Atomic question

[sus9nr]

I am trying to decide between an Atomic B2 or a ScubaPro MK25/s600 or S555. I heard 2 different things from different LDS about rinsing the new Atomics. I had an old one and just rinsed it normally or in the shower. One shop said that the Atomics had to be rinsed under pressure. The other said that it can be rinsed normally but has to be hung up afterward which is what I always did anyway. Which is correct?

If you have to rinse it under pressure how difficult is this to achieve?

Thanks

Susan

 

[Charlie99]

By "rinse under pressure" the LDS may mean that they recommend rinsing it while still connected to a tank.

The B2 has a "seat saving" or "seat relief" feature that extends the service interval by automatically unloading the 2nd stage valve seat in storage. When you apply pressure, the poppet moves forward and makes contact with the valve seat and functions normally. When you turn off the air, a spring pulls the valve open a bit, so that the seat doesn't get scored while in storage. This opens the valve, kind of as if you had pushed the purge valve.

I'm sure you have heard the warning of "never push the purge valve while rinsing". With the Atomics, whether or not you push the purge valve yourself, the reg more or less automatically does that itself.

I have a 9 year old Atomics B1 with about 600 dives on it. Never once rinsed it with a tank attached. I do rinse it rather than soaking it for a long time. Never had a problem.

Hope this helps rather than confuses things.

Charlie Allen

 

[johnny_bravo]

In some boats with a couple of long water hoses I can achieve the whole "rinse under pressure" schtick with my Z2...if I can't no big deal i do it in the shower (dont' soak!) with the second stages hanging well below the first stage.

Cheers.

-J.-

 

[liberato]

It is not so much that it needs to be rinsed under pressure but rather you must assure that water does not traverse from the second stage to the first stage (because of the feature Charlie 99 explained). Keeping it pressurized is one method. I just keep the hose between the two soaking stages above the water line of the rinse bucket (I lay a dowel across rim of bucket just to be sure) and hang to dry with first stage at top. You can also just do a thorough rinse under running water as mentioned, keeping first stage superior. This idiosyncracy is just something to be aware of but I have not found it to be any sort of inconvenience.

As someone who owns both of the regulator sets you are considering I can say you can't go wrong with either but the Atomic is just better made as far as fit and finish go and it is much cheaper to own (requires less scheduled maintenance).

 

[sus9nr]

Thanks for the information it just seemed really inconvenient to try and do it under pressure. I had visuals of a shower holder for a tank ;-) I am leaning toward the atomic my only reason for the ScubaPro is the availability of parts and technicians around the world. Since my last regulator was an Apollo first stage with an atomic second stage I had a hard time finding people to service it even locally. I did love the way the Atomic felt and I like the wider exhaust feature on the newer models.

Susan

 

[David P]

detail: except for minor upgrades (old style to jet style piston), non turret Z and material (titanium, monel, stainless) there is no new or old atomics. Their first design is pretty much their only design!