Intermediate Pressure Guage

[GrumpyOldGuy]

this is not meant to be a ridiculous question...

Is IP being "out of line" the only time a regulator would need to be serviced? (let's assume that I'm following the Regulator inspection and checklist and everything else is fine)

If your following this list http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/regulators/346813-regulator-inspection-checklist-rev-7-a.html, then I think you have your bases covered.

 

[Fishpie]

Saying that I normally have my regs apart about once a year for a lube job (for me, there's nothing worse than a reg that won't disassemble easily because its parts have grown together).

 

[redacted]

this is not meant to be a ridiculous question...

Is IP being "out of line" the only time a regulator would need to be serviced? (let's assume that I'm following the Regulator inspection and checklist and everything else is fine)

No, it is not. But that is the parameter I monitor closely to detect incipient failures. I have watched IP degrade of a period of a year or more before have to service. Leaks are another clear indicator of a need for service. But, I DIY so I tend to only correct the leak and lube if that was the only problem. I also monitor performance but any degradation in that area is usually corrected by a little adjustment. Sometimes, just a good cleaning and lubrication is all that is required. I don't even bother keeping track of time since last service as it is of so little use.

 

[lowviz]

awap, perhaps a note as to setting the IP to the top of the range vs. midrange, and tuning the secondary.

Reason: I don't think that just checking the IP is good for anything other than telling if the primary is causing the IP to creep.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

Checking the IP should be a normal part of a smart diver's periodic gear review. I should do it more often. But it is good to check the IP, if you are beginning to see it creep, you can take it out of service before it messes up a dive. Smart thing to check before a big trip, especially if you are going on vacation and expect to do a bunch of diving.

Conversely, if the first stage holds pressure rock solid, the filter looks clean and there are no leaks in it, I will not be taking it in for service. I just periodically tighten up the second stage seats and I am comfortable with a reg that is working well and not leaking, even if the shop monkeys have not seen it for a long time.

 

[lowviz]

Agreed. Just noting that most divers have their warm water regs tuned to the top of the scale with the secondary "anticipating the next breath". A bit of creep in the wrong direction can be a bad thing.

But set to midrange with the secondary tuned to "normal (work of) breathing", a lot of creep has little effect.

-So a diver goes out and buys the IP gauge. What does it really tell him/her about his/her regset?

 

[redacted]

awap, perhaps a note as to setting the IP to the top of the range vs. midrange, and tuning the secondary.

Reason: I don't think that just checking the IP is good for anything other than telling if the primary is causing the IP to creep.

I set IP low in the range (125 to 130) to give it as much room as possible for a little creep. While I expect a solid lockup right after a new seat, 2 or 3 (or 5 or 6) years down the road, a bit of creep (up to 10 psi) does not really bother me much. If it is pushing the upper limit (145), it probably wi;ll not go to the Caribbean with me but it is fine for the local mud hole. I hate to waste HP seats. Most of my 2nds (all that I use on my main rig) are either balanced or adjustable so they can handle quite a bit more creep than any classic downstream design. Just the other day my original Scubapro pilot (on a Mk7) that has been my 1st string rig for the last year went to bubbling through the 2nd. It worked fine for the dive but I could feel it was still flowing when I was not inhaling. I finally got to use spare rig in my save a dive kit (a downgraded pilot/Mk7). Sure enough, IP was finally slipping up to the 150 range and the pilot knew it. I tune all my 2nds to maximum performance. In fact, I tend to tune the adjustables to a slight leak that I can easily control with the user adjustment knob.

 

[lowviz]

Yo, any mods awake? How many times can I "like" a post???

 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

....So a diver goes out and buys the IP gauge. What does it really tell him/her about his/her regset?

Trick question?

I actually write down the IP and the amount of creep. I use this as a baseline when its new or just serviced. When it varies more than 10psi or starts creeping then I send it in for service.

I am not a DIY reg guy other than to adjust my cracking pressure. I don't try to diagnose complex problems, I just wan to understand when its time to get some service rather than blindly do annuals, or worse try to stretch the service interval without some type of QA check and have it ruin a dive day.

 

[lowviz]

Yeah, sort of.

Meaning: It is useful to not only track the creep, but to be able to tell the reg rebuilders where you want your IP set and why.

Being a cold water diver, I like my IP set about midrange with the secondaries set "normal". Awap makes a good point, my G250/G250V's have a user adjustment (remove LP hose and look inside) that may be better set "hot" and then adjusted to my liking, by ME.