Extra Air Source (EAS)

[MgicTwnger]

Has anyone had any experience with the Extra Air Source reg from H2Odyssey? http://www.h2odyssey.com/eas.htm

It's a first stage w/the second attached by a short swivel, used on a pony bottle. It appears to screw right into the tank, replacing the valve. Leisurepro has them for $140.

Looks like it might be an option for a front-slung pony.

 

[Mark Vlahos]

Has anyone had any experience with the Extra Air Source reg from H2Odyssey? http://www.h2odyssey.com/eas.htm

It's a first stage w/the second attached by a short swivel, used on a pony bottle. It appears to screw right into the tank, replacing the valve. Leisurepro has them for $140.

Looks like it might be an option for a front-slung pony.

Hi,

I saw one of these in a shop about a year ago. At first it looked like a good idea for a pony. Upon reflection however it is not a good solution.

Since the whole idea of a pony is to provide an additional air source independent of you main tank, it will only be used by you or your buddy in an emergency. In this emergency the last thing you want is to have to hold this large thing close to your face as you turn your head and do the things you will need to do to get back to the surface. If you want to carry a pony I think you will be better served by getting a standard regulator with a standard length hose to the second stage and a short hose for the SPG. Rig the pony like a stage bottle so you can hook it in front of you with the top of the bottle on a D ring on your chest and the bottom of the bottle hooked down at your side. If your buddy ( we know YOU would never run out of air

) runs out of air he will swim over to you and ask for your alternate air source. Of course we know what will really happen is he will ambush you and grab the regulator out of your mouth before you know what is going on! Once you have sorted out the immediate situation get your buddy to breathe on the pony regulator, and un hook it from your BC and hook it on to his. This will allow him to ascend without being physically attacdhed to you. Both of his hands will be free to deal with whatever he needs to deal with. You can remain close; or if he is really freaked out and presents a danger to you, just swim a few feet a way.

If you want to use this thing as a real pony remember you will need to unhook it from wherever you mount it and physically get it in front of your face before you can take that FIRST breath. A second stage on a hose held in place by a small bungee around the mouthpiece will be almost instantly available to you, and represents a better solution.

Mark Vlahos

 

[scubatoys]

If you don't want to use it as a "large spare air" set up, you can also just attach any octo to it and it's an instant pony bottle, without a tank valve. Really the concept is nothing more than a 1st stage reg, that instead of having a yoke or din - has a valve thread so you can just screw it into any tank. That makes for less O-rings and connections to fail, and makes it more compact.

Only word of warning, they had a recall on the unit and had to replace some parts - It didn't take us long to convert ours to the newer seats, but just make sure where ever you decide to buy it has done the upgrade. If you call them and ask and they say "what upgrade??" I might be tempted to look elsewhere...

 

[rescuediver009]

on the side ti looks like an OMS first stage.....