Leisure pro - voided warranty????

[sell66]

I know the Titan LX 2009 is balanced, but the one I found at a really good price is the older model. I think it looks like this AquaLung Titan LX Regulator. I know it says it's balanced but a LDS i spoke with last night said that they way Aqualung considers it balances is not actually balanced.

The Titan LX is balanced.

see Titan LX 2009

The balanced diaphragm first stage, by the nature of its design, is environmentally sealed and provides superior, consistent performance from beginning of dive to end of dive

A pneumatically-balanced second stage results in superior ease-of-breathing​

Good solid performing reg. you won't go wrong with Atomic either.





You can get the Atomic for that, but prob not including the Octopus and a gauge console. The Titan LX will definately fit into that budget including octo and gauge set.

also note that at least once a year that Aqualung runs a "free octo" special. Basically if you buy a new AL reg, you get a free octo. Not sure if that is in effect now or not... but something worth checking.




Aqualung offers "Free parts for life" if you get your reg serviced annually per their requirements. So does Tusa, Dive Rite, Sherwood, etc and I think a few others.

 

[mike_s]

I know the Titan LX 2009 is balanced, but the one I found at a really good price is the older model. I think it looks like this AquaLung Titan LX Regulator. I know it says it's balanced but a LDS i spoke with last night said that they way Aqualung considers it balances is not actually balanced.

make sure to include all the information, like the above, when you ask the question the first time.....

so you don't have to come in later and say "oh by the way what I'm really looking at is an older model that is discontinued"


Not sure what year the one you're actually looking at is.... (since you didn't state it).

but the 2007 AL Buyers guide says it's Balanced.
see http://www.aqualung.com/pdfs/07_buyers_guide/07_Buyers_Guide_Regulators.pdf

even the one at the page you reference AquaLung Titan LX Regulator says it's balanced.


all of this information can easily be found with

 

[herman]

I know the Titan LX 2009 is balanced, but the one I found at a really good price is the older model. I think it looks like this AquaLung Titan LX Regulator. I know it says it's balanced but a LDS i spoke with last night said that they way Aqualung considers it balances is not actually balanced.

I do so love the poo LDSs will put out, although I am not too sure a lot of them actually understand how a regulator works.
All Aqualung (and US Divers when they went by that name) diaphragm first stages are balanced. They have been since 1965 and continue to this day. Not all second stages are balanced however, I don't have a manual for the Titan second but it really does not matter because there is no need to balance both a first and second stage. The purpose of balancing is to keep the regulator breathing consistently across the range of tank pressure. This can be done one of 2 way, by balancing the first stage and thereby keeping the IP constant or by balancing the second stage to compensate for the changing IP of an unbalanced first stage. There is no need to balance both, if you balance the first stage, the IP remains constant and there is nothing for the second stage to balance. I personally prefer a balanced first stage coupled with a non balanced, user adjustable second stage. Balancing is easier to do in the first stage and the balancing components are better protected from the environment. Once the first stage is balanced there is no need to balance the second stage so more robust second stage components can be used. As a bonus, unbalanced second stages will start to free flow slightly if a first stage is starting to have IP creep- usually the first indication that the first stage needs service where a balanced second stage will do it's job and compensate for some amount of creep until it can no longer compensate for the problem, in effect hiding the symptoms of the failing first stage until the problem gets worse.

 

[fnfalman]

Aqualung offers "Free parts for life" if you get your reg serviced annually per their requirements. So does Tusa, Dive Rite, Sherwood, etc and I think a few others.

Learn something new everyday. I didn't know the other manufacturers also give out free parts for servicing. It's not a reason for me to own those regs, but it is important for the OP, so it's good for him to know that he has other choices.

 

[mike_s]

Learn something new everyday. I didn't know the other manufacturers also give out free parts for servicing. It's not a reason for me to own those regs, but it is important for the OP, so it's good for him to know that he has other choices.

yep.

but they all have their "fine print" that you have to be aware of.

For example on Aqualung, you have to have it serviced every 12 months (+/- 1 month) of the original purchase date to keep the regulator qualified for this program. However, Aqualung says "inspection every other year" and rebuild the other years. so in reality you only get "free parts" every other year. If you need to rebuilt it more often, then you're up for paying for the parts.

not all dealers are required to participate in the free parts plans.... some dealers might required other fancy paperwork if you bought it elsewhere (as I learned Oceanic did earlier today in another thread)

so there is some sneakiness involved.

(note, non of this typically includes shop labor....)

 

[fnfalman]

I "think" that Atomic itself would service the regs for around $125 and replaces not just the internals but the cosmetic externals as well. If that's the case, then $125 every two years ain't bad.

 

[halocline]

Pistons vs diaphram? Each have advantages and disadvantages. Pistons are easier to disassemble and clean out if you were boneheaded enough to dunk it in water without the waterproof cap on. Diaphrams are simpler in design. Pistons, at least the Atomic ones, gives you better breathing when the tank runs low and that's why Atomic specifically designed it that way in their regs ...(snip)....
And I don't know who told you what but the Titan LX has a balanced 1st stage - which means that it automatically takes into account of the greater pressure of the depth you're in and adjust air flow accordingly so that you don't have to suck too hard at depth.

Your statements about piston/diaphragm regs are not true. Some piston regs are much simpler than most diaphragm regs. In fact, most diaphragm regs have more parts and are a little more complicated, but there is more variance among different types of piston regs than there is a generic difference between piston and diaphragm. I don't know where you get the bit about piston regs "giving you better breathing when the tank is low" but that is totally false. I guess the atomic guys told you that one, right? In fact, unbalanced piston regs drop 15 PSI or so in IP throughout the supply range by design. Balanced pistons usually still drop a few PSI. Almost all diaphragm regs will have a rise in IP as tank supply drops, although the balance chamber found on virtually all modern diaphragm regs miminizes this.

You're confusing balanced 2nd stages with depth compensation. All 2nd stages (and 1sts) must compensate for depth or they would not work for scuba, and they all do it in the same way, by using a diaphragm and exhaust valve which equalize pressure inside and outside the 2nd stage while the valve is closed. When you inhale, you lower pressure inside the stage in relation to ambient, the diaphragm collapses a little, and activates a lever which opens the valve and allows air from the 1st stage to flow.

Balancing in 2nd stages has nothing to do with this. It has to do with how the stage reacts to IP from the 1st stage. On an unbalanced 2nd, the valve is held shut by a spring (in ambient pressure) only. In a balanced 2nd, a portion of IP air is diverted so that it counteracts some of the pressure from the 1st stage. This allows a lighter spring to keep the valve closed and keeps the 2nd stage from being influenced by changes in IP.

 

[halocline]

Hi all again,

I'm sorry for all these questions but every time I speak with a LDS or SCUBA diver, I get different information.

Someone told me that the Titan LX is not balanced?? They also said to try Atomic regs. instead?

I'm starting to get confused, and don't know what reg. to go with. If anyone can suggest some regulators that would be awesome.

The reg. should fit my criteria:

-I'll be doing 95% shore/beach dives in Los Angeles (I'm debating piston vs. diaphragm)
-I want to be able to get free parts for the life of the reg (given i'll service every year)
-Not more than $600 retail

I really appreciate the help.

Thanks,

David

The titan LX will be more than sufficient for your diving. So would virtually any regulator made by a reputable company. Atomic regs are high end, way more than you would need, or probably even notice. The piston/diaphragm debate is a little pointless in this case, either one will work just fine.

The free parts bit is not much more than a marketing ploy to get you in the shop spending money every year. Do you have any idea how much the manufacturer's cost on annual replacement parts is? I don't, but I imagine it's far less than one dollar in most cases. Unfortunately, they horrendously inflate the price of repair kits to give the appearance of value to the free parts deal. Most of these parts are o-rings which are easily available for pennies. I spent about $20 to get o-rings to service 7 reg sets for about a decade, and that's using high priced polyurethane o-rings in some instances.

Of course, that's only really important if it's your intention to service the reg yourself, but what is important for all divers is that regs generally do not need annual service IF they're cared for well and have been serviced correctly to begin with. You'll end up spending way more money on annual service with free parts than you would if you just serviced it when necessary and paid for parts.

The whole regulator servicing issue is filled with BS from many dealers. The idea that somehow "your life depends" on bringing your reg to a dive shop employee who might have ZERO qualifications other than he works for a dealer and may have taken the manufacturer's one day no-fail training class is absurd. If your life really depended on reg service, like say on a surgeon's skills, there would actually be a license backed up by stringent peer-reviewed tests.

 

[soilure]

By the way, Aqualung is offering a $50 instant rebate on the Titan LX up to August 31 at participating dealers. Regulator Rebate

 

[mike_s]

By the way, Aqualung is offering a $50 instant rebate on the Titan LX up to August 31 at participating dealers. Regulator Rebate

thanks for posting that.....

However, I doubt that'll apply to discounted "older year" close outs thare are already price reduced like the OP is talking about.

(but it'll definately be good for others to have reference to...)