jplacson
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Just wondering... can you fit an Air2 onto any BC inflator hose? And is the hose connector standard? Thanks!
Alternate Inflation Regulators
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Just wondering... can you fit an Air2 onto any BC inflator hose? And is the hose connector standard? Thanks!
ew1usnr
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My Air2 uses a different size disconnect fitting than do my auto-inflators or Prosub integrated octopus.
I tried my Air2 at 150-feet and it breathed almost as nice as my D-400 primary. For these people that say their Air2 like breathing through a straw, maybe they need to have it serviced. It's not supposed to breath like that. I switch off to the Air2 sometimes during a dive and have no problem swimming with it. I therfore cannot see why there should be a problem breathing off it while someone else borrows my primary for a trip to the surface.
I bought my inflator-hose-integrated ProSub octopus to add to an older fiirst stage that only had one extra LP port. The Prosub saved me from the expense, weight, complication, and unsightliness of adding an adapter to provide an extra outlet. The ProSub breathes OK, but not anywhere near as good as the Air2. The ProSub is, however, less expensive, more compact and uses a standard disconnect fitting.
I tried my Air2 at 150-feet and it breathed almost as nice as my D-400 primary. For these people that say their Air2 like breathing through a straw, maybe they need to have it serviced. It's not supposed to breath like that. I switch off to the Air2 sometimes during a dive and have no problem swimming with it. I therfore cannot see why there should be a problem breathing off it while someone else borrows my primary for a trip to the surface.
I bought my inflator-hose-integrated ProSub octopus to add to an older fiirst stage that only had one extra LP port. The Prosub saved me from the expense, weight, complication, and unsightliness of adding an adapter to provide an extra outlet. The ProSub breathes OK, but not anywhere near as good as the Air2. The ProSub is, however, less expensive, more compact and uses a standard disconnect fitting.
JohnCollins
Guest
No, actually, it has a different quick disconnect fitting. I suppose the hose is the hose, but you buy hoses with fittings on them, so you need a different hose. If you buy the Air2, it comes with the LP hose already.
BTW, I just found and installed a nice corrugated hose on my Seatec Manta. It's about 3 inches longer than the original and is oval shaped so it lays flat against my chest. Just about perfect setup. Love it.
And the Air2 does breath as good as any octo at depth if properly adjusted, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. My LDS repair guy adjusted mine and it breaths great. It's basically the same mechanism as the Scubapro R190 or R380, I'm told. With practice for recreational diving, I believe the Air2, espceially if the primary is on a long hose, is a great setup. There may be very good reasons to use a bungeed octo for tech diving, and that's a very good setup anyway. . .but IMHO the Air2 is not inferior to the bungeed octo in any way for rec diving, when it is properly adjusted and maintained when it is practiced regularly by its owner.
jplacson
Guest
Hmmm... that's one of the things that bugs me about the Air2.. the hose connector is not standard.
But anyway, I'm not set on SP just yet... I'm also looking at Zeagle's Octo+ ... it might have a standard hose and connector... so I'll see which one I like better
Octo+ users... please give feedback as well
But anyway, I'm not set on SP just yet... I'm also looking at Zeagle's Octo+ ... it might have a standard hose and connector... so I'll see which one I like better
Octo+ users... please give feedback as well
JohnCollins
Guest
If they sell the inflator hose with the Air2, why worry about it? Why does a non-standard hose "bug you?" It's standard where it screws into your first stage. If it's sold with the unit, I can't figure out why you'd use another unit simply because of the standard hose when the Sp Air2 is pretty much the acknowledged king of the hill of alternate inflator regs??
Not arguing, just trying to figure out what the issue is to you. I think the TUSA is pretty well thought of, as well, and very similar to the Air2. Don't know if it has a standard hose, but it might.
JPC
Not arguing, just trying to figure out what the issue is to you. I think the TUSA is pretty well thought of, as well, and very similar to the Air2. Don't know if it has a standard hose, but it might.
JPC
jplacson
Guest
Oh, it's just a precaution... JUST IN CASE I might have to use a different reg set with my BC with the Air2... I'm screwed since the connector might be different.
I'm thinking, what if something goes wrong with my reg...leak..or something... I might have to rent or borrow another set... and then how do I connect it to the Air2 if the connector is different?
I'm thinking, what if something goes wrong with my reg...leak..or something... I might have to rent or borrow another set... and then how do I connect it to the Air2 if the connector is different?
The hose everyone else uses is a standard fitting that you can use for everything from your BC to a little gizmo that will let you inflate tires from a scuba tank. The standard fitting is what you would use with lift bags, etc. ScubaPro uses larger hoses with larger fittings for their regulators, including the Air2. ScubaPro obviously believes the larger hose is important enough to depart from the standard.
The fact that it is non-standard is a disadvantage for the reasons I have described, as well as the issue of swapping gear if one piece fails. I think it is a small disadvantage, outweighed by the positive features of the Air2, but should be recognized by someone thinking of purchasing am Air2.
The fact that it is non-standard is a disadvantage for the reasons I have described, as well as the issue of swapping gear if one piece fails. I think it is a small disadvantage, outweighed by the positive features of the Air2, but should be recognized by someone thinking of purchasing am Air2.
jplacson
Guest
Well... I think SP reason's were more commercial than anything else... something to 'lock' you down to their products. It's a small inconvenience so most people would just rather stick to getting everything from SP rather than mix & match.
I'm exploring other alternatives as well, specially the Octo+ from Zeagle. I will be using lift bags, and other standard inflator equipment, so the hose connector is an issue for me.
But just the same... will check out the Air2
I'm exploring other alternatives as well, specially the Octo+ from Zeagle. I will be using lift bags, and other standard inflator equipment, so the hose connector is an issue for me.
But just the same... will check out the Air2
jplacson
Guest
Ok, just got an email from Zeagle... apparently all inflator/octo combos have larger hoses (drysuit inflator hoses) to deliver more air.
Zeagle's Octo+ is Apeks' Octo+...just rebadged by Zeagle.
Now, I've narrowed it down to the Air2 or the Octo+ MK2. With regards to durability... have either of these 2 alt air sources been known to fail any more than a regular octo? Fail, as octos or fail as inflators... just want to know. Thanks!
Zeagle's Octo+ is Apeks' Octo+...just rebadged by Zeagle.
Now, I've narrowed it down to the Air2 or the Octo+ MK2. With regards to durability... have either of these 2 alt air sources been known to fail any more than a regular octo? Fail, as octos or fail as inflators... just want to know.
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