first time owner of own equipment

[ruggermike]

Hi there. I'm asking this wondering if I am ignoring the obvious.

I've always rented gear, aside from mask/fins/snokel, when I travel. I was recently given a new regulator, octo, and computer (which i am just starting to teach myself how to use).

I'm traveling next week to the US Virgin Islands. Am I bringing the whole rig or just the regulator with me and attaching it to a rental first stage?

Please don't hurt me scubagods!

Mike

 

[NJScubaDoc]

Bring the whole rig, just be sure that your connections match up. If your reg is DIN and the tank is Yoke you'll need an adapter and vica versa.

 

[diversteve]

Hi there. I'm asking this wondering if I am ignoring the obvious.

I've always rented gear, aside from mask/fins/snokel, when I travel. I was recently given a new regulator, octo, and computer (which i am just starting to teach myself how to use).

I'm traveling next week to the US Virgin Islands. Am I bringing the whole rig or just the regulator with me and attaching it to a rental first stage?

Please don't hurt me scubagods!

Mike

Mike,

Before the flames start about diving without knowing what equipment you own, let's break it down.

The regulator you've been given - does is have a first stage (the part that goes on the tank) a second stage attached to it and an attached octo? And does it include a pressure gauge, either as part of the computer or a separate pressure gauge. If so you can bring it and use it on the diveops tanks. Even though it's new, if you have time you should have it checked out and tuned at a local dive shop first.

Is the computer air integrated or wireless? Meaning is it in a console with a hose attached from the 1st stage or is it a wristmount with a sending unit that attaches to one of the high pressure ports on the first stage. If it's a wristmount, it could either be wireless or it could be a standalone - meaning it won't give you your tank pressure.
It could also be standalone and still mounted in the console, this is much less likely however.

I'd also strongly suggest that you wear a diveop supplied computer on each dive also until you're comfortable with yours. They'll know how to read theirs for your SI's etc. and may assume because you have your own that you don't need theirs.

Posting some photos or model #'s might help identify what you've got.

Bring it all on the plane in your carry-on if possible. Especially the computer.

P.S. In St. John, the tanks are all Yoke (well mostly)

 

[DandyDon]

Please do not try to bluff with computer. Study the manual until you know it well, run Sims with it, put into Sim deco. By all means, take your own rig. ilot:

 

[ruggermike]

Hey all. Thanks for the replies. I wasn't sure anyone would even reply so now I will tell a little more of my story. We all have one don't we?

I was given brand new, 7 year old equipment. Dacor Extreme Plus regs, Suunto air-integrated computer, and a Dacor octo.


I immediately went to a friends house and hooked the rig up to a tank and threw them in the pool. To my suprise everything seemed to work perfectly. Still, I knew I had to at least get the reg serviced

I took the Extreme to the LDS where my friend bought the rig 7 years ago. They said Mares bought Dacor...can't get parts....blah, blah, blah.... So I joined scubabaord and did some searching and found out I could trade it in, plus some cash, for newer Dacor or Mares regulators. After lenghty deliberation I went with the high end Mares Abyss MR22.

I got the battery replaced in the computer. It works, but is wet-contact operated. Meaning I have to run the sims while I repeatedly dip my hands in a bowl of water. This means I have reached a new level of lunacy in the eyes of my girlfriend.

So here I am sitting on my couch staring at the first stage with the computer attached to a HP input. Now I'm noticing that the hose connections on the octo and BC inflator hose are larger than the LP inputs on the first stage. I hit the wall

Which bring us to my original post. More clearly, I was wondering if I had to figure all my connections out and possibly buy a new octo and BC hose before traveling or just bring the first and second stage and a wrench. Since I have now learned that hose connections and first stage connections are not standardized, I think I need to find a local dive shop, tuck my tail between my legs and see if they can hook me up by Saturday afternoon.

Thank you again for your time. Any comments, including how I am a lunatic, are welcome (and deserved).

Regards, Mike (Boston)

 

[Warren_L]

Hi Mike, good move on upgrading the old regulator, I would say. I've only had a chance to play around with an older Dacor reg once before, and I would say the MR22 is definite step up. As for the setup of your regulator, you just need to make sure you have all the proper components - i.e. two second stages (mouth pieces - one alternate usually marked brighter than the primary one), a BC inflator hose, and a high pressure hose connecting to your integrated computer. Once all the hoses are connected to the MR22, you really shouldn't need to switch the hoses around as the positioning of the hoses should work pretty well from one BC to another, so when you travel, you can rent a BC, tank, weights, and whatever else you might need and really not have to worry about re-configuring the hoses. However, if you do need to move around the hoses, it's not a big deal and they should be able to do it wherever you rent gear.

 

[ScubaMike14]

Hey Mike. (good name)

You sound like you are doing everything correctly. As for the hose connection issue, you have a few options. You could replace the hoses with new ones, but the cost of each hose would run $20 - $30 each. For less than that, your LDS should have adaptors that fit the first stage and then the hose. Cost about $5.00 each. That way you can use your original hoses. Also, if a local LDS serviced the whole rig, then they should have had all the hoses attached in the first place.

Don't bring "parts" on your trip. It will become nothing but a hassle for you and the dive operator. As for the computer...forget about learning how to use it until your regulator situation gets resolved. A computer won't do you any good if you can't breathe.

I am a tech for Sherwood and Zeagle and am also very familiar with lots of other regs. Feel free to PM me if you have questions about your set up. I will give you my phone # and we can talk. You and I (and other board members) will certainly get things fixed before your trip.

Mike Rushton
PADI DM 174448

 

[DandyDon]

I got the battery replaced in the computer. It works, but is wet-contact operated. Meaning I have to run the sims while I repeatedly dip my hands in a bowl of water. This means I have reached a new level of lunacy in the eyes of my girlfriend.

It won't turn on unless it's wet, or will not go beyond the dive plan state I guess?

Get your Reg working well before you leave, then test dive it.

 

[www.scubamazing.com]

congrats on the Lunacy! Hope it works out well for you.

 

[Oceanseleven]

Hey Mike, good call upgrading your reg. I am also a certified tech for most major brands of regulators and I have just about all the repair manuals for all manufactures all well. I don't live far from you if you need help with your setup PM me and I'll help you out.

:fro:

Scott