Nitrox BCD Question

[DennisC]

Ok, so this might be a dumb question but it is something I have been wondering about recently and decided to try and find out the answer. I know that when you dive nitrox you have to have all your regs O2 cleaned and not use regular air with them. Is there anything you have to do with your BCD? I plan to get 2 different sets of regs one for nitrox and one for air, but would I need to get a different BCD for nitrox as well? or is this not a real problem? Thanks

 

[ekremer]

The only thing that needs to have any type of special cleaning is the tank, and that is only if the shop fills with 100% o2 and dilutes with air. Everything else on the market today that I know of can handle 40% or less EANx.

 

[JohnN]

Ok, so this might be a dumb question but it is something I have been wondering about recently and decided to try and find out the answer. I know that when you dive nitrox you have to have all your regs O2 cleaned and not use regular air with them. Is there anything you have to do with your BCD? I plan to get 2 different sets of regs one for nitrox and one for air, but would I need to get a different BCD for nitrox as well? or is this not a real problem? Thanks

All will become clear when you take your Nitrox course, but hold off on those purchases. Nothing needs to be done up to EAN40 (that's all your course will certify you for)

 

[DennisC]

i already took the course, im just trying to clear somethings up. So if i get something that is says its ready for up to 40% O2. I can use that and switch between nitrox and air whenever i want?

 

[JohnN]

i already took the course, im just trying to clear somethings up. So if i get something that is says its ready for up to 40% O2. I can use that and switch between nitrox and air whenever i want?

Yes and you should strongly consider reviewing your course materials.

Are you certain you know to calculate your MOD?

 

[rongoodman]

Don't forget to get your snorkel O2 cleaned .

 

[DennisC]

Yes and you should strongly consider reviewing your course materials.

Are you certain you know to calculate your MOD?

you dont have to be a dickhead, i was just asking a question. Thanks for answering, sorry were not all as brilliantly smart as you.....

 

[kotik]

Sometimes it's hard to find any love :blinking:

40% or less won't cause any harm to any of your stuff, and there's no issue with using the same regulator for nitrox up to 40% sometimes and plain old air at other times. The only possible concern might be with a tank, in case you get it filled at a shop that blends in pure oxygen to mix the nitrox, which is called partial pressure blending. If your shop does continuous blending though, or if they fill from a nitrox bank, then O2 cleaning the tank is not necessary, and you can use the same tank for nitrox as you do for standard air fills.

If you own a tank, and if there's a chance you'll get nitrox fills from a shop that does partial pressure blending, then your tank should be O2 cleaned and you have to be sure not to get fills from any source that's not ultra clean, or else it compromises the cleaning. I don't think that many places do partial pressure blending for nitrox any more though, so you're probably good.

 

[DennisC]

thanks kotik, thats all I was looking for in this thread.

 

[redacted]

What nitrox course did you take and where? There was a time when some manufacturers tried to make divers believe that they needed seperate regulators for air and nitrox. Unfortunately, it would not surprise me if there were still some shops teaching that nonsense in order to get the extra sales.