Dedicated O2 Regs??

[do it easy]

I have several, identical regs for stage and deco bottles, and out of habit, I always use the same one for O₂. I was wondering if anyone else did this as well?

All my stage/deco regs are prepared for oxygen service, but I figured if I dedicated it to O₂ only, I would avoid introducing any contaminants from the air. I think there are similar schools of thought that apply to dedicated O₂ tanks as well.

Of course, if I was ever in a situation where I had to put my "O₂" reg on my 50% bottle or any other bottle prepared for oxygen service, I wouldn't hesitate or think twice about it, but as long as I have the choice, I put the O₂ reg on the O₂ bottle.

Some frozen prawns:

Pros: Once the reg is prepared for oxygen service, it never sees anything else besides oxygen, so contaminants (besides those found in the O₂ itself :11 are never introduced into the reg.

Cons: Since the same reg is always used for O₂, the O₂ cooties have more time to munch on my o-rings and other tasty parts, hence it *might* wear faster than the other regs that are exposed to lower O₂ concentrations, but potentially more contaminants.

Any thoughts?

For those that are wondering how I tell my regs apart, I accidently dropped a reg on the asphalt and it left a little ding in the brass that lets me identify the O₂ reg. There are probably less damaging ways- like serial numbers.

 

[in_cavediver]

My wife and I both have dedicated O2 bottles and 02 regs. They only ever see O2. My school of thought is simple. If they only see O2, its hard to get contaminents let alone any build up. No contaminents, less risk of fuel. Heat I can somewhat control with technique - Oxidizer is through the roof though. HP 02 is one of those things that I am very careful with.

As for telling them apart - I swapped out the 2nd stage purge cover to green ones and they are the DR 2500's. Only other dive rite I have is on my backgas with a 7ft hose.

Our stage-50/50 regs are a different story. I use them both on stages and 50/50. I try to clean them every 2 years or so. Both are zeagles, DS4 and an envoy.

 

[WarmWaterDiver]

There isn't an option in your poll for my choice - one reg kept O2 clean & compatible, but could be used anywhere from 21% O2 to 100% O2 depending on the fill station.

 

[karstdvr]

The poll choices are difficult because you could have more than one item.

My o2 reg only sees o2 service mainly because it is unique and very identifiable-it has a yellow hose,and a r190 2nd stage (everything else is g250s). I check to make sure that I am breathing oxygen by confirming the tank,but the other things help as well.

 

[Rick Inman]

I'm on my way to one O2 dedicated reg. I had my Atomic M1 serviced to 80% (80%?? Yeah, whatever...) and will dedicate it to 100% when it comes back (again) from ScubaToys.

My problem will be the 100% o2. My buddy skipped town with his O2 Haskel and other assorted O2 clean fill toys, and no one in my town does 100%. So, my reg will sit on the bottle, lonely and abandoned until I get my O2 fill station up and running.

If anyone feels sorry for me, please send money and/or 100% O2 clean whip (including THIS gauge) and haskel to Rick Inman, Spokane, WA.

Thank you.

 

[Dive-aholic]

I have dedicated regs and bottles. I tell them apart with hose colors. My O2 regs have green hoses. My less than 100% have yellow hoses. My stages have black hoses. Easy to tell the difference that way. Also makes gas switching a breeze.

Rick, until you get your cleaning station up, why don't you send your O2 bottle and regs down to me so it won't be so lonely...

 

[Blitz]

My 02 reg and other deco regs aren't identical, so that isn't an issue for me, but I do have a DR1200 dedicated to o2 and a ds4 atx50 for 50%. The turret on the DR reg makes hose routing pretty nice even when it is under my 50 bottle.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

I have 2 O2 clean regs. I generally try to keep them separate, but I don't worry about it too much. The 100% oxygen is used more frequently so from time to time I will use the "other" one just to spread out the wear and tear. They get maintained on the same schedule regardless of use.

Mark Vlahos

 

[matt t.]

I have 4 Apeks deco/stage regs. All are 02 clean and are used on all of my bottles. I do not have a special one for oxygen.

 

[rookers]

I have two O2 clean regs. The OMS workhorse goes on the O2 bottle as it is not, by runour, a great breather at depth. I have used it only at 20ft where it works just fine.