double hose reg on twin set?

[spacemanspiff1974]

I'm sure this is going to expose my ignorance of double hose regulators.

Has anyone here ever put a double hose reg like a DA aquamaster on the left post and around the neck instead of a bungeed reg around the neck? Aside from the possible need for asymmetric hose lengths, is this a bad idea? I would still have a single hose reg with 7' hose on my right post in this theoretical setup.

 

[halocline]

So you'd use the doublehose as your alternate? I wonder if you'd have a freeflow problem depending on the position you're diving in. I guess you could plug the mouthpiece. What I have heard of is a manifold with a center outlet and a valve on the left post. Then you use the doublehose as your primary which keeps it in your mouth, and a long hose alternate on your left post. I think Luis might have configured something like that. Check out a thread he started, either on the vintage forum here or on vdh, about using the phoenix as a technical reg.

If you're looking for a nice center outlet manifold I have a 3 piece USD that I've never used and in all honesty probably never will, so I'd be happy to sell it.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

The Sherwood Selpac dual outlet manifolds have bene used for DH regs. They have a center post for the DH, and then a post on the right for a separate reg. They are not however a true isolator manifold.

Using the left post on an isolator manifold has some appeal, especially if the DH has provisions for HP and LP ports to support the normal left post functions. But I am not sure how well they hoses will work with the asymetric configuration and you would need to either plug the mouthpiece or use a DSV to prevent freeflows when the DH is not in use.

As much as l love DH regs, my DH diving and my cave diving remain separate.

 

[Gilldiver]

Controling the mouth piece of the double hose is the problem. As it get above the level of the cans it will want to free flow. There is also the problem of keeping the long hose untangled and easily deployable.

If you want to use a double hose, it should be your main with a modern 2nd stage as your 2nd. The long hose and a double hose just don't play together all thay well, I'v tried it.

Here is what does work, this is a 1970's sherwood manifold with a center port and the tank post reversed so that a 1st stage can be mounted without interfearing with the double hose cans and horns.

 

[SteveAD]

I recently test dove an old double hose on my right post. With standard short hose necklace on the left. I informed my buddies that I would not be an available donor on that dive. It worked reasonably well.

 

[Luis H]

The Cousteau team mounted their double hose regulators on the right post of a triple tank manifold when they did the first expedition to the Britannic. They did not use an alternate second stage. I believe that they used custom length hoses for the intake and exhaust hose, they were different length.

I have used a double hose on the center post of my Sherwood manifold for any technical diving (similar to Gilldiver). It works great. My primary regulator is the DH and I donate the long hose (4 ft or 5 ft hose). I don’t wrap the long hose around my neck; I tuck the excess under my right waist belt.

When I breathe out of a stage bottle, I do wrap the hose around the back of my neck over the DH and on to my mouth. The LP hose actually holds the DH down and there is no need to park the DH mouthpiece, but I do park it onto a plug anyway.

I use a mouthpiece plug for my double hose that is attached to a short lanyard on my right shoulder strap. The plug closes the mouthpiece and parks it in an easy to reach location. I always keep my DH mouthpiece under my chin anyway, but the plug allows me to be on any position when the mouthpiece is out of my mouth.

I have also design and built some simple (and very effective, and very low cost) DSV mouthpieces, but my favorite mouthpiece is traditional US Divers curve mouthpiece. It is low profile and tuck right against my chin.

Bryan at VDH may make the DSV mouthpieces that I designed, but I am not sure. I hope to have some of the mouthpiece plugs molded in hard silicone and they may be for sell at VDH in the future, but I am not sure when.

Here is more information and pictures about my technical diving rig:

Vintage Double Hose • View topic - The latest technical diving regulator ?the Phoenix

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/vi...atest-technical-diving-regulator-phoenix.html