Regulators will flood when upside down?

[HungoverDiver]

I recently upgraded a lot of my gear, including now BP/W and converting my Titan LX system to long hose configuration with bought a Hog Zenith secondary-second stage. During a safety stop this weekend, I started doing some flips in the water, just to kill time, and I noticed when I was inverted that my second stage would flood. This would happen with both my Titan LX second stage and my Zenith, and pressing the purge button would fix the problem. The Titan LX was just serviced an the Zenith is brand new.

So my questions are:

• Are my new/newly serviced regulators out of tune/broken? I switched the hoses out at home, so maybe I've compromised them somehow.
• Is this something that can be adjusted, corrected? I don't need it be something that has to be fixed. I'm more curious than anything.
• Is this a normal part of regulator engineering? I guess exhaling while inverted allows water to flow into the second stage?

Thanks!

 

[Jim Lapenta]

It is normal. Most regs will breathe wet when inverted. Simple physics explains it. You put the exhaust diaphragm higher than the mouthpiece. You exhale and rather than the bubbles going down and water pressure trying to close the diaphragm while they do, it is now holding it open as the bubbles escape. It does not seal fast enough to keep all the water out.

 

[Subcooled]

Many regulator models have an exhaust diaphragm pointing down. This lets the exhaled gas to exit without letting any water in. Compare this to a cup upside down in water, or mask clearing (where you hold the upper edge tight). If you turn upside down then the exhaust port may seal, but once you exhale and it opens a bit, water will enter.

So yes. Regulators are happy to flood upside down. And breathing may be harder too.

If you need to swim upside down, get side exhaust regulators such as the Poseidons (eg. Poseidon Cyklon). Running one from right and one from left will result in one working reg in every position possible.

Another option is to be cautious when inhaling in inverted position.

 

[halocline]

No regulator should 'flood' when you are upside down. A few drops of water is normal, and it's not because the exhaust valve is higher, it's because a little water always leaks into the case when the exhaust valve opens to let out the exhaled air. The difference with being upside down is that the mouthpiece flange is lower than the exhaust valve, so that little bit of water drains into the mouthpiece (and thus your mouth) rather than out the exhaust valve with the next exhalation.

So if you got a slightly wet breath upside down, that's normal. But if you got a real mouthful of water, like enough so you couldn't breathe, that is NOT normal. That's what flooding means, so I hope that you intended to say you just got a little water mixed in with the air.

 

[HungoverDiver]

But if you got a real mouthful of water, like enough so you couldn't breathe, that is NOT normal. That's what flooding means, so I hope that you intended to say you just got a little water mixed in with the air.

I got a full mouth of water when I tired to inhale. Then spit it out while pressing purge and then resumed normal breathing.

 

[eelnoraa]

I agree with halocline. Wet breathing un side down is normal, "flood" is not. Maybe take a look at exhaust diaphram?

 

[LeadTurn_SD]

It is normal. Most regs will breathe wet when inverted. Simple physics explains it. You put the exhaust diaphragm higher than the mouthpiece. You exhale and rather than the bubbles going down and water pressure trying to close the diaphragm while they do, it is now holding it open as the bubbles escape. It does not seal fast enough to keep all the water out.

No regulator should 'flood' when you are upside down. A few drops of water is normal, and it's not because the exhaust valve is higher, it's because a little water always leaks into the case when the exhaust valve opens to let out the exhaled air. The difference with being upside down is that the mouthpiece flange is lower than the exhaust valve, so that little bit of water drains into the mouthpiece (and thus your mouth) rather than out the exhaust valve with the next exhalation.

So if you got a slightly wet breath upside down, that's normal. But if you got a real mouthful of water, like enough so you couldn't breathe, that is NOT normal. That's what flooding means, so I hope that you intended to say you just got a little water mixed in with the air.

Ok, I'm rattling what both of you said around in my one-size-too-small brain, and I'm just not sure, or confused, or both

1.) Properly functioning 2nd stages absolutely should not "flood" when inverted. Wet breathing sure, but true flooding no. So we can easily check "flooding" off the list.

2.) But as to position-related "leaking" of the exhaust valve, I had believed (possibly incorrectly!!) that when the exhaust valve is positioned near the top of the 2nd stage (by being inverted) the amount of water "seeping" past the valve during exhalation would increase, thus "wet" breathing.

It seems to me like position should effect how much water can seep past the exhaust valve, but I can also see Halocline's point.

Color me confused.

To the OP: More than likely there is nothing wrong with your 2nd stages. As already mentioned, just inhale a little "carefully" when inverted.

Best wishes

 

[divad]

As already mentioned, just inhale a little "carefully" when inverted.

Or just stop doing flips.

 

[mjrob]

I've watched my son spend virtually entire dives upside down and he just keeps making bubbles. My Atomic doesn't care what orientation I might happen to be in. Some others aren't quite as forgiving. Yours seems to be broken in some way; service might be in order.

 

[divad]

I've watched my son spend virtually entire dives upside down and he just keeps making bubbles.

What is he, from Nebraska or something?