Sticky purge button on Prana Genesis

[Wreck(ed)Diver]

Hey! So I just have a quick question about regulators. I’m a pretty new diver and have only done about 8 dives. 4 with my gear.

I have a Prana Genesis reg and octo and after my dive the other day, after cleaning my gear, I assembled my gear again just for fun/practice. When I pressed the purge button in my octo, the regulator started free flowing. I shut off the air and then turned it back on and the freeflowing stopped. I messed with it a bit and learned that I could stop it by pressing a finger over the mouth piece. It didn’t freeflow when I tried to breath with it either. Is it suppose to do that or is something off internally?

Thanks for the help!

 

[lexvil]

That’s how a well tuned reg works

 

[Wreck(ed)Diver]

That’s how a well tuned reg works

Sounds good! Thank you!

 

[James79]

Sounds good! Thank you!

To add to that, the venturi effect lowers the the effort needed once the inhale is started... and the higher the air flow the more the venturi effect. Many modern regulators can have a strong enough venturi on a firm purge to cross over into self sustaining (the freeflow you had). A reduction in flow (your thumb over the mouthpiece) reduces the venturi, allowing it to close.
Or, the simple version is "what Lex said"!