Atomic T2 Interchangeable with Air and Nitrox?

[judypots]

My husband and I have the Atomic T2 regulators that we have been using with air since we purchased them. We have become interested in using Nitrox, but the Atomic owners manual says the T2 must be dedicated to air or nitrox only. In researching this, I found a website, scubamarketusa.com, that claims that the T2 is interchangeable with air or Nitrox to 40% without dedication. Does anyone have experience using a T2 (not the T2x) with both air and nitrox? Thanks.

 

[a22shady]

As far as I know the Answer is NO they are not. The new T2X are though. I think you may be able to go get the T2 02 cleaned but then they are for use only with Nitrox can not switch back and fourth. But again I believe the new T2X they fixed that Problem. I had just spoke about this with Atomic the other day and believe hats how he explained it. Do yourself a Favor and Call Atomic Aquatics directly there number is on the website very easy to get ahold of. Ask the right person directly this way there is no question

 

[scubafanatic]

...a few months ago I bought a barely used 2008 T2, including the owner's manual, and I just reviewed the owner's manual.....Atomic is making the assumption that 'air' is 'dirty' and will leave hydrocarbon residue on the inside of your T2 reg, thus switching from 'air' to NITROX could cause a fire within the reg as the higher concentration of O2, under high pressure, comes in contact with titanium. If however, your 'air' fills are of a pure enough quality, meeting the correct level of purity, THEN the reg won't ever be 'dirty' enough on the inside to cause a hydrocarbon residue flash fire if you then switch to NITROX.

 

[scubafanatic]

As far as I know the Answer is NO they are not. The new T2X are though. I think you may be able to go get the T2 02 cleaned but then they are for use only with Nitrox can not switch back and fourth. But again I believe the new T2X they fixed that Problem. I had just spoke about this with Atomic the other day and believe hats how he explained it. Do yourself a Favor and Call Atomic Aquatics directly there number is on the website very easy to get ahold of. Ask the right person directly this way there is no question

...I remember reading that recent thread, and I don't remember anything special being done to the 'new' T2X that makes it better/more suitable for NITROX usage than the 'old' T2. BOTH regs are still made from titanium, both regs could suffer the same hydrocarbon fire if exposed to 'dirty' air fills and then switched to NITOX fills involving high pressures and higher concentrations of oxygen.

 

[RJP]

...a few months ago I bought a barely used 2008 T2, including the owner's manual, and I just reviewed the owner's manual.....Atomic is making the assumption that 'air' is 'dirty' and will leave hydrocarbon residue on the inside of your T2 reg, thus switching from 'air' to NITROX could cause a fire within the reg as the higher concentration of O2, under high pressure, comes in contact with titanium. If however, your 'air' fills are of a pure enough quality, meeting the correct level of purity, THEN the reg won't ever be 'dirty' enough on the inside to cause a hydrocarbon residue flash fire if you then switch to NITROX.

Perhaps the thinking is that anyone who doesn't mind paying way too much for a regulator, will happily pay nitrox rates for a fill with "clean" air?

 

[scubafanatic]

Perhaps the thinking is that anyone who doesn't mind paying way too much for a regulator, will happily pay nitrox rates for a fill with "clean" air?

...no worries, I only paid $ 850 for $ 1850 worth of regulator, which I thought was a decent enough 'discount', which frees up enough spare change for me to go and buy a bunch of overpriced 'clean' air fills...luckily I don't have any REALLY expensive hobbies to blow my $ on, like say, watch collecting.......

 

[diversteve]

but the Atomic owners manual says the T2 must be dedicated to air or nitrox only. In researching this, I found a website, scubamarketusa.com, that claims that the T2 is interchangeable with air or Nitrox to 40% without dedication. does anyone have experience using a T2 (not the T2x) with both air and nitrox?

The logical question is who to believe - a website that (I believe) is affiliated with an LDS in Georgia or the Manufacturer?

...I remember reading that recent thread, and I don't remember anything special being done to the 'new' T2X that makes it better/more suitable for NITROX usage than the 'old' T2.

New T2x for non-dedicated EAN use with mixtures up to 40%

From: Atomic Aquatics T2 Regulator (Atomic needs to update their webpage title..)

 

[halocline]

...no worries, I only paid $ 850 for $ 1850 worth of regulator,

I think the most expensive single hose reg I ever bought was about $200 for a new MK2/R190 at my LDS right when I got certified. Since then, I've paid about $80 for a MK10/G250, $54 for a MK10/D300 (great deal), maybe as much as $40 each for my MK5s, some with 2nd stages, I think $75 for my MK15 (an under-rated reg IMO), etc.

Of course you'd have add in the cost of some rebuild kits, o-rings, a few parts, and some tools. But I bet the whole lot, meaning 6 first stages and 10 second stage, the tools and the parts, cost less than $850.

Different perspectives, I guess.

I suppose the answer for owners of the T2 is to always use grade "E" (is that right?) air, meaning air that meets high O2 use specs. But I think that also means always using tanks that are O2 clean. Try that one at a caribbean dive op. Considering that the main appeal of these regs is travel weight, it's definitely a problem.

Another brilliant move on the part of the dive gear industry. Sell 'em a $1000+ reg, then sell 'em a another one to use with nitrox.

To the OP, I would suggest getting rid of the T2 and buying a brass atomic; you'll never be able to tell the difference, you'll solve your nitrox problem, and you might just about break even.

It could be that there is absolutely no difference between the T2 (which you supposedly cannot switch between air and nitrox) and the T2X (which you supposedly can). Wouldn't that be a neat trick? If there is a difference I'd be interested in knowing about it...maybe someone can post what it is exactly about the updated model that's different.

Thinking about the actual issue, as opposed to what atomic says, remember that the real problem with combustion is in higher percentages of O2 above 40%. So technically there is no such thing as a "nitrox clean" regulator. I doubt there's a real-world problem using a Ti reg for recreational blends, and I'd be suspicious of any danger in the absence of any actual evidence of combustion. Have there been any incidents?

 

[scubafanatic]

The logical question is who to believe - a website that (I believe) is affiliated with an LDS in Georgia or the Manufacturer? Seriously?


From: Atomic Aquatics T2 Regulator (Atomic needs to update their webpage title..)

...much as I like Atomic (dive their regs....dive their masks....will likely soon be buying their new dive computers) I don't mindlessly believe ANYONE'S marketing hype......and I want to see/know EXACTLY what technology/materials endow the T2X with the magical properties attributed to it that are supposedly not incorporated in the 'older' T2 series.......is it Kryptonite......Marvel's Mystery Oil....magic pixie dust ???

 

[scubafanatic]

I think the most expensive single hose reg I ever bought was about $200 for a new MK2/R190 at my LDS right when I got certified. Since then, I've paid about $80 for a MK10/G250, $54 for a MK10/D300 (great deal), maybe as much as $40 each for my MK5s, some with 2nd stages, I think $75 for my MK15 (an under-rated reg IMO), etc.

Of course you'd have add in the cost of some rebuild kits, o-rings, a few parts, and some tools. But I bet the whole lot, meaning 6 first stages and 10 second stage, the tools and the parts, cost less than $850.

Different perspectives, I guess.

I suppose the answer for owners of the T2 is to always use grade "E" (is that right?) air, meaning air that meets high O2 use specs. But I think that also means always using tanks that are O2 clean. Try that one at a caribbean dive op. Considering that the main appeal of these regs is travel weight, it's definitely a problem.

Another brilliant move on the part of the dive gear industry. Sell 'em a $1000+ reg, then sell 'em a another one to use with nitrox.

To the OP, I would suggest getting rid of the T2 and buying a brass atomic; you'll never be able to tell the difference, you'll solve your nitrox problem, and you might just about break even.

It could be that there is absolutely no difference between the T2 (which you supposedly cannot switch between air and nitrox) and the T2X (which you supposedly can). Wouldn't that be a neat trick? If there is a difference I'd be interested in knowing about it...maybe someone can post what it is exactly about the updated model that's different.

Thinking about the actual issue, as opposed to what atomic says, remember that the real problem with combustion is in higher percentages of O2 above 40%. So technically there is no such thing as a "nitrox clean" regulator. I doubt there's a real-world problem using a Ti reg for recreational blends, and I'd be suspicious of any danger in the absence of any actual evidence of combustion. Have there been any incidents?

....let's just say I have absolutely no worries diving my 'older' T2 with recreational levels of Nitrox as Atomic claims their new T2X is 'nitrox proof' (for recreational mixes) and I'm convinced there is absolutely no difference between the T2 and the T2X other than the purge cover...unless someone, in plain English spells out EXACTLY the technology/materials/design differences that justify the distinction Atomic makes between the two regs.