How much is a typical servicing of equipment cost vs. cost of parts?
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What does that mean "must be pressurized to soak the reg"? how does one pressurize a reg? do you mean i can't take it out of the tank to soak/wash/clean and tank needs to be on?
The Seat Saving Dynamic Orifice requires the second stage to be pressurized (attached to the valve on the tank and the valve opened) to have the orifice and poppet seat make contact. (I got this from the Atomic website). This saves wear on the poppet seat and allows for the longer service interval, but could allow water in when the reg is not pressurized.
I used to soak my with the tank, but now I carefully rinse the first stage under lukewarm running tapwater, then I rinse the second stage, making sure it is not elevated higher than the first stage, then I hang the reg set up to dry, keeping the second stage lower than the first stage. I've had no problems in over 50 dives.
Ron
The Atomic B2 and SP are quite close in terms of magazine stats. If you were to evaluate true cost of ownership by adding the estimated servicing costs over the expected life cycle, the Atomic B2 pulls ahead in both total cost of ownership, and the likelihood you'll stay within warranty.
Of the two, I'd choose the one that your LDS can service. If your LDS services both, I would get the B2, but that's just my personal preference.
The other main difference is that the Atomic must be pressurized to soak the reg. If you soak the reg without it being pressurized, water can get into the second stage and end up in the 1st stage, required the reg to need servicing. The Scubapro reg doesn't need to be pressurized to soak the reg. Both reg's however require the first stage to have the dust cap on to soak the reg off the tank.
Ron