Dust cap off first stage while soaking regs

[halocline]

The only reason to soak in a tub is to check for air leaks. A hose wash down will get as much or more salt off than any soaking.

I'm not sure if you've read this thread, or the one I started in the regulator forum, but all the evidence leads to the opposite conclusion. Exposed threads, hard-to-reach areas in the ambient chamber...

Regarding the so-called "dust caps" and the often-repeated statement that they don't keep water out because they are called "dust" caps, this is another bit of dive shop lore that's based on nothing. Of course the caps are intended to keep water out of the first stage, what else would they be for? Dust....come on. Maybe when you start diving in the desert you can worry about dust.

It's very easy to determine if your dust cap seals; simply install it and suck on a 2nd stage. No air? No water intrusion. If you do get air, it could still be a 2nd stage vacuum leak or a seat saver in the other 2nd stage. So in that case you'd want to investigate a little further; probably the easiest thing would be to remove the 2nd stage from the hose, and try sucking on the hose. It's pretty rare that a cap in any sort of decent condition won't provide a good seal.

But, for the ultra paranoid who really believe that a device designed for underwater use might be harmed by soaking in a tub, or for Atomic users, soaking pressurized is the way to go.

 

[scubafanatic]

So "ACD" does work

And yet, here's a parallel thread ongoing about how a 'ACD' almost killed someone!

Aqualung Legend LX First Stage Failure at depth

 

[redacted]

And yet, here's a parallel thread ongoing about how a 'ACD' almost killed someone!

Aqualung Legend LX First Stage Failure at depth

Why would you write that??? Did you not read the thread you linked???

Perhaps you can explain how the described failure could possibly be caused by the ACD.

 

[BoltSnap]

And yet, here's a parallel thread ongoing about how a 'ACD' almost killed someone!

Aqualung Legend LX First Stage Failure at depth

Followed it from the OP and you are taking it out of context!!

 

[george_austin]

you should never need to soak a regulator, - just hose them off and rin water thru the second stage WITHOUT touching the purge button

 

[fmerkel]

you should never need to soak a regulator, - just hose them off and rin water thru the second stage WITHOUT touching the purge button

We got a whole lot of divers with a whole lot more in depth experience (over haul their own regs) that think otherwise.
But it's your reg, do what you will.

 

[george_austin]

We got a whole lot of divers with a whole lot more in depth experience (over haul their own regs) that think otherwise.
But it's your reg, do what you will.

Certainly glad I have your permission - hell, I've only been diving for 45 years so I'm kind of new. And who doesn't service their own regs?

 

[Dhboner]

I'm not sure if you've read this thread, or the one I started in the regulator forum, but all the evidence leads to the opposite conclusion. Exposed threads, hard-to-reach areas in the ambient chamber...

Regarding the so-called "dust caps" and the often-repeated statement that they don't keep water out because they are called "dust" caps, this is another bit of dive shop lore that's based on nothing. Of course the caps are intended to keep water out of the first stage, what else would they be for? Dust....come on. Maybe when you start diving in the desert you can worry about dust.

It's very easy to determine if your dust cap seals; simply install it and suck on a 2nd stage. No air? No water intrusion. If you do get air, it could still be a 2nd stage vacuum leak or a seat saver in the other 2nd stage. So in that case you'd want to investigate a little further; probably the easiest thing would be to remove the 2nd stage from the hose, and try sucking on the hose. It's pretty rare that a cap in any sort of decent condition won't provide a good seal.

But, for the ultra paranoid who really believe that a device designed for underwater use might be harmed by soaking in a tub, or for Atomic users, soaking pressurized is the way to go.

I guarantee you a DIN regulator dist cap does not keep water out.

 

[fmerkel]

I guarantee you a DIN regulator dist cap does not keep water out.

I can guarantee you mine (x2) have for over 15 years and a several thousand rinse and soaks. You must have lousy "dust caps".

Why would they not seal? If machined right (mine are aluminum screw on types) there is a shelf on the bottom inside that mates up exactly with the sealing O-ring making the same seal it would on the tank. Only here instead of needing to deal with 3500psi it's dealing with 1atm in the soak tank.

 

[oldschoolto]

If your "Dust" cap with a O-ring installed doesn't keep water out... You have the crappiest dust cap in the world or you don't know how to use it... Soaking every Regulator I have ever used since 1972, Without ever getting a drop of water in them..

Jim...