Do I need multiple dive computers or HP hoses?

[bdeliashea]

Greetings all, I have been Nitrox certified for a number of years, but have rarely used it. I am thinking about getting back into it. I know not all remote locations offer Nitrox fills, so there could be a situation where I do some Nitrox dives and some air dives.

Due to safety concerns, I am putting together a Nitrox-cleaned set of regs (1st stage, 2nd stages, LP hose, etc.). However, I don't want to use a second computer, as that would compromise my nitrogen loading (or is my thinking wrong here?). So, my question is this: am I safe to use the same (air-integrated, Nitrox-ready) computer with both sets of regs, and just purchase an additional HP quick disconnect hose?

Is there anyone out there who does this? I would love to know!

 

[Scuba J7]

My primary reg set goes back and forth between Eanx and air. No issues as long as your not diving blends over 40% oxygen.

 

[tbone1004]

Greetings all, I have been Nitrox certified for a number of years, but have rarely used it. I am thinking about getting back into it. I know not all remote locations offer Nitrox fills, so there could be a situation where I do some Nitrox dives and some air dives.

Due to safety concerns, I am putting together a Nitrox-cleaned set of regs (1st stage, 2nd stages, LP hose, etc.). However, I don't want to use a second computer, as that would compromise my nitrogen loading (or is my thinking wrong here?). So, my question is this: am I safe to use the same (air-integrated, Nitrox-ready) computer with both sets of regs, and just purchase an additional HP quick disconnect hose?

Is there anyone out there who does this? I would love to know!

don't buy a new set of regs for nitrox. If you're recreational diving there is no benefit of having them dedicated for nitrox service....

If you're going to do it anyway, then just swap the computer back and forth

 

[bdeliashea]

My primary reg set goes back and forth between Eanx and air. No issues as long as your not diving blends over 40% oxygen.

Yeah. I just started reading some of the Nitrox threads. I don't want to stir anything up, so we'll just say that's a great answer! Thanks.

 

[RainPilot]

Lots of people use the quick disconnect option without issue. I personally wouldn’t bother with a second regset.

I see some serious simultyping going on...

 

[AfterDark]

I dive with 2 computers especially on vacation. Both are identical so they backup each other.

You don't need nitrox clean anything unless your mixes are blended while filling then your tanks need to be O2 clean. I used the same regulators for nitrox as I did for air.

After a few dive with nitrox I found it was a waste of money for me so now I'm back to using only air, with the same regulators. By the way these are not modern regulators but 40 year old Scubapro MkV / 109 regulators made long before nitrox was used for rec. diving.

 

[Compressor]

Agree with all above that a dedicated set is not needed. Your nitrox blend is at or below 40%. I DO have 2 computers I use when travelling and use them at the same time as in a multilevel diving over a few days, if one computer fails (has happened to me), then I can continue to dive. Otherwise I will have to be on the surface until my resid. nitrogen is close to zero.

 

[Blasto]

Oxygen cleaning is required starting at EAN50 (and then I wouldn't be very worried even for EAN50). For air up to EAN40, the same equipment is generally fine. Tanks are an exception, but it sounds like you rent them anyway.

The idea of nitrox dedicated hardware comes from the lower air quality requirements for air-only fills vs nitrox fills. So air is permitted to have a bit of oil in it (you don't want it, though!), nitrox isn't. The concern is then that oil will ignite on contact with pure oxygen or rich nitrox.

 

[stuartv]

I'm confused. Some of you seem to be saying that it's okay to use a 1st stage that is not O2 Clean with a tank full of EAN40.

Is that correct? It's okay to expose non-O2 Clean reg internals to 3500 PSI of 40%?

 

[jlcnuke]

I'm confused. Some of you seem to be saying that it's okay to use a 1st stage that is not O2 Clean with a tank full of EAN40.

Is that correct? It's okay to expose non-O2 Clean reg internals to 3500 PSI of 40%?

"Not 02 clean" or "did not have parts changed out and a shop charge you to o2 clean it"? What I was taught in my enriched air class (which matches mostly what I've read elsewhere) was that "almost all" regulators today are shipped/manufactured in such a way that they are cleaned for up to 40% air usage without issue and don't need any "special" cleaning or other considerations for use with up to 40% nitrox use.