Adjusting the Interspiro Breathing Valve for Hookah Use

[high_order1]

Hi

Bounding comments: Understand how DANGEROUS scuba is, how TRIPLY DANGEROUS messing with a precision device such as a second stage is, and understand I am not doing this for others, only to myself.

Question:

I don't have the part number, but I am talking about the divator II style, where the... valve proper is on the divers' right, not the newer version where it is on the left.

I presently don't have a gauge. My preliminary thought was to adjust the airflow with the janky gauge on the hookah/surface/whatever pump, and adjust the... adjustment until it appears to not freeflow or refuse to open. I get vaguely the concept that on a balanced design, water pressure plays a role.

My concept of operations is, I really like my mask, and was thinking of getting a second valve for surface supplied. I don't have the money that a purpose-built one would cost. (If you aren't familiar with this mask, it uses a proprietary second stage)

My confidence comes from the fact that so many have written about adjusting a more typical second stage for use with hookah by simply clipping coils on a spring until they obtained the desired results. I suspect someone has already done this, and am not looking to reinvent the wheel. Or happily using a $20 chinese unit without real consequence.

I hesitate to hit post, but my curiosity outweighs my prudence

Here is a picture of the mask

Here's a picture of what is going on in there

Here is a picture of my current rig

 

[Mobulai]

piqued

E2A: any schematics of the lever mechanism part? It seems a bit like the Poseidon Jet/Xstream or maybe the Tekna 2100/Oceanic Omega in the bottom inhale/exhale pics but can’t tell; if either that might be quite nuanced to mod

 

[CG43]

There are two special features of the INTERSPIRO reg. shown in the drawing.
1). it is an overpressure regulator that delivers approx. 2 cm water column overpressure compared to the water pressure in membrane depth.
There are different opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of this system, but it is also easy to dismantle.
2). As already recognized, the main valve of the second stage is similar or identical to the Poseidon Jet/Xstream. It is a pilot valve design, and not a compensated valve
Then it probably needs a quick pressure surge of not too low a level for the first seal.
This cannot be guaranteed with a Hooka system with compressor and a long hose.

So you must first try out whether your INTERSPIRO 2nd stage is suitable for your hooka.
If you want to operate your Hooka electrically, you will want to use the lowest possible IP to avoid wasting energy.
So first test which IP the INTERSPIRO 2. stage needs to work properly.

 

[happy-diver]

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[high_order1]

I'm looking through the manuals now seeing if/how to adjust the pressure.

Far as how I see myself:

 

[happy-diver]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Magnificent!

 

[CG43]

After taking a closer look at the Divator MK II, I've made the following correction:

The second-stage valve is constructed significantly differently than the Poseidon Jet/Xstream.
It's not clear from the illustrations whether it's a pilot valve or a compensated valve.

The IP rating is specified as 6.5 bar to 9 bar.
For a similar or identically constructed mouthpiece version, it's 5 bar to 11 bar.
That looks pretty good for a hookah.
A significantly lower IP rating may be possible with a reduced air flow.

btw. Just for fun: what is the volume of your blue tank and did you actually manage to get it underwater?

 

[high_order1]

Thanks for the additional data. I can try and get a better description of the valve if that will help.

Sadly, that is not me. I was being funny.