Blunt questions about pee valves

[declan long]

Hi EveryoneBefore i start i am sorry if there could have been a better choice of words, i am thinking of purchasing a pee valve and i need some answers please, i have looked on all the forums and dui info and so on and so on so if i could get some answers here then great - a massive THANKYOU!!!1st i see there is balanced and unbalanced - the difference please. not actual difference but the way it works?2nd please explain how they workalso my son 12 years old almost 13 always feels the need to go for a wee when diving and we was talking about the pee valve and he said it seems like a great idea, is it suitable for a 12 year old boy. not to make this sound cringy but what i want to know is do they make them for kids, ie smaller condoms and different design?thankyou againDeclan

 

[nimoh]

A balanced p-valve will keep the pressure inside the tube equal to the ambient pressure. I believe it does this via a one way valve inside the suit that can draw gas from inside the suit into the tube, but does not allow urine into the suit when the pressure differential reverses - in this case the tube would vent to outside the suit.

An unbalanced p-valve will tend to squeeze on deeper dives as the pressure outside the tube increases...get a balanced p-valve

The p-valve comes with a tube that has a standard size connector to connect disposable condom catheters. The catheters come in different sizes, and you should have no trouble finding a size to fit your 12 year old.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Balanced or unbalanced has never really been a concern to me. I have an unbalanced and no issues with it. Condoms do come in a variety of sizes and types. As for one suitable for a 12yr old boy I could not say (there is always duct tape however to insure it stays on). What type of drysuit is he using?

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[TSandM]

The difference between a balanced and unbalanced valve is that, with the unbalanced, if you don't fill the tubing with urine, or open something that allows water backflow, the air in the tubing will compress and create suction when diving, which is EXTREMELY unpleasant. What the balanced valve does is allow air to enter the tubing to equalize the pressure, if you don't add liquid to do it. The problem with the balanced valves is that most of them are constructed with a duckbill device which is soft plastic or rubber, and they seem to eventually have problems with getting too stiff or otherwise no longer closing, at which time you have urine in the suit. I've already had to convert one of mine to unbalanced by blocking the opening for the duck bill; I have a suspicion I will have to do that with another one. The Halcyon balanced valves seem to be a bit more robust than the Light Monkey ones.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I started with balanced because it soubds so much better on paper. After several leaks with a few different brands, all balanced are gonna start leaking at some point, I switched it out for an unbalanced and haven't looked back or had a leak in years. I also learned the trick of starting the dive with the valve, that is the pee through bolt, open. No squeeze issues as it self "balances" this way. I know several people just got tired of random wetness from the balanced units and have converted or switched them out for ubalanced. YMMV.

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[v101]

glad this subject came up, I aquired a drysuit w/ a halcyon p-valve on it, dove w/ it a few times, but didn't use the p-valve as the dives were shorter... after a few dives the one day, I came out of the water, and noticed I felt wet... after we were done for the day, I took of my drysuit, and noticed I was pretty soacked w water, i know the drysuit doesn't have any small holes/tears, but the p-valve was open, it has a turn knob on it, not sure if this means its balanced or un-balanced?

anyway I made sure it was closed (screwed shut) and it doesn't leak no more.

So my question would be is this a balanced / un-balanced valve, and what are the steps to properly use this, when attaching it, and using it? does it have to have fluid in it, and do I leave the valve open/closed before diving?

 

[Jack Hammer]

glad this subject came up, I aquired a drysuit w/ a halcyon p-valve on it, dove w/ it a few times, but didn't use the p-valve as the dives were shorter... after a few dives the one day, I came out of the water, and noticed I felt wet... after we were done for the day, I took of my drysuit, and noticed I was pretty soacked w water, i know the drysuit doesn't have any small holes/tears, but the p-valve was open, it has a turn knob on it, not sure if this means its balanced or un-balanced?

anyway I made sure it was closed (screwed shut) and it doesn't leak no more.

So my question would be is this a balanced / un-balanced valve, and what are the steps to properly use this, when attaching it, and using it? does it have to have fluid in it, and do I leave the valve open/closed before diving?

I don't know if Halcyon makes or has ever offered an unbalanced pee valve, all the ones I've seen from them have been balanced. Depending on the design or changes made both types can look the same to each other. A balanced one will generally have either a "tee" in the tubing inside the suit that goes to the check valve or it will have an internal duck bill valve or an small tube with a check valve coming from the part mounted to the suit.

As far as usage goes it's pretty straight forward, try no to over complicate it: put condom catheter on, attach pee valve hose to condom catheter, pee. It's generally a good idea to make sure the valve/bolt is open before peeing. I leave my valve open from before getting in the water until I'm ready to remove my drysuit. Others "prime" the line by peeing before they get in the water and only open the valve when they plan to pee. I'm sure their are plenty of variations in between. Always flush out after use to avoid funk growing and causing a nasty infection. I use a squirt bottle with ear beer in it.

 

[kwinter]

I leave my valve open from before getting in the water until I'm ready to remove my drysuit.

{snip}

Always flush out after use to avoid funk growing and causing a nasty infection. I use a squirt bottle with ear beer in it.

It goes without saying that you open the valve again before flushing.

I'm not sure why you close yours when you remove your suit. Please enlighten me.


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[Jack Hammer]

{snip}



It goes without saying that you open the valve again before flushing.

I'm not sure why you close yours when you remove your suit. Please enlighten me.


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Of course I open it, i also connect the rest of the line before flushing.

I have a quick disconnect on the hose side of the condom end that auto closes when disconnected. I also leave the bolt closed when removing the suit which traps any urine inside. The reason I set it up this way is only for the simple reason that I am paranoid about any possibility, no matter how unlikely, of ending up stepping in a small puddle of urine while changing. :-O

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[kwinter]

The reason I set it up this way is only for the simple reason that I am paranoid about any possibility, no matter how unlikely, of ending up stepping in a small puddle of urine while changing. :-O

That's why I remove my suit at my buddy's changing area.


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