R
Paint Ball Mini Gauge for Pony Regulator
- Thread starter UaVaj
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dumpsterDiver
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yeah it is way cooler to risk your life with expensive equipment.
Those guages are very inexpensive now, I got a few from Pirahhana.com and they seem to work fine. Some day the DIR people accept them and then the price will triple when the H goes on it.
Chris12day
Contributor
The gauge was not designed to work within the environment that you would be utilizing it. It may have a pressure range of 0 to 5000 psig at atmospheric pressure, but it is not designed to withstand pressures depth in water. It is also not water proof. It is not designed to work being exposed to a very corrosive environment found in an ocean.
Lets say on your first dive of the day it worked great. But now it has been weakened by its exposure to both the pressure and salt water. On the second dive, you needed your pony bottle, but now the gauge failed. You could be dead.
One of the reasons equipment is expensive is because it is tested for the environment it is used under. The extra design and liability costs are factored into the price on the pony guage. Thus, pay the extra money for the pony gauge.
Better to be safe, then in trouble at depth.
Lets say on your first dive of the day it worked great. But now it has been weakened by its exposure to both the pressure and salt water. On the second dive, you needed your pony bottle, but now the gauge failed. You could be dead.
One of the reasons equipment is expensive is because it is tested for the environment it is used under. The extra design and liability costs are factored into the price on the pony guage. Thus, pay the extra money for the pony gauge.
Better to be safe, then in trouble at depth.
Chugwhump
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That thing will cause you to tox out at 10' deep or give you the bends and you will die.
-or-
Maybe not.......
IJS.....
Chug
Used to be a paintballer.
-or-
Maybe not.......
IJS.....
Chug
Used to be a paintballer.
R
redacted
Guest
I have had a couple SPGs fail due to thy case leaking and this gauge is quite likely to fail in the same way if it is not sealed for UW use. But there should be absolutely no danger associated with this failure. Water will penetrate the case at depth and soon become visible through the glass. Initially, the water will have not effect on the pressure sensing and dial system. That will take days if not weeks. There is no reason to expect any real problem at depth and definitely no risk of life involved.
kanonfodr
Contributor
I wouldn't do it, I've busted a few of those gauges while paintballing (my Ion uses HPA) and have found them to be rather weak. They are most certainly not as robust as the 2" OMS SPG I keep on my pony bottle.
My point is this: Your pony bottle is a tool of last resort, meaning you want it to be as free of failure points as possible. Why try to shave a few bucks and install an extra failure point on your emergency life support??
Peace,
Greg
My point is this: Your pony bottle is a tool of last resort, meaning you want it to be as free of failure points as possible. Why try to shave a few bucks and install an extra failure point on your emergency life support??
Peace,
Greg
Chris12day
Contributor
jstamets
Contributor
Durability and water proof qualities aside, as a paintballer I can tell you that sometimes the paintball gauges stick. I would also question accuracy.
R
redacted
Guest
Once again, perhaps you could explain the failure mode of this gauge that would put your bail out gas supply at risk during a dive.
I have had these smaller gauges fail and agree they are not of the same reliability as a full size gauge. But all the failures I have experienced or seen involved flooding of the unpressurized area of the gauge which leaves the pony (and the gauge in the short run) fully functional.
OP
UaVaj
Contributor
Some folks just do not get it at all. 
This paintball guage will NOT put anyone/anything at risk. For the one trial dive. The high pressure parts will be FINE - end of discussion. As for the low pressure parts - that could possibly flood.
One of two thing is gonna happen.
(1) The low pressure part withstand the pressure of 130ft and we all been paying too much for "scuba" guage.
or
(2) the low pressure part floods (starting the corrosion process). back on dry land I toss the paintball guage - not "scuba" quality.
If someone already tried this experiment and knows the result. No point in wasting a perfectly good new equipment if the end results is gonna be a failure. Some kid who is starting paintball and strap on cash could make good use of it.
This paintball guage will NOT put anyone/anything at risk. For the one trial dive. The high pressure parts will be FINE - end of discussion. As for the low pressure parts - that could possibly flood.
One of two thing is gonna happen.
(1) The low pressure part withstand the pressure of 130ft and we all been paying too much for "scuba" guage.
or
(2) the low pressure part floods (starting the corrosion process). back on dry land I toss the paintball guage - not "scuba" quality.
If someone already tried this experiment and knows the result. No point in wasting a perfectly good new equipment if the end results is gonna be a failure. Some kid who is starting paintball and strap on cash could make good use of it.
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