Cheap equalization hose

[Couv]

Thanks everyone,

As this is the DIY section, you probably already guessed that I have investigated the usual, fill whip, manifold and already assembled store bought units. I think Luis and Awap have put me on the road to success. Part of the reason I posted this question was to see if anyone has done the regulator to regulator connection or to find out why it can not work for just transferring a sufficient amount of gas to avoid the VIP *******. I know it would be a very slow process to equalize tanks, but that is not the intention. Luis, I think you have given me the idea that will most easily work. I have an old free flow yoke adapter that has been outfitted with a high pressure hose. I can simply hold the hose up to the empty tank valve and I am in business. I will experiment with a few seal options.

Having said all that….Luis, Awap…one of you regulator gurus…is there a reason a hp to hp connection would damage my regulators? I can not think of any.

Pir8….I think you already know the answer to that.

Thanks again,

c

Edit: Right on Reefhound, I will soon be a proud member of CHUM and will certainly borrow your set up....but you know, I just have to try the workarounds first...

 

[Luis H]

Having said all that….Luis, Awap…one of you regulator gurus…is there a reason a hp to hp connection would damage my regulators? I can not think of any.

HP air from the tank or from the HP port makes no difference.

I have never seen it, but I have heard in the old days of people doing this type of set up to dive independent doubles and equalize the pressure. They would have a shot of valve in the HP hose, plus they partially relied on the small orifice in the case of a major failure. I don’t know all the details in philosophy of that setup, but it sounded a bit crazy to me.

In some regulators you could drilled the port a tiny bit bigger, but that is kid of a crime.

 

[Luis H]

The direct tank to tank method above I think was mentioned by someone who routinely takes a pony bottle to the Caribbean and didn’t want to pay for a VIP to fill it on every trip. The poor-mans trans-fill whip.

I think you could just use a rubber gasket from a standard water hose and a second set of hands to hold the tanks tight. I don't recommend using a clamp because that can get dangerous...no way of estimating pressure.

 

[Couv]

The direct tank to tank method above I think was mentioned by someone who routinely takes a pony bottle to the Caribbean and didn’t want to pay for a VIP to fill it on every trip. The poor-mans trans-fill whip. .

Yes, I heard about that guy, he used to live in PR, but now lives in Maine...can't remember his name.

I think you could just use a rubber gasket from a standard water hose and a second set of hands to hold the tanks tight. I don't recommend using a clamp because that can get dangerous...no way of estimating pressure.

Point taken....thanks again.

 

[Luis H]

Yes, I heard about that guy, he used to live in PR, but now lives in Maine...can't remember his name.

No, that would not be me. I have never actually tried it and I have never used a pony bottle in the Caribbean.

 

[Packhorse]

Yes you can transfill from 1 1st stage HP port to another.
It does take awhile to equalise a large full tank to a empty ( 10 minutes) but so what?
If you just want to get 20 bar into a empty tank it takes 2 or 3 minutes.

I cant see how it could damage either of the regs. They are designed to handle the pressure and the LP side of them doesnt know any diffrence.

I have been filling my pony like this since I got it. I also use it to balance tanks and put a little air into an empty tank before it goes to the shop for a fill.

I must say its one of the best $20 I have spent on scuba gear.

 

[Couv]

Packhorse, what fitting(s) did you use and could you perhaps provide a picture.

Thanks,

c

 

[Luis H]

Most divers are not aware that the end of an HP hose is just a flare fitting. The O-ring spool was added later to allow the pressure gauge to swivel…when they went from a rear fitting pressure gauge to a side fitting pressure gauge.

In any case all you need to connect the end of two HP hoses is a “flare union”.

I should be able to find the exact size or you can just go to a pluming supply of just take the OD dimension of the threads a do a bit of search on the web and you will easily find the size. I think it is the 1/4" size, but I am not sure.

Here is a picture of what it looks like:

The cone seals inside the swivel. There is a mating female cone shape inside at the base of the swivel.

Note: I think a few very new hoses made with fittings specifically for Scuba have done away with the female shaped cone and just have a flat surface inside the swivel. Check your hose.

 

[Packhorse]

I just went to the local pneumatic hose shop and they made one up for me. It has steel fittings and 5000psi hose. Its not for use underwater and I wouldnt want to decant >40%ean with it but for anything else its fine. It does not have a swivel though. But its a cheap usable option.
No pic at the mo sorry

 

[Couv]

Luis and Packhorse...you are the men!

I rummaged around in my garage discovered a fitting very similar to the one you pictured. It was attached to an old free flow yoke fitting assembly designed to fill tires. Years ago I modified the assembly by replacing a lp hose with a hp hose. One of the fittings I used was a straight pipe to flare union. I used the fitting between the hp gage hose coming from the donor regulator and attached the free flow yoke on the receiving tank....It worked like a champ.

Before I did this, I wanted to experiment with just holding the donor hose up to the empty tank valve and that worked too, just not as well. I was working alone, so I did not get any practice with the valve to valve technique...didn't want to drop tanks on my foot.

Luis, if you can instruct me on how to post pictures here, I will try to paste pictures.

Thanks guys...life is good.


c