Question Mix and Match Brands for BC air source?

[Crawlin95]

From what I’ve read ( here mostly and elsewhere ) - some regs need specialised tools are more complicated to disassemble (Apeks for ex?) and the service technician at a remote vacation dive destination may not be equipped with the right set of tools to deal with any faults if the situation arises. Or he may be authorised or trained only for one brand if warranty is an issue.

But all this is only my theoretical knowledge.. I am just chatting away late into the night.
Hope others can help better

Cheers

That makes sense. I have backup set of older regs with an attached Octo that I would always bring as well to save the dive if needed. It would of course have the proper BC hose for whatever I am running.

 

[rhwestfall]

From what I’ve read ( here mostly and elsewhere ) - some regs need specialised tools are more complicated to disassemble (Apeks for ex?) and the service technician at a remote vacation dive destination may not be equipped with the right set of tools to deal with any faults if the situation arises. Or he may be authorised or trained only for one brand if warranty is an issue.

But all this is only my theoretical knowledge.. I am just chatting away late into the night.
Hope others can help better

Cheers

That (attempt at an) argument lies with every regulator made, and not specific to a combo unit....

You are regurgitating internet gossip or dive shop propaganda. Have you taken regulator rebuild instruction? Have you attempted service/repair?

 

[NW Dive Dawg]

The second only knows the pressure not the brand of first, you tune the second to what ever IP you have or the tune the first to the IP you want.

Best answer so far...... !!!

My primary first stage is an Apeks ATX200 and I have an Aqualung Air Source QD on my BC Inflator.... I also have a Mares 22 Abyss and totally agree that the Air Source has absolutely no idea whether the gas delivery is coming from the Apeks or the Mares.... All it cares about is the pressure.

The other item not really mentioned here is that 90% of my dives are either fully solo or with a hunting buddy who really can't be considered a "buddy" since usually get separated or are not paying attention to each other.. We are both fully aware that we both use the Air Sources and that in the event of a required share scenario that the donor will give up the primary 2nd stage and go to the Air Source. In addition, we both dive with fully redundant back mounted19cf Pony's that are on and charged.

I guess my point is that the Air Source is a great option for a solo diver... Also, I really like the QD function so that the Air Source 2nd stage lives with my reg set rather than with my BC..

 

[Pearlman]

That (attempt at an) argument lies with every regulator made, and not specific to a combo unit....

You are regurgitating internet gossip or dive shop propaganda. Have you taken regulator rebuild instruction? Have you attempted service/repair?

Or perhaps I am regurgitating an older scubaboard thread… you haven’t gone into specifics of whether some brands are more complicated to disassemble than others, whether it is fact or just heresay. If yes which brand, if not then a specific assertion of at least the brand I recalled from memory (regurgitated). You just seem to be having issues in general.

 

[lexvil]

Or perhaps I am regurgitating an older scubaboard thread… you haven’t gone into specifics of whether some brands are more complicated to disassemble than others, whether it is fact or just heresay. If yes which brand, if not then a specific assertion of at least the brand I recalled from memory (regurgitated). You just seem to be having issues in general.

His first line is specific, “all” being the operative word, all Regs are difficult until you know how, some require special tools to make the job easier but none can’t serviced without a little knowledge and common tools.

 

[Pearlman]

Not sure what we are arguing about. My post that triggered this conversation merely implied that some 2nd stage regulators were paired with 1st stages by the brand/vendor therefore assumed to be factory tuned and tweaked to perform optimally with the complete regulator set. I came from the standpoint of a buyer who did not want to run to a service technician to have it checked/tweaked/serviced first thing before attempting a dive. I certainly would not just mix and match 1st-2nd stage regs from different brands to order online and then jump into the water straightaway trusting my life with it.

 

[jakehbk]

Back to the original question. The only thing you have to look out for is any brand specific hoses if you're buying your Alt Octo separate for your BC.

For example the Aqualung AirSource doesn't take a standard flat end corrugated hose. They use their own slanted hose on it.

Can't speak on the Mares, but I believe the SS1 comes with a couple adapters for different hose diameters so I'd lean towards that model if that's the route ya wanna take

 

[lexvil]

Not sure what we are arguing about. My post that triggered this conversation merely implied that some 2nd stage regulators were paired with 1st stages by the brand/vendor therefore assumed to be factory tuned and tweaked to perform optimally with the complete regulator set. I came from the standpoint of a buyer who did not want to run to a service technician to have it checked/tweaked/serviced first thing before attempting a dive. I certainly would not just mix and match 1st-2nd stage regs from different brands to order online and then jump into the water straightaway trusting my life with it.

The beauty here is you don’t have to mix and match you do you. Read more and be prepared to change you’re preconceived notions, they are based on hype and false information, or just continue on and enjoy… it isn’t rocket science.

 

[Pearlman]

The beauty here is you don’t have to mix and match you do you. Read more and be prepared to change you’re preconceived notions, they are based on hype and false information, or just continue on and enjoy… it isn’t rocket science.

Maybe you need to understand that everybody doesn’t live by the coast, and visit dive shops routinely to eyeball different gear or get to handle various equipment on most days of their lives or meet people first-hand into this line of work because of their livelihood and circumstances in life, but still likes to dive when their situation permits. I wouldn’t trust something just because I read something somewhere online and then jump into deep waters to deal with an unexpected new finding.

No thanks.

 

[Crawlin95]

Well let’s kill this conversation now. No one is saying buy it off Jim Bob, plug it up and go. Anything you buy should always be serviced.

For me, decision made:

Moved my SEA4 to a backup set and now have my XTX 50 with the Mares BC second.

And yes I added the correct hose to the backup set to work with the BC safe second.