rescuediver009
Contributor
wow wow, wow.
Too many questions in a row, and no one answering. The guy with the LPO, I think that the problem is that whoever set it is tried to get it to perform too well, by loosening it just to just before freeflow. Now this is where the overbalanced second stage comes in to be a pain in the @#$%. You remember all that stuff about the intermediate pressure increasing as you go deeper? well the octo was so close to the point of freeflow (the spring pressure was just enough to hold the air back) that when the air pressure behind the seat in the second stage increased just a little, it caused a trickle and then a freeflow. I think that is kinda easy to understand right?
As for what is a balanced second stage? IT is one that allows a very little bit of air to pass through, instead of hitting a dead end on the seat in the second stage. Instead some of the air travels through the seat to help the spring push back on it. the regulator is then adjusted with the spring and little boost of air on one side, pushing against the larger surface area of air on the other side. The more the intermediate pressure increases from the tank, the more air that will get through and 'help' the spring to hold the seat shut at the deeper depths.
This is exactly why you want a balanced second stage with an overbalanced first stage. I know how hard it was understandin things before I started rippin' into regs and stuff. So I hope this helps....
Too many questions in a row, and no one answering. The guy with the LPO, I think that the problem is that whoever set it is tried to get it to perform too well, by loosening it just to just before freeflow. Now this is where the overbalanced second stage comes in to be a pain in the @#$%. You remember all that stuff about the intermediate pressure increasing as you go deeper? well the octo was so close to the point of freeflow (the spring pressure was just enough to hold the air back) that when the air pressure behind the seat in the second stage increased just a little, it caused a trickle and then a freeflow. I think that is kinda easy to understand right?
As for what is a balanced second stage? IT is one that allows a very little bit of air to pass through, instead of hitting a dead end on the seat in the second stage. Instead some of the air travels through the seat to help the spring push back on it. the regulator is then adjusted with the spring and little boost of air on one side, pushing against the larger surface area of air on the other side. The more the intermediate pressure increases from the tank, the more air that will get through and 'help' the spring to hold the seat shut at the deeper depths.
This is exactly why you want a balanced second stage with an overbalanced first stage. I know how hard it was understandin things before I started rippin' into regs and stuff. So I hope this helps....
