Couple of stupid Nitrox regs questions

[mksmith713]

OK, like the title says, here are a couple of stupid questions.
First......What's the difference between regular air regs and nitrox regs?
Second......If I wanted to use an BCD hose octo like the ScubaPro Air 2, could I use that with Nitrox?

The reason for the question is that I have regs are are plainly marked NITROX.
I use them with regular air and they work fine.

 

[crpntr133]

OK, like the title says, here are a couple of stupid questions.
First......What's the difference between regular air regs and nitrox regs?
Second......If I wanted to use an BCD hose octo like the ScubaPro Air 2, could I use that with Nitrox?

The reason for the question is that I have regs are are plainly marked NITROX.
I use them with regular air and they work fine.

If your regs are rated to 40% then there is probably no difference. They might have put O2 o-rings in it but I doubt it. Sometimes the seats are more compatible with O2.
If using the Air 2 with 40% or less you should be ok.

 

[Jimmer]

There is absolutely NO difference in regs used for air and regs used for Nitrox that has less than 40% oxygen. Above that point, the regs will be cleaned better, and use a specific type of oxygen compatible lubricant.

 

[Charlie99]

....What's the difference between regular air regs and nitrox regs?
Second......If I wanted to use an BCD hose octo like the ScubaPro Air 2, could I use that with Nitrox?

Their is a potential for igniting residual traces of oil and burning things like flammable o-rings and even the titanium internals of some regulators.

The risk goes up with both the % of O2 and the pressure. 2nd stages, including combo octo/inflator devices like the ScubaPro Air 2 only see the intermediate pressure of 140psi or so. At that low pressure, whether you are using air or EAN40 (40% O2) doesn't really matter.

The cleanliness of the reg and flammability of the reg materials is much more important for the 1st stages, since they see full tank pressure. With a few exception (such as regs with titanium internals) use up to 40% O2 is generally OK, even if not formally approved by manufacturers. Some manufacturers use one set of o-rings and lubricants for regs for air service and a different material for o-rings and lubricants in regs suitable for nitrox use.

Several regulator manufacturers say in their manuals that regs should be dedicated to either air service or nitrox service, and a nitrox service reg must be cleaned if used with air other than the hyperfiltered air used to blend nitrox. Most divers ignore those recommendations, with very few of them having any problems.

Tanks have additional cleaning requirements, particularly if the nitrox fill is being done via the "partial pressure" method, which starts of with a partial fill of 100% O2.

 

[wjknobles]

mksmith713

if it is something that you are worried about ... next time you get your regs service ... just ask for them to be O2 cleaned as well

 

[Bob Vincent]

Their is a potential for igniting residual traces of oil and burning things like flammable o-rings and even the titanium internals of some regulators.

The risk goes up with both the % of O2 and the pressure. 2nd stages, including combo octo/inflator devices like the ScubaPro Air 2 only see the intermediate pressure of 140psi or so. At that low pressure, whether you are using air or EAN40 (40% O2) doesn't really matter.

The cleanliness of the reg and flammability of the reg materials is much more important for the 1st stages, since they see full tank pressure. With a few exception (such as regs with titanium internals) use up to 40% O2 is generally OK, even if not formally approved by manufacturers. Some manufacturers use one set of o-rings and lubricants for regs for air service and a different material for o-rings and lubricants in regs suitable for nitrox use.

Several regulator manufacturers say in their manuals that regs should be dedicated to either air service or nitrox service, and a nitrox service reg must be cleaned if used with air other than the hyperfiltered air used to blend nitrox. Most divers ignore those recommendations, with very few of them having any problems.

Tanks have additional cleaning requirements, particularly if the nitrox fill is being done via the "partial pressure" method, which starts of with a partial fill of 100% O2.

Yeah what he said ....

 

[mksmith713]

Do many divers use a nitrox mix over 40%?
I was just curious about the regs because all 3 stages and hoses are blatantly marked "NITROX".
It's hard to imagine they wouldn't put O2 rings in these regs.
Either way, I'm getting an education here.

I used these regs with air on my last dive trip.
If I do my Nitrox course, will I need to have these serviced again before I can use them with Nitrox?

 

[Jimmer]

Generally the only divers using more than 40% nitrox are tech divers using it for decompression stops. As a recreational nitrox diver, you'll likely use 32% or 36% most of the time. For those mixes you dont need to have the reg O2 cleaned, any reg will work.

Hope this helps,
Jim

 

[Charlie99]

I used these regs with air on my last dive trip.
If I do my Nitrox course, will I need to have these serviced again before I can use them with Nitrox?

Read the manufacturer's manual for your regulators. Most manuals are available online.

It will most likely say something similar to the manual for my Atomics B1 regulator

If you use or test this regulator with standard compressed air, it may become contaminated with traces of hydrocarbons and must be re-cleaned before using EAN

Like most divers, I ignore this warning and flip back and forth between air and nitrox below 40% O2 without cleaning the reg.