
October 16 2017

Aqua Lung is conducting a voluntary product check of select regulators with the Automatic Closer Device (ACD) yoke systems. The concerned regulator models are:

The Titan LX ACD Yoke Regulators (all yoke models with serials number starting with the letter E or F) and which have never been serviced by an authorized Aqua Lung retailer or technician)

The Core ACD Yoke Regulators (all yoke models with serial numbers starting with the letter E, F, G or H (and prior to H043301) and which have never been serviced by an authorized Aqua Lung retailer or technician)

The Legend ACD or the Legend LX ACD Yoke Regulators (all yoke models with serial numbers starting with the letter E, F, G or H (prior to H043301) and which have never been serviced by an authorized Aqua Lung retailer or technician)

For these regulators, a component of the ACD yoke system may not have been properly tightened to the recommended torque specification during manufacture. Aqua Lung is concerned of a possible gas flow failure during a dive when the regulator has been fitted on certain valves.

Consumers should immediately stop using these regulators and bring them to your nearest authorized Aqua Lung Dive Retailer or Dive Center. They will be able to identify if your regulator is affected and take corrective action to bring it back in to full specification at no charge to you.