Mixing up 1st/ 2nd stages

[Vinterwoo]

Thanks to some of your input, I just got my hands on a SP MK 25 with a G250V. I was planning on integrating my old reg set up, but I wanted to ask if there was any rules on mixing and matching 1st and 2nd stages from different manufactures. I have a sherwood 2nd stage that used to be my primary reg that I was going to add onto the MK 25, and just retire my old octopus.

Any thoughts?

 

[mikerault]

As long as the IP is compatible there shouldn't be an issue.

Mike

 

[spectrum]

Yea, just the IP. Done right this would need to be tuned or at least checked for even if you were not mixing and matching.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Thanks to some of your input, I just got my hands on a SP MK 25 with a G250V. I was planning on integrating my old reg set up, but I wanted to ask if there was any rules on mixing and matching 1st and 2nd stages from different manufactures. I have a sherwood 2nd stage that used to be my primary reg that I was going to add onto the MK 25, and just retire my old octopus.

Any thoughts?

Vinterwoo,

If you have two second staged attached to the first stage you would want them tuned to optimally perform at the pressure the first stage is providing. Generally the first stage will provide somewhere between 120 and 145 psig. The MK25 can be adjusted to any pressure within that range. Then both second stages are tuned for that pressure. If they are not tuned optimally the second stages may be prone to free flow or breath hard. But there is little to be lost just trying them.

I understand that some european second stages use different threads for the low pressure hoses, and Apeks I believe used different threads on some of their seconds. Adaptors may be both available, and hard to come by.

A