Question H-valve setup before doubles

[ZephyrNYC]

[EDITED to reflect excellent advice received in comments]

Greetings, everybody.

I got certified in 1995, but I never owned my own regs until early this year, when I purchased a used Apeks XTX50 2nd connected to a DST 1st stage, for cheap. I've learned a lot over the years by reading lots of posts in this and other forums. Thus far, I've been diving single cylinders only. I plan to take an ice diving class and doubles primer within a year from now. For my second set of regs, I saw a cheap used Poseidon Odin 1st and 2nd pair that I'm thinking about buying. Naturally, I'll have all regs serviced before I dive them. I am lucky to be in contact with several Poseidon and several Apeks service centers in my area. (They aren't the same LDSs AFAIK, so I'll probably have to drop off the regs at 2 different shops.) The place where I currently get nitrox fills non-standard mixes (i.e. other than banked EAN32) via partial pressure.

This is what I plan for my single cylinder with H-valve setup for the ice diving class (and for regular dives):

- Apeks XTX50 and DST regs, on long hose for donating

- Poseidon Odin 1st and 2nd stage regs, on short hose, so as not to shock to death potential donees, and to avoid a costly Poseidon long hose

- DGX Gears Premium O2 Dual-Outlet Manifold w/Isolator (I'll save the manifold and the left Modular Valve for after completion of Doubles Primer.)

- DGX Gears Premium H-Connector, Fits Right (Typical Side) Modular Valve

- Vindicator knobs.

What do you think of this setup? Would you put the Odin or the XTX50 on the long hose? [I decided Apeks on long, Poseidon on short.] Which reg would you put on the necklace? Does it even matter? Do the regs have to be O2 clean in order to connect them to tanks that are filled via partial pressure? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[rhwestfall]

If I remember correctly, an h-valve doesn't satisfy the requirements for an independent source with ice diving certification...

 

[Mobulai]

H valves are the standard around here in Germany for lakes (esp in winter) in single tank format, I think it’s a great idea to do so as a stepping stone to using doubles

Don’t know about ice diving, or partial filling

But maybe look into Y ones as well (asymmetric H), they provide some better access to the tank valves (esp with the simgle cylinder being tougher than doubles to reach)

I’d put the odin/Jetstream on the short hose; donating it is quite a surprise to anyone

 

[tursiops]

If I remember correctly, an h-valve doesn't satisfy the requirements for an independent source with ice diving certification...

SDI Ice cert has no special reg/cylinder requirement. except for the regs being cold-water regs:

17.7 Required Equipment​

1. Basic open water scuba equipment as described in section three of this manual.​

2. Dry suit, recommended with prior certification required.​

3. A Regulator tested at low temperature.​

4. Harness.​

5. Lines.​

6. Lights, as required.​

7. Cold weather surface support equipment.​

8. Hole-cutting equipment.​

PADI Ice Diver is all normal OW gear too, although it also says:

• A redundant air source, such as a pony bottle or double cylinders, is recommended for open circuit divers​

 

[ZephyrNYC]

H valves are the standard around here in Germany for lakes (esp in winter) in single tank format, I think it’s a great idea to do so as a stepping stone to using doubles

Don’t know about ice diving, or partial filling

But maybe look into Y ones as well (asymmetric H), they provide some better access to the tank valves (esp with the simgle cylinder being tougher than doubles to reach)

I’d put the odin/Jetstream on the short hose; donating it is quite a surprise to anyone

THANK YOU. I totally forgot about the big Poseidon purge. I wouldn't want to kill someone from the shock LOL.

 

[rjack321]

Just take the doubles primer, I have an H valve and it's really a dreadfully poor mismash of knob directions and reg to knob conflicts. Also nearly the price of a manifold anyway.

 

[rhwestfall]

SDI Ice cert has no special reg/cylinder requirement. except for the regs being cold-water regs:

17.7 Required Equipment​

1. Basic open water scuba equipment as described in section three of this manual.​

2. Dry suit, recommended with prior certification required.​

3. A Regulator tested at low temperature.​

4. Harness.​

5. Lines.​

6. Lights, as required.​

7. Cold weather surface support equipment.​

8. Hole-cutting equipment.​

PADI Ice Diver is all normal OW gear too, although it also says:

• A redundant air source, such as a pony bottle or double cylinders, is recommended for open circuit divers​

Interesting because in my TDI class we were required to have an independent air supply. If someone was certified to a level that used doubles, an isolation manifold on doubles could be used, but the isolator had to be closed. Everyone in the class had a pony....

 

[tursiops]

Interesting because in my TDI class we were required to have an independent air supply. If someone was certified to a level that used doubles, an isolation manifold on doubles could be used, but the isolator had to be closed. Everyone in the class had a pony....

TDI does not show an Ice course, nor have they in the past, as far as I can tell.

 

[DogDiver]

H valves have been out of optimal practice for almost 15 years. Appropriate gear configuration would be back mounted doubles with isolation manifold.

 

[tursiops]

H valves have been out of optimal practice for almost 15 years.

...in some areas.
In other areas (Europe, for example) for other purposes they are quite standard since they allow redundant 1st stages as well as redundant second stages.