Can I test my spg without attaching it to a tank?

[Moby Dickins]

Other than what you describe, you just need to ensure you have a hi-pressure spool between the hose and the SPG.

Here is a picture of the 3 common types for reference:

View attachment 621230

-Z

Yes, I remember inserting that piece.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

nevermind.

 

[kelemvor]

to any new divers reading this. pls make sure you know what you are doing. otherwise have a qualified tech work on your gear.
that said, if you do decide to make any changes to your gear yourself pls make sure you always test it properly before use.
myself personally i always do a pool session to test everything. even if a tech does the work.
i have had regs come back with loose hoses, poorly adjusted second stages, and even a loose first stage nut. we found that mistake while gearing up to do a cavern dive. not the place you wanna find out you have a catastrophic gas leak.
many things are easy to do. but what is easy for one person, may not be for another. and some things "seem" simple but in fact there is more to it than you realize.

Also, you might want to have a professional fill your car with gasoline for you. After all, if you get it all over yourself and then light a match you will have a bad day.

Screwing a hose onto a first stage is about as easy as it gets. Just don't try to use those silly scuba multi wrenches to turn it.

 

[Moby Dickins]

You know, I think I might just upload a photo of my reg/octo/spg setup and you guys can tell me if anything is obviously incorrect

 

[Zef]

Yes, I remember inserting that piece.

Did you purchase your 2nd stages separate from your 1st stage?

If so, there is a chance the cracking pressure of the 2nd stages is not adjusted to the intermediate pressure of the 1st stage...there is also the chance the intermediate pressure of the 1st stage is not set to the proper range....these are things that a shop should/will check before a new reg set goes out the door.

If the 2nd stage cracking pressure is set too high then they will be harder to breath than they need to be. If it is set too low it may freeflow.

A simple $10-$20 IP gauge will indicate the 1st stage IP....if you share what 1st stage you have it will possible for readers to advise the proper IP range, and perhaps point you to a resource for how to set it properly if it is not within the recommended range.

Adjusting the 2nd stage cracking pressure is not difficult but is involved.

These are part of the concerns that @rick00001967 was expressing in his post.

Unless you have some reassurance that your regs are set up correctly, and in this instance I am not referring to the hoses being connected, it would be unwise to assume that they are good to go.

I am not questioning your competence, but your initial question about your SPG would lead one to believe that you do not have experience in testing and adjusting regulators. That is ok. Just be smart so that you are not putting yourself in danger. If you have any doubts about what to do, ask some more questions, do some more research, and/or take your reg set to a shop to have them check it over.

-Z

 

[Zef]

Also, you might want to have a professional fill your car with gasoline for you. After all, if you get it all over yourself and then light a match you will have a bad day.

Screwing a hose onto a first stage is about as easy as it gets. Just don't try to use those silly scuba multi wrenches to turn it.

Initially I was thinking the same, BUT then I realized that we have no idea at this point where the OP got their reg set, and if they arrived adjusted properly. Even if they are brand new right out of the box, it would be unwise to assume the unconnected stages were ever tested to ensure proper set up of IP and cracking pressures.

Connecting hoses is a no brainer, and while the adjustments to ensure a reg set is tuned correctly are not that difficult to perform they can be involved and require knowledge and tools that the OP may or may not have.

-Z

 

[rick00001967]

Also, you might want to have a professional fill your car with gasoline for you. After all, if you get it all over yourself and then light a match you will have a bad day.

Screwing a hose onto a first stage is about as easy as it gets. Just don't try to use those silly scuba multi wrenches to turn it.

imo this is a very irresponsible and unnecessary response to my post. my comment was directed at new divers since this is the new diver forum. it was a general comment that applies to 99% of new divers. i think advising people to test their gear before diving it is solid advise for all divers.

 

[rick00001967]

Initially I was thinking the same, BUT then I realized that we have no idea at this point where the OP got their reg set

exactly

 

[Zef]

Also, you might want to have a professional fill your car with gasoline for you. After all, if you get it all over yourself and then light a match you will have a bad day.

Have you been to New Jersey or Oregon?....neither allow you to pump your own gas.

-Z

 

[kelemvor]

imo this is a very irresponsible and unnecessary response to my post. my comment was directed at new divers since this is the new diver forum. it was a general comment that applies to 99% of new divers. i think advising people to test their gear before diving it is solid advise for all divers.

Perhaps I misunderstood your post in that case. I agree, testing new regulators is important. Screwing an spg onto a first stage is a little different.