Intermediate Pressure Guage

[divad]

There is a current thread on how often a reg should be inspected,
Regulator annual inspection.

LeisurePro is selling IPG's for $18.70, Intermediate Pressure Gauge Plugs Into The BCD Quick Disconnect Hose | LeisurePro

Easy to learn what the gauge is telling you.

This is clearly the better deal on the same gauge from DGE:

+ Enlarge

In Stock $7.95

 

[rhwestfall]

though I've been (naively?) assuming my annual service would keep the IP in line.

which might be unnecessary (annual service) unless you are tied to some warranty...... hence possibly saving money

 

[divad]

The value of having this information is obvious, though I've been (naively?) assuming my annual service would keep the IP in line.

Yes......naively.

 

[3D diver]

which might be unnecessary (annual service) unless you are tied to some warranty...... hence possibly saving money

Got my regulators in 1982, more-or-less, so the warranty is long gone...

I use the term annual a bit loosely, too.

 

[chrpai]

It's not submersible.

I'd say weekly to monthly for me. I generally do it when setting my gear up but if I forget a time or two it's ok.

 

[tplyons]

Just picked one up... I've been needing a few small things from DGE. Tossed on a more spare Viton O-rings and it made my order worth while.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[redacted]

I'm an engineer, so love accumulating data & I'm a tool guy, so rarely pass up a tool I might need.

The value of having this information is obvious, though I've been (naively?) assuming my annual service would keep the IP in line.

If the IP is not "out of line", why are you having your regs serviced? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[halocline]

I don't suppose anyone monitors this while actually diving?

Not unless they have:
1. A submersible IP gauge
2. A place to plug it in without disabling the inflator
3. A very techno-geek attitude that would result in having more interest in your reg's IP than the dive itself.

Now, if someone did manage to check off those requirements and dive with an IP gauge connected, they'd get some interesting info. First, absolute IP rises so that it maintains a constant level above ambient pressure, so the gauge 'should' show, for example, 130 at the surface, 145 at 33ft, 160 at 66ft, etc.....but I'm not sure if a regular IP gauge reads pressure in relation to ambient. Interesting to see how that would go, I suspect someone else would have a better idea than I. Another interesting thing to see would be the amount of IP drop and rate of recovery as depth increases. The 1st stage is working harder to maintain flow at the higher IP and ambient pressures as depth increases. My guess is that a entry level, lower performing 1st would start to show more serious IP drop during demand and slower recovery. I bet a high performing balanced piston like the MK20/25 or atomic would show essentially zero difference in IP drop at anything like recreational depths.

Since you're an engineer, I nominate you to try this experiment and video record it!

 

[phoenix31tt]

If the IP is not "out of line", why are you having your regs serviced? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

this is not meant to be a ridiculous question...

Is IP being "out of line" the only time a regulator would need to be serviced? (let's assume that I'm following the Regulator inspection and checklist and everything else is fine)

 

[Fishpie]

......if everything else is good then, yes, no need to service.