Alternate Air Source and BP/W set up

[jagfish]

I'm not sure why I'm volunteering this, since I don't condone it.....

But the Atomic octo/inflator is the only one I know of that comes with a set of adaptors to fit a range of corrugated hoses from different BCs....

However, I agree with other posters here that these integrated units are have serious flaws in normal BC use, and with a BC such as the Halcyon without a pull dump, the problem(s) would be compounded....

Archman...
I've never heard of a deflator failure before. You mentioned the word "inflator" in your posts, but you mean deflator failure, I think, right. A malfunciton that resulted in an inability to vent air from the primary vent (which is actually the secondary vent for divers using the BC properly)...very interesting...

 

[Mandy3206]

There are 2 types of integrated power inflator and octo.

First is an inline unit that hooks between the LP hose and the Power inflator, just like the dive alert.
The other type is the Air II or similar that eliminates completely the original power inflator and replaces it with the integrated unit.

First type, I don't like it since it add another gadget too near to my face, add a dive alert and sub alert, and you my get heavy in that dept.
I prefer and use the Air II type, and mine is a clone (Duo Air made by Tusa)
It has worked for yrs and more than 300 or so dives, I perform the maintenance myself since first tech that serviced it added an extra Oring and I had to figure it out comparing my unit to my brothers original Air II.

Since I keep mine well "greased" all the time, I got no problems at all.

Some folks have pointed a concern with corrugated hose fit, mine has been installed in various rental BCs when I lend my regulator setup to my neighbor, just a few minutes work and a couple of zip-ties and that's all there is to it, haven't found a corrugated hose that won't accept the Air II.

The LP hose is another story, there are the standard size fitting, common to the inline type described above, second is a medium size fitting, common to the Zeagles and other brands that manufacture the complete replacement Air II alike systems.
Then there's the Scuba Pro large fitting which have the Air IIs and it's clones.

I personally would like a Standard fitting Air II clone, but I've to settle for what I got since I'm not planning on droping the system in the near future.

For the record:

1)My brothers Original Air II has been installed for the last 8 yrs in a DR TP II with the Travel Wings that came with the shoulder rapid dump on the corrugated hose.

2)My Duo Air has been installed for the last 6 yrs in my Cressi Aqua Pro 3 and this last yr in my OMS 45# Wing.

3)Neither of us have had any problems with them in all these yrs.

4)I dump 95% of the time pulling in the Duo Air and the other 5% pulling in the other pull dumps. In all these yrs, I've never had a problem "sawing" the inside of the corrugated hose and after reading this, I wen't and check the inside of all 5 corrugated hoses in my home (3 Cressi, 1 DR, 1 OMS) to see if it was about to fail and found the hoses in tip top condition and no "weared" areas at all and the SS cables are all coated with plastic from the factory.

5)The Duo Air seat is plastic and the Air II seat is bronze, all other components are similar in material and shape, probably interchangeable (I've not tried to mix and match yet)

 

[Hoosier]

I respect everyone's opinion on integrated power inflator. I know some members DO NOT like it, others DO LIKE it. I have used Air2 without any problems. So, my question is back to the initial question.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO MOUNTED INTERGRATED POWER INFOLATOR ON HALCYON ECLIPSE WING?

 

[Delta_P]

IS THERE ANYONE WHO MOUNTED INTERGRATED POWER INFOLATOR ON HALCYON ECLIPSE WING?

Yes. Air Source mounted on a Halcyon Pioneer wing. No adapter necessary.

Took it off after six months. In addition to some of the points mentioned above with air sharing and dumping, it was too easy to hit the wrong button during inflate/deflate, especially for a buddy in an emergency situation.

I'm a slow learner.

 

[DiveTub]

So, anybody actually has done this project? Besides Air2’s vulnerability, I would like to hear the successful story.


Thanks,

Well I have had a Zeagle Octo+ aka AirII mounted on my Zeagle backplate and wing, I am guessing I have arounbd 250 dives on it so far, and yet to have a service. Had 6 OOA on it in the last 4 months, thanks to gumby so called divers, trained in places I will not mention.

We usually guide around 4-6 people in a group at our Dive sites, it always amazes me that self preservation does not enter their minds when they get to 20bar in the tank without notifiying thier buddy or the guide :06:

Anyway I have never had a problem using the Octo+ it breaths really well, I don't have any problems venting air from the wing while sharing air and No problems breathing, seems there is alot of people out there just like bagging the Air II for no reason other than its not bungied up round the neck ?

Cheers
Chris

 

[James S]

Hello, Just thought i'd add my two cents on this subject.I use an Atomic SS1 integrated into a DiveRite plate setup. I have executed buddy breathing during an ascent (last weekend) and it is not that hard....IF YOU PRACTICE AND KNOW YOUR GEAR. Lots of people will tell you it is hard to do or you may "forget"what button does what, but (and I do not want to sound mean but) lets face it, diving can be dangerous and it does not matter if you are a "tech" diver, DIR, first time recreational or whatever. There is no excuse for not having mastered the devices that will keep you alive. If it seems complex, than train, practice, and drill. I do not feel it is all that hard, in fact it is laughable that someone can "forget" what to do or what button to press, they did not forget, they failed to train. Muscle memory (like turning on a light without looking at the switch) takes time to develop but through practice and more practice it is achieved. On the other hand I understand our lives are different. I dive a lot, but someone else may only be able to dive infrequently (BOO) and the level of comfort and skill will be different. My advice to you is a question. Do you have the time and motivation to train, drill and practice? If so go for it, I love not having the extra hose sticking out of my first stage, if not... do not buy the integrated backup regulator. O and by the way, proper weighting is key, last weekend I ascended with an out of air diver breathing through my primary reg and I swam up without needing to dump air, but prior to this event it took lots of trial and error to achieve the "perfect" weighting to allow my to do this. Whatever system you chose, do not wait for an emergency to figure out what you are going to do. Practice so when ( not if ) a real emergency does occur, you will be cool due to the fact that you have executed the procedure many times prior. Dive safe and HAVE FUN
\
James

 

[Hoosier]

Did you simply replace the existed inflator with Air 2? You didn’t replace the corrugated hose, did you?

How did you handle a hole for the dump on Air2? You just left it there without doing any procedures?

Thanks in advance,

Yes. Air Source mounted on a Halcyon Pioneer wing. No adapter necessary.

Took it off after six months. In addition to some of the points mentioned above with air sharing and dumping, it was too easy to hit the wrong button during inflate/deflate, especially for a buddy in an emergency situation.



I'm a slow learner.

 

[Mandy3206]

Did you simply replace the existed inflator with Air 2? You didn’t replace the corrugated hose, did you?

How did you handle a hole for the dump on Air2? You just left it there without doing any procedures?

Thanks in advance,

Excuse me for jumping in.

The hole is covered with the corrugated hose, I don't see any problems here, just make sure the zip ties are tight enough and test the BC for leaks, most common error is to not tighten the zip ties enough.

Use the heavy duty zip ties for this, the wimpy ones will break when tightening them around the corrugated hose.

 

[Splitlip]

and...the Dive Rite shoulder dump can be used in place of the stock Halcyon elbo. Run the cable through corrugated hose as you would for any other left shoulder dump to the Air II and you have a pull dump on the shoulder. Just remember to pull on the Air II and not your hose; the cable is attached to the inflator, not the hose.

 

[eelnoraa]

One big problem with using a air2 with a halcyon eclipse is there is not a right side shoulder dump which means you have to vent your expanding air on ascent from your BC through the Air2 or the bottom dump valve which is near impossible with a standard length reg hose. Its bad enough being task loaded while sharing air on a standard length reg hose but to have to vent air through a air2 makes matters worse. I kicked the air2 habit long ago and would recommend a octopus over the air2 if the long hose set up doesnt suit you.

On top of these, breathing from air2 require a much longer corrogated hose, which will dangle far beyong your body if you are not using it, assume you are in proper trim positiion. I would also advise against air2. I really don't see what you gain by having air2.