'New' Poseidon J-valve info needed!

[scubafanatic]

Has anyone had any experience/recommendations concerning the 'new' Poseidon J-valves?

(Yes, I really do mean J-valve...not K-valve!)

I noticed on their website the advertise the availibility of such a special J-valve on their tanks......I'm not absolutely certain, but I think it's a DIN valve.

Apparently, it has a special design that makes it impossible to activate the reserve before the tank pressure actually drops down to the reserve activation PSI level.........so there's no way to accidentally bump/flip the reserve rod 'on' and then run out of air by thinking you have 500 psi left, only to discover you had already activated (and 'spent') the reserve.

Also, the 'reserve' valve automatically 'resets' when you refill the tank......so you don't have to worry about the reserve lever being in the wrong position and either getting a 500 psi short-fill, or forgetting to reset the reserve yourself.

Although I dive with both an analog console and an air-integrated computer (Datamax Pro), I still think it would be neat to have this extra 'reminder' of one's air situation.

Also, I plan to dive twinhose regs too, and it would be neat to have a 'modern' J-valve to go with them, to enhance safety.

So my questions are:
1) what is the price of such a valve?
2) what is the availibility ? backordered ?
3) is the valve available separately for sale or
only with a Poseidon tank?
4) can this valve 'fit' a Faber LP 120 steel tank?

Thanks in advance!

Karl

 

[Bob3]

I don't see them in the USA dealer catalog, this may be one of the critters that is available for purchase from Sweden or thereabouts.
AGA/Interspiro makes a J-valve reg yet, I think.

For a double hose reg, the later models of the Nemrod Snark III (made up 'till a few years ago) had a HP port for a SPG. Very slick.

 

[scubafanatic]

Hi Bob3,

Well, looks like my attempt to stump the scubaboard experts has once again been foiled!

I'm in the Dallas/Ft. Worth TX area.....but I saw the J-valve on the corporate WWW site.

I just picked up a pair of Odins I had at the LDS for 'annuals', and the owner happens to be the chief Poseidon tech for a 6-state area (he teaches other Poseidon techs).......but I haven't asked him about the J-valves availability/price, as I only just discovered them.

I'm hoping that he's well enough 'connected' that he can get his hands on this item, assuming it's not officially available in the US......but I'm hoping it can be had officially in the US too.

I hadn't heard about the AGA/Intersprio J-valve reg...sounds interesting, the only fly in the ointment is I'm hoping for a solution that will let me use all my existing 'conventional' regs.

Since you mentioned the Nemrod Snark III, I have 2 of them......one of them is just like you say, with 1 HP port, but I have some twinhoses that are even 'cooler'.

Turns out there is an even 'later' model Snark III, with silicone hoses and 1 HP and 2 LP ports.....I have 1 of these Snark IIIs too!

I run an air-integrated Oceanic DataMax off the HP port, and a BC hose and an octo off the 2 LP ports,
so it's just like diving Mike Nelson's reg, but with all the modern safety convieniences......VERY SLICK !!!

My LDS has another such reg, it's for sale too, new-in-box.......I'm seriously considering buying it.......they're just way-too-cool!

Also have a US Diver's DA-Aquamaster, with the 'banjo' pressure gauge.....thinking about buying the special BC inflator hose custom made by Vintage Scuba Supply for it.

Also have 3 Voit Trieste II's......these all have 1 HP and 1 LP port.....these date from the early 70's.

These regs are a lot safer to dive.......not sure I want quite as much excitement as Mike Nelson had.

I use LP Faber tanks so I can operate modern single hose regs.......or the lower pressure required by some of the older twinhose regs.....all on the same tank.

When I spotted the Poseidon J-valve, I was intregued, seeing someone had a modern 'safe' version of the classic J-valve.

The conventional J-valve is too limited in design for me to feel comfortable using it, but the Poseidon J-valve sounds well thought out/safe, so now I'm considering it.......both for modern and vintage reg diving.