Rinsing dive gear

[The Cosmicist]

Well, there isn’t consensus on this, but I’ll share what I do. My first stages are environmentally sealed, so I don’t see a lot of benefit to soaking the 1st.

I fill a large bucket with water and a bit of Salt Away (if the dive was in saltwater). I attach the reg to a tank and turn it on. 2nd stages soak in the bucket while pressurized. I cycle purge a few times during the soak. While soaking, tanks and 1st stages are rinsed well with the hose. After a good soak, 2nd stages are rinsed, then the tanks are turned off, regs depressurized and removed. The regs hang on the hanger to dry overnight after shaking excess water from the 2nd stages.

That works for me. When I get them serviced, it’s not unusual for the tech to comment on them being clean.

Seems like a reasonable routine if they are environmentally-sealed. What if you don't have any cylinders available to pressurize the hoses? My initial thought would be to put the dust "cap" on (I ordered DIN regs, so they'll have an actual sealed plug) and hang the 1st stage above the 2nd so water can't seep into the 1st.

Where does the first stage fit in this procedure? Do you rinse it at all or you don't rinse and don't soak the first at all?

I believe he rinses them: "While soaking, tanks and 1st stages are rinsed well with the hose."

 

[Belzelbub]

Where does the first stage fit in this procedure? Do you rinse it at all or you don't rinse and don't soak the first at all?

1st stage stays attached to the tank, and is rinsed thoroughly along with the tank. 1sts are all environmentally sealed diaphragms, so saltwater doesn’t get into the moving parts.

 

[BoltSnap]

I believe he rinses them: "While soaking, tanks and 1st stages are rinsed well with the hose."

Sorry, I missed that and didn't see it at all.

 

[Belzelbub]

Seems like a reasonable routine if they are environmentally-sealed. What if you don't have any cylinders available to pressurize the hoses? My initial thought would be to put the dust "cap" on (I ordered DIN regs, so they'll have an actual sealed plug) and hang the 1st stage above the 2nd so water can't seep into the 1st.

Never had it where a tank wasn’t available. If I did, I would definitely keep the 1st stage above the 2nd like you said.

Mine are all DIN as well. First two sets came with a Delrin DIN cap that can seal to the o ring. The latest came with a slip on cap. The cap is now in with the spares as I replaced it with an a real plug.

I should add, that I also volunteer at a marine rescue/aquarium on the Dive Team. I use their regs there. After each dive, the regs are dunked in a cleaning solution and then a rinse tank. This procedure is as much about preventing spread of anything from one tank to another for the animals’ health as it is about regulator care. These are all yoke tanks, but have rubber plugs, so they seal reasonably well. I still make sure the 1st stage is above the 2nds.

 

[The Cosmicist]

Yeah, that's smart. I know I'm new and everything still looks shiny, but DIN really seems like a better system to me overall. Rabbit trail... And @BoltSnap, no worries! You'll miss more things than I'll ever know about diving.

OP, thanks for your write-up. It got me thinking about how I should treat my gear, most of which is life support equipment. It's important, especially for those of us who want to keep what we have!

 

[BoltSnap]

And @BoltSnap, no worries! You'll miss more things than I'll ever know about diving.

And now how am I supposed to take that??????

 

[SaltyFrog]

Wait why does 1st has to be above 2nd?
And this is when both are under water?

 

[The Cosmicist]

And now how am I supposed to take that??????

Haha well I was trying to give you a compliment. You know, most people say, "You'll forget more than I'll ever know". I just modified that, to ill effect.

 

[The Cosmicist]

Wait why does 1st has to be above 2nd?
And this is when both are under water?

No, what we were talking about is that you'd keep the first stage above water on the side of a tank/box/trash can (rinse it with a hose, etc.) and keep the 2nd stage and hose in the water. That way the air in the hose keeps the 1st stage's insides clean. No water can enter the 1st stage through the 2nd stage and hose while there is air in the the hose and the 1st stage is above the 2nd stage.

 

[davehicks]

Ideally you won't ever submerge an unpressurized 1st Stage. If you can't hook it to a tank and pressurize the reg set then cap the 1st and just do a spray rinse with a garden hose or shower head. Water is much less likely to intrude on the 1st stage if not submerged. Getting water inside a 1st stage is just not a good idea and will rapidly result in unwanted corrosion that can impair reliability.