Apeks XTX50 or Zeagle F8...or other?

[ams511]

You guys make it sound like these regulators are way overkill for me huh?



Is there no difference between the 40 fitted with these knobs and the OEM knobs on the 50? That doesn't sound like a bad plan.

I could save a bit in the regs going that route but if I then need to get knobs shipped over and installed by my shop is it really going to save me much in the end? I'm not sure how comfortable I am messing with brand new regs (even though I'm sure that's a pretty simple mod).

I am not sure how much you will save in the end. I am just giving you an option, you need to decide for yourself if it is cost effective.

Here is the link to the :

I can't find the eBay seller so this may not be an option anymore.

 

[buddhasummer]

I can get OEM parts. Feel free to message me if you end up on that road. You'll need knob, end cap, micro adjuster and two O rings, possibly the pin.

 

[scubafanatic]

I'm ok not having the adjustment knob if they are really used as infrequently as you say. Do people really just set it and forget it? Is it that useless??
The only reason I like the idea of having the crack pressure control is that i can potentially use it to adjust and correct a freeflow or worn seat if need be. Or just adjust the pressure to taste... Is it really that useless? I really wonder how much people actually use them?

That's EXACTLY why I DO prefer to have 2nd-stage adjustment knobs on my 2nd-stages.

 

[Scuba Doobie Do]

The DST with a 5th port is handy for twinsets as it reduces the strain on the hoses.

I do really like the idea of being able to use an air interested computer at some point too. I guess most of you would tell me it's useless and I'm not necessarily looking to upgrade my computer anytime soon...I just want to future proof my purchase. That's why I was looking over the 1 hp ports DS4. Therepect of being able to add the 5th port eventually on the DST is nice too but it's at the cost of size/weight. I've always been of the mindset to pay the money up front and do it right.

I can get OEM parts. Feel free to message me if you end up on that road.goull need knob, end cap, micro adjuster and two O rings, possibly the pin.

Thanks that's really good to know. Can you also get service kits? Once I learn a bit more I might forgo the regular services and free parts and opt to start working on my own regulators. I'm very mechanically inclined so I'll want to learn about my regulator either way and from what I hear a well cared for apeks really doesn't need the service schedule they demand.

 

[ams511]

I'm ok not having the adjustment knob if they are really used as infrequently as you say. Do people really just set it and forget it? Is it that useless??
The only reason I like the idea of having the crack pressure control is that i can potentially use it to adjust and correct a freeflow or worn seat if need be. Or just adjust the pressure to taste... Is it really that useless? I really wonder how much people actually use them?

If you do not have an adjustment knob you are at the mercy of the technician as to the setup of the regulator. Some shops may set the cracking pressure higher than necessary because they do not want divers coming back complaining about freeflows. You can always adjust for seat wear on a regulator by taking the hose off and adjusting the orifice, there are videos of this on DRIS's website.

 

[ams511]

I do really like the idea of being able to use an air interested computer at some point too. I guess most of you would tell me it's useless and I'm not necessarily looking to upgrade my computer anytime soon...I just want to future proof my purchase.

It is your money, spend it how you want. If an air integrated computer will make you happy then go for it. However, according to Alec Peirce on YouTube, he says it is no longer necessary to have a spare SPG anymore. That the computers are much more reliable than in the past.

 

[Scuba Doobie Do]

according to Alec Peirce on YouTube, he says it is no longer necessary to have a spare SPG anymore. That the computers are much more reliable than in the past.

Now this is something I'd be interested to learn more about and hear more opinions about. I grew up rock climbing and we ALWAYS used redundancy so I kinda figured that even with an AI computer I should always have that spg...

 

[Centrals]

Apeks 20 and 40 series would need an allen key(5mm?) to adjust the screw, while the 50, 100 and 200 can be hand adjusted. So it is matter of convenience only.
I store all the 2nd stages with the screw all the way out. And before the dive I would turn it all the way in and then back off a few turns(mental note).
Finally, if you want AI computer then go for it. But I am more than happy with spg for the last 22yrs and see no reason to change it. BTW, I can buy several spg with the cost of one transmitter.

 

[npole]

Now this is something I'd be interested to learn more about and hear more opinions about. I grew up rock climbing and we ALWAYS used redundancy so I kinda figured that even with an AI computer I should always have that spg...

You should have always a spg, not just because having a redundant instrument is better than not having one (considering the cost, the weight and the hassle to have the additional hose) but also because of the confidence you're having by just knowing you can read a such important measure from two different instruments.

The safety can be perceived differently by different persons, so I can only talk about one of the many times I was relieved to have a backup measurement and it happened few days ago: I was at the end of my dive with a group, and due to some circumstances we accumulated some deco, it wasn't planned but it happened (it's not uncommon here, even while in recreational limits) and with a single (air) tank I had to calculate the remaining air carefully to decide what to do, completing the dive normally or switching to the emergency deco bottle, I checked my deco and the remaining air on my perdix and it was OK. I checked my Perdix again after 1 minutes and it shown me +5 bar of the previous reading at the same depth, this made me immediately paranoid, not because of the unreliable reading about the few bars of difference but because it never happened to me before, so I immediately checked my spg to be sure the transmitter wasn't going crazy.. and it confirmed the approx reading. If I didn't had the spg I would have probably ended worried (to not say scared) asking for an emergency air source to my buddy for safety reasons or I should have asked for the deco bottle because I had a good reason to not believe the numbers read on my computer.

Sorry for the wall of the text... to resume: I would never dive with a transmitter only, the spg isn't better it's additional, you could end to the same situation by wearing a spg only (!), so since wearing two computers (and two transmitters) would be much more expensive, and since a spg costs nothing, there's no good reason to get rid of it IMO.

 

[ams511]

Now this is something I'd be interested to learn more about and hear more opinions about. I grew up rock climbing and we ALWAYS used redundancy so I kinda figured that even with an AI computer I should always have that spg...

From what I gather Alec is not a tech diver, neither am I, so take what I say with a grain of salt. If the AI would loose the signal that would be the end of the dive. You would then surface following the info on the computer. If the computer totally stops working then I would assume you would use the either pre-planed deco or follow the info on your buddy's computer. The most popular computer for tech diving currently is the Shearwater.

My understanding is when tech diving you follow the rule of thirds. You use one third of your gas in, one third out, and save one third for your buddy. So you should be checking gas a frequent regular intervals. If you are interested in tech diving you should talk to local tech divers to see what they are doing and using.