DIR regulators...?

[Greg Barlow]

Poseidon regs aren't DIR mainly because they are upstream regs. The cover of the new Xstream can be removed without any tools at all, and with only 2 fingers. (It's just a rubber cover that can be peeled off) I originally wanted this reg, but it was way too expensive considering that I'm not a tech diver.

Greg, was it air liquide or Aqua Lung that bought Apeks? Anyway, I think the Flathead series is still part of the Apeks ATX100 family. Not quite sure when Zeagle had to change the design, but I know that they still had a few Apeks rebadged regs on the shelves.

Anyway, for the sake of this forum, DIR doesn't like upstream regs...so Poseidon is out. AFAIK, Scubapro and Apeks are the recommended DIR regs... although not required. Even that, DIR would require you to plug the 1/2" port or use an adapter on it.

John,
Air Liquide of France bought Apeks. They already owned Aqua Lung and Sea Quest. There probably are a few rebadged Zeagle regs around. One feature that Zeagle went to is the replaceable HP crown feature. This is a standard feature on many Mares regs and some others.

Greg

 

[jplacson]

Ok... anyway... all DIR Apeks owners... a question regarding the 1/2" port:

-GUE website says to plug the 1/2" port and use the other ports... but the other port is on the other side of the reg... do I use the reg upside down? Does this affect performance at all? If I do this, my inflator hose and SPG hose will be crossing each other. Why isn't an adapter recommended? Can't I just get a spare hose with a 1/2" fitting? Or just keep spare 1/2" fittings...so that in case something goes wrong I can just have a new hose made? Is the only issue with the 1/2" port availability in case of a malfunction?

Right now, I'm using the original 1/2" Apeks hose for my bungeed back-up, and a 6' 3/8" hose on my primary. Since the original Apeks hose is like 30" something, I'd like to go straight DIR, so I was wondering what the take is on the ATX100/200 1/2" port issue.

 

[Big-t-2538]

do I use the reg upside down? Does this affect performance at all?

O.K...I can't speak to the rest of your question, but I can answer this part.

Why does it matter if the reg is "updise down"? How could that possibly affect performance? Answer...it doesn't matter (to the best of my knowledge)

 

[LUBOLD8431]

The 1/2" fitting is not a big deal. Keep a spare hose, and if you are diving singles use the 1/2" port for the primary. When or if you go to doubles, you might want to consider blocking it off and using the other port right next to it, standard size. If you have a DS4, this is inconsequential, because the DS4 doesnt have a 1/2" port.
I have two ATX-200's I use for doubles, and I use the 1/2" port. The only reason why its not DIR is because of the problem with getting a hose or replacing it if you are in a far away locale. If you keep a spare, you solve this issue. However, if you get the DS4, you solve this issue, hence why the DS4 is so popular with DIR proponents. Its also a very good regulator.

 

[jplacson]

Thanks! I also got your reply in the other thread.

The reason I was asking, is cuz my current back-up hose is still the original 1/2" 32" Apeks hose... and since I was planning to changing it to the DIR recommended 24" back-up hose... I was gonna plug the port as well, and flip my 1st stage upside-down (this gives me 2 3/8" ports on the right side) ... or I can switch to a 1/2" ported 24" back-up hose, since this is easier to carry around than a 6' hose.

I know that it really isn't an issue... since the topic was on DIR recommendations, I just wanted to know what they would recommend for my particular reg. Thanks for your reply!

 

[LUBOLD8431]

The DIR answer would be to get the DS4 first stage, or plug the 1/2" port and use a 3/8" port for your second stage, so you dont have to get non standard hoses.

 

[jonnythan]

Personally, I think a perfectly valid DIR answer is just to go ahead and use a 1/2" hose for your primary reg. Keep a spare 1/2" primary hose around.

 

[OneBrightGator]

GUE would disagree with you:

http://www.gue.com/equipment/regulators.shtml

Ben

 

[jonnythan]

GUE would disagree with you:

http://www.gue.com/equipment/regulators.shtml

Ben

I'd like to see a good rationale for this. I don't think there is one.

 

[Scubaroo]

Personally, I think a perfectly valid DIR answer is just to go ahead and use a 1/2" hose for your primary reg. Keep a spare 1/2" primary hose around.

Ditto. Or 1/2" backup hose, or whatever your regulator configuration requires. Either carry a 1/2"->3/8" adapter, or the spare hose. On a liveaboard, take the spare hose.

Think about it, you're in the middle of nowhere - and a hose blows - what's the likelyhood that you can get a correct length 24" or 7' replacement hose anyway? Even if you can source a replacement hose, it's going to be either a 27" reg or a yellow octopus hose which you're going to replace once you get home, so you might as well spend the money upfront on the correct hose and put it in what I like to call the save-a-divetrip kit