DIR Staging regulator

[BigDiver]

This question is directed toward the cold water DIR crowd, but ANY information would be helpful.

I would like to have a staging tank set up but the problem I see is the regulator. DIR says that the staging tank should remain off until the gas is needed and then turned on and breathed. Knowing that the gas is turned off there is no ambiant pressure agaist the water to keep it out of the reg if it were to be purged causing water to enter the 1st and 2nd stage.

They stay the a piston style reg is quite durable to water entering it and when turned on the water will purged out. Now, where my question comes in to play. As the high pressure gas enters the 1st stage it reduces to the low intermediate pressure, but in the process gets cold. Since I dive in cold water, 35-50F, would this cause the regulator to freeze?
How do you cold water DIR peope deal with that or is there anything different you do?

 

[GP]

Originally posted by BigDiver
Knowing that the gas is turned off there is no ambiant pressure agaist the water to keep it out of the reg if it were to be purged causing water to enter the 1st and 2nd stage.

When you turn on the the tank valve and pressurize the reg and hoses before the dive upon equipment check, don't purge the air out after turning the tank valve off. That'll keep the water out of the reg. There shouldn't be any reason to press the purge on the dive before you turn the valve back on right?

 

[BigDiver]

No there is not need to purge it, but what if you are to bump the purge button. Then the gas is lost.

 

[ninja]

I dive in the great lakes periodically pressurize the lines on my stage bottles if i'm carrying them with me like every 10 -15 mins seems to work

Len

 

[BigDiver]

Ninja,

Have you ever had water get into your regulator? Was there any special means of dealing with it because of the cold water.

Which reg do you use for staging?

Thanks

 

[ninja]

Hi big diver!!

I use the r190/ mark 2 for stage bottles they have good performance for an inexpensive reg and maintence is a snap. they are piston driven and ultra reliable!!! Water doesn't seem to be a problem with these guys as far as freezing goes or purging them in the cold water! our bottom temps in the great lakes are generally around 36 to 45 I see a lot of these regs on stage bottles


good luck

Len

 

[DNAXdiver]

The fact that air comes out doesn't necessarily mean that water will get in at least not enough to be trouble. If you hold the purge button until air stops coming out that only means the pressure of the air inside the 2nd stage and hose have reached the same pressure as the surrounding water if you hold the purge button and move the second about enough it'll eventually fill, but its not going to happen with one accidental poke of the purge.

Originally posted by BigDiver
No there is not need to purge it, but what if you are to bump the purge button. Then the gas is lost.

 

[Lost Yooper]

I use Apeks and simply pressurize the reg and turn the air off. I've accidentally purged the reg while underwater too and have never had a problem with the reg.

Mike

 

[Rick Murchison]

If you're concerned about the pressure bleeding down from accidental purging, and/or a combination of reduced pressure from accidental purging followed by an increase in depth, and water entering the system, simply turn on the valve for a second and turn it back off, thus bringing the internal first stage pressures up to full bottle and IP respectively.
Piece of cake.
Rick