Chest Mounted Rebreather, Hose Routing, and Regulator Fitting Sides...

[mdwalter]

Hi all, the only house routing I've ever used is the following:
RH Tank Long Hose behind neck clipped off on chest
LH tank short hose behind neck on necklace

Easily identified by long hose has a straight fitting coming out of the regulator and short hose has a 90 degree fitting coming out of the regulator, both of which exit the right side of the regulator.

Why am I here?

in April I am going to get O2ptima certified - that means I will be chest mounted rebreather certified and having hoses routed across my chest will no longer be an option. So, I am looking to practice getting myself comfortable with the new configuration before then. Please advise me on some of your hose routing. I almost think double long hose is better here.

This is what I do: Short hose routing options
Because it does not interfere with the ChOp, and for these additional reasons:

Short hose routing options

Putting the hose around your neck reduces jaw fatigue when your using it and improves streamlining when you not using it. I'm not sure why you wouldn't go this route. I've waisted a lot of time trying to engineer a better system just to land in doing it the way most of the world does it...

scubaboard.com

 

[mdwalter]

This is what I do: Short hose routing options
Because it does not interfere with the ChOp, and for these additional reasons:

Short hose routing options

Putting the hose around your neck reduces jaw fatigue when your using it and improves streamlining when you not using it. I'm not sure why you wouldn't go this route. I've waisted a lot of time trying to engineer a better system just to land in doing it the way most of the world does it...

scubaboard.com

Basically, you jut put the reg you've been using on your right tank on the left instead and vice versa. Now you just have to pull out a smaller amount of long hose run it around the back of your neck and clip it off to right chest D ring (bc RB), then pull out a small amount of short hose and run straight up and over to wear as necklace (or clip to right chest D ring). No hose crosses your chest, only 1 hose behind your head, and nothing interferes with the CM RB.

 

[jale]

Hi
I don't get why you want to switch side.
The good point of CM unit is to be able to add them to any set-up. Why would you want to change that?
Just use the left tank as Dilout with second over your neck and in the necklace (even with a BOV, you want a BO reg on necklace and not clipped or on the tank).
If the Dilout is enough for BO and you are in mix team, just add a long hose loved on the tank and going also behind your neck and clipped with a breakaway on your right d-ring or just left on the tank.
If you want an xtra BO on you right, just use a LH left on the tank or clipped on the right d-ring.
Nothing cross your chest either.

 

[justinthedeeps]

I think this issue is not unique to chest mount rebreathers
Another way to solve this problem would be a BOV.

It is a regulator serving the same purpose, but tidier, and does not require a mouthpiece change to breathe safe gas. It routes from a left-sided fitting, which can connect via QC6 to the left side cylinder.

You could keep the necklace reg as well, or change it to a standard stage-strapped reg for contingencies or donation. The BOV becomes your personal immediate OC gas source.

 

[justinthedeeps]

even with a BOV, you want a BO reg on necklace and not clipped or on the tank

Nothing wrong with having extra safe gas sources rigged, but I am curious why this is considered important or required?

The BOV if maintained and tested properly (including S-drill) is a legit regulator, plumbed into a large supply of the same safe gas (usually the left side dilout). It literally can and does replace the purpose of a necklace reg

It is a straightforward bailout procedure to stay on the BOV during bailout and ascent, until you reach a better intermediate gas or deco stop, during which you can switch directly from BOV to the standard reg on that gas (including stage regs)

 

[rjack321]

I think this issue is not unique to chest mount rebreathers
Another way to solve this problem would be a BOV.

It is a regulator serving the same purpose, but tidier, and does not require a mouthpiece change to breathe safe gas. It routes from a left-sided fitting, which can connect via QC6 to the left side cylinder.

You could keep the necklace reg as well, or change it to a standard stage-strapped reg for contingencies or donation. The BOV becomes your personal immediate OC gas source.

Until you get a caustic and you REALLY need that BOV out of your mouth.

BOV solves problems and creates them too
DSV solves different problems and creates different ones too

 

[justinthedeeps]

Until you get a caustic and you REALLY need that BOV out of your mouth.

BOV solves problems and creates them too
DSV solves different problems and creates different ones too

Valid point thank you

Would hope to be in bailed out mode on a BOV much sooner than it becomes fouled. Early/easy use incurs minimal effort

Could be easier to turn the BOV to BO, rather than (and before) forcing wet sorb fluid thru the inhale side of the loop? Even mildly wet sorb seems to create substantial breathing resistance.

I guess we could consider puke as another issue

But yeah necklace reg is not wrong

 

[kensuf]

Valid point thank you

Would hope to be in bailed out mode on a BOV much sooner than it becomes fouled. Early/easy use incurs minimal effort

Could be easier to turn the BOV to BO, rather than (and before) forcing wet sorb fluid thru the inhale side of the loop? Even mildly wet sorb seems to create substantial breathing resistance.

I guess we could consider puke as another issue

But yeah necklace reg is not wrong

I know a guy that took a caustic on a bov after he had bailed out. Just wet sorb everywhere in the bits and pieces. He had a backup reg around his neck and was happy for that.

 

[211ratsbud]

I know a guy that took a caustic on a bov after he had bailed out. Just wet sorb everywhere in the bits and pieces. He had a backup reg around his neck and was happy for that.

That's a worst fear

 

[slimshady]

How did the caustic get through? Must have been just before he closed the loop?