Attaching a dry suit inflator hose to the first stage

[LucidLucifer]

Hi,

i'm looking to buy my first set of regs and gauges and i have found a really good deal on what i want on the internet. However, because i dry suit dive i need a dry suit inflator hose attached to the first stage, which this set of gear does not come with. My question is, is this easy to do yourself? or do i need to take it to my local dive shop? I also ask because i sometimes go wetsuit diving so i would need to take it off sometimes too.

Thanks
'LL'

 

[Scubasw]

An allen wrench to remove a low-pressure plug and a crescent wrench to install the dry suit hose. Takes 2 minutes.

 

[Randy43068]

what he said.

It's easy and anyone can do it.

The only "gotcha" would be of having a LP ( low pressure ) port available on the side you route your hose. I dress my inflator hose under my left arm.

 

[herman]

I really don't like to use adjustable wrenches on dive gear, they are just too sloppy and if you are not careful you can round off the hose connection, get the correct wrench for the job. Actually changing/adding the hose is no big deal. Remove whichever plug will work for you, just make sure it's a LP port. Most modern regs have different sized ports for HP and LP but it's not a sure bet so LOOK to make sure, if there is a tiny hole in the port it's HP, otherwise it's LP. Once you have the correct plug removed, start the hose BY HAND, any resistance at all is a sign of trouble, stop and find out what is wrong. Putting a little silicone grease on the oring is a good idea, just make it shinny, no goop. Continue by hand until it seats on the Oring, now snug it up with the correct wrench using 2 fingers, both the reg and the fitting are brass if you need more than 2 fingers to tighten it, something is wrong. If the fitting should leak DO NOT tighten farther trying to solve the problem, the Oring should seal with very little torque, if it leaks there is an Oring or mating surface problem, find it and fix it. More tighting might "fix" the problem but not really and you may do damage to the reg or fitting.

 

[h2odragon1]

I really don't like to use adjustable wrenches on dive gear, they are just too sloppy and if you are not careful you can round off the hose connection, get the correct wrench for the job. Actually changing/adding the hose is no big deal. Remove whichever plug will work for you, just make sure it's a LP port. Most modern regs have different sized ports for HP and LP but it's not a sure bet so LOOK to make sure, if there is a tiny hole in the port it's HP, otherwise it's LP. Once you have the correct plug removed, start the hose BY HAND, any resistance at all is a sign of trouble, stop and find out what is wrong. Putting a little silicone grease on the oring is a good idea, just make it shinny, no goop. Continue by hand until it seats on the Oring, now snug it up with the correct wrench using 2 fingers, both the reg and the fitting are brass if you need more than 2 fingers to tighten it, something is wrong. If the fitting should leak DO NOT tighten farther trying to solve the problem, the Oring should seal with very little torque, if it leaks there is an Oring or mating surface problem, find it and fix it. More tighting might "fix" the problem but not really and you may do damage to the reg or fitting.

!!!!I agree. Overtightnening is a good way to destroy your 2nd stage, and is the most common problem. There is a recent recall of a DIN attachment, that is easily broken when overtightened. Use your fingers to tighten then a small turn with a wrench, less than 10 degrees.

 

[h2odragon1]

Addendum:
Finger tighten the new hose, then attach to a tank, (full pressure preferably), then submerge both in your bath tub to check for leaks.

 

[covediver]

good advice.

just make sure that your first stage has enough low pressure ports to accommodate the hose. some older versions or less expensive regs do not (for example, my venerable conshelf 14). Also, for however you route your hose, make sure it is long enough. Nothing is worse than needing three more inches on a hose to reach the inflator valve.

my drysuit inflator hose once installed never gets taken off. If I go diving without a drysuit (as I do in HI and CA) I just loop my drysuit hose safely out of the way and go diving. putting it on and taking it off really is not necessary imho.

 

[NOVIZWHIZ]

I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't use a power inflator on my dry suit....


:scared:


go ahead....lemme have it.....

 

[--tom--]

I'm one of those weirdos who doesn't use a power inflator on my dry suit....

The idea of orally inflating a drysuit is just wrong....I don't even want to think about buddy drysuit inflation...........

 

[NudeDiver]

my drysuit inflator hose once installed never gets taken off. If I go diving without a drysuit (as I do in HI and CA) I just loop my drysuit hose safely out of the way and go diving. putting it on and taking it off really is not necessary imho.

I'm on the other end of the spectrum. After coming home (whether it is to my house, my hotel room, or wherever) after diving, I remove ALL the hoses from my first stage and put the port covers back on. Given how trivial it is, I don't see any reason not to. On a side note - given the latest crap with bag regulations and fees for airlines - this approach makes it easier for me to carry regs on board (they fit in a bag easier).